Hello Dancers!
Thank you for keeping in touch and for giving us regular feedback on the courses that we ran throughout lockdown and beyond. Your responses have helped us to form some exciting ideas for your dancing as we gradually emerge from what has been such a challenging time.
Some of our members love our classes on Zoom as being able to dance on Zoom has made it more accessible. They no longer need to carve out travel time to come to class, and of course, some members just feel safer joining in from home. Some of our members are also keen to see their fellow dancers again in the familiar setting of our favourite community halls.
The good news is that you can have it either way, or both ways!
We are offering you both ways to dance; so you can choose Zoom and/or in-person classes in the community hall.
We’ve all been through so many changes in the past 18 months, and we all yearn to ‘get back to normal.’ We know you will have all questions about coming back to class such as:
- When will classes go back to normal?
- What’s happened to our Gosforth venue?
- How do we social dance again?
It’s completely normal to want things to go back to how they were.
After all, as human beings, we tend to feel safer with things that are familiar.
But not all change is bad, and sometimes new arrangements can suit you better.
For example, some of our members really struggled with dancing on Zoom at the beginning. They had to battle technophobia as well as dodgy internet connections, and interruptions.
But as time went on, they found that they actually enjoyed being able to dance in the comfort of their own home. And as the classes were all recorded, everyone had access to practice materials. In addition, we provided course members with ongoing support and feedback on their dancing in between classes via Messenger. They had the best of both worlds and the results have been astounding!
Those who have managed to join our courses on Zoom and practised in between classes have advanced their skills so much, and they are now much more confident dancers.
How Lindy Jazz will look come September?
I know that some of you can’t wait to get back to normality, while others still feel cautious. That’s why come September, there’ll be something for everyone!
Class Times & Venues
We are excited to be able to run our next 6-week courses as follows:
- Tuesday classes from 7 September at 19:30 on Zoom (our Gosforth venue is not availabl at the moment)
- Wednesday classes from 8 September 19:30 at St Aidan’s Church Hall, Durham
Some of our dancers have signed up for both classes!
Class Times & Levels
For both classes, all levels are welcome.
19:30 Start of class for Beginners and Experienced Dancers
20:15 Beginners’ class ends, Experienced Dancers continue
20:45 Opportunity to stay & chat, or practise
Partners or Solo?
You can dance with your partner, on your own, or with others as a group. Whether you come on your own or with friends, you are guaranteed to have fun. If you attend all 6 weeks of the course, or catch up via the video recordings, you will develop the tools you need to get ready for social dancing.
Minimum Skills
Beginners do not require any dance experience. The minimum requirements are:
• Good health
• The ability to walk (yes, walk!)
• Time to attend classes (30 minutes a week)
• Time to practise (5 minutes a day)
• Interest in, and curiosity about learning how to social dance
• The ability to allow things not to go to plan when trying something new
Experienced dancers are expected to have some dance experience. The minimum requirements include those listed above for Beginners plus the following:
• The ability to keep a steady pulse or bounce
• The willingness to count or scat when learning to dance
• The ability to relax physically and mentally
• Willingness to receive feedback & the ability to refrain from constant self-criticsm
• Eagerness to ask questions
• A sense of direction e.g. linear, lateral, rotational
• Being fearless when exploring new material
• Time to attend classes (60 minutes a week)
• Time to practise (10 minutes a day)
Class Content
The focus for the September course will be on ‘Getting Ready for Social Dancing’. You will learn the skills that will equip you with the moves and confidence to enjoy dancing when it’s back in full swing again.
How to book
To book your place for September classes, click here.
We can’t wait to welcome you back to the ‘new look’ Lindy Jazz.
The world may have changed but you can still look forward to the same fun, friendships, and lots of dancing!