The Mainiac Swing Dance Society presents



Blues Dancing Workshop with
Ogden and Amanda from Boston

Saturday, December 17
3:00 - 6:30 pm followed by a Dance

Schedule:

3:00 - 4:00 Blues 101  Fundamentals: tension and compression, slow drag, traveling, thinking about improvisation.

4:15 - 5:15 Blues 102  Partnering skills, steps, leans, moves, angles, looking good.

5:30 - 6:30 Mixing it Swinging the Blues.  Add Blues Dancing concepts and moves to your regular swing dancing.

6:30 - 8:00 Dinner Break

8:00 - 11:00 FREE dance with LIVE BAND and DESSERT

Location: 
Falmouth Congregational Church
 267 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, Maine

Take Bucknam Road exit from Route I-295.  Go to the Route 9 intersection (Nina's Variety on the corner) and go left-ish at the light, following sign to Town Hall.  The church is on the right at about 2.4 miles from the Route 9 intersection.  It's a white building.  Park around back.  No smoking or alcohol on church property, please!

Cost:
Members of Mainiac Swing Dance Society: $10 per person per class or $24 for all three classes
Nonmembers: $12 per person per class or $30 for all three classes

About Ogden and Amanda:

In 1997, Ogden, a martial arts student since age nine, walked into a swing dance and was hooked. Over the last 8 years, he has studied various swing dances, ballroom dancing, African dance, Argentine tango, lindy hop, and blues dancing, and has been teaching lindy hop, connection, and musicality classes in the Boston area for the past 5 years.

Amanda has been dancing since age five. Experienced in dance instruction, choreography, performance, and show production, she has studied blues dance, lindy hop, jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical dance, sacred dance, and hip hop. She has also had instruction in other dance forms such as popping/breaking, flamenco, modern dance, and ballroom dance. Amanda has been swing dancing for 6 years and has had the opportunity to teach lindy hop in Boston with several national instructors.

Ogden and Amanda have been dancing, choreographing, and competing together in blues dance since 2000, and teaching blues dance locally since 2002. Their style of modern blues combines historic blues dance with modern concepts of strong connection, partnered improvisation, and elements from many of the different dance styles they have studied. This unique blend has given them a national reputation for inspiring and emotional partnered blues dancing. Since 2003, they have been teaching at national events and workshops, encouraging and supporting the recent growth and popularity of blues dance. Their teaching style communicates their passion for blues dancing, and encourages dancers of all levels to take chances and push their personal boundaries.

Currently, Ogden and Amanda teach with a collective of Boston dance instructors at the It's All Swing! Dance Studio in Watertown, MA ( www.itsallswing.com) and have recently founded independently Blue Studios ( www.iBlueStudios.org) to focus on teaching and supporting blues dance.
 

Note:
The dance is free and open to the public whether or not you participate in the workshops.  Music by the "Fabulous Lacklusters" and Maine swingin' DJ's.  The dance is also a party for Mike McMillen's 60th birthday!  NO PRESENTS PLEASE!  Just come and have fun.  RSVP to 207/326-8022 or Abbie McMillen would be appreciated.