SwingDJs

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Swing and Soul
Join the party December 7th-9th in Atlanta, GA

www.swingandsoul.com

Brought to you by the Swing & Soul Team:
Steven Mitchell, Tena Morales, Manu Smith, & Peter Strom

Swing & Soul will be a weekend dedicated to that energy that we call Soul. You'll find it in the music we play--classic 60's soul from labels like Motown and Stax, real old-school R&B, down & dirty Blues, slammin' Disco and Funk, & more--and in the dancing we do, whether Lindy Hop, Hand Dancing, West Coast Swing, Shag, Steppin, or Hustle. It doesn't matter, because for this weekend, it's not where you're from--it's where you're at, and we are gonna check those labels at the door and mix it up all weekend long.

So if you have a love of music and dancing that's full of soul, then you belong at the Swing & Soul Party. Come on down to Atlanta on December 7th, 8th, & 9th and help us get this party started!

We want everyone to get the full soulful experience, so you're either in or you're out. There will be *no* dance-only pass, just the full weekend package. Through July 31st, get in on the Early Bird pricing: only $119 for the whole weekend! This includes 6 dances, 2 late-night buffets, 8 hours of "soul sessions," (instruction-based sessions in a unique format, taught by some of the best dancers in the world), and a few surprises. (If we told you, they wouldn't be surprises, now would they?)

Everybody's gonna be there, y'all. (The whole roster of the Silver Shadows have blocked off the weekend on their calendars.) And you should be there, too.

To register and for more information, visit:
www.swingandsoul.com

***Check out some classic old-school soul video clips and be our friend at our myspace page. Click here!

Early bird pricing has been extended to August 31st!!! Sign up now for the cheapest price. (And by the way, there is a secret incentive to registering early. I can't tell you what it is--because even *I* don't know--but the earlier a person registers the better the surprise.)

And here's a very special note from Peter Strom about the weekend:

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Hey all, this is Peter Strom, I'm one of the 4 folks running the event, and I have been hearing a lot of questions about the Swing & Soul party lately: "What is it gonna be - Workshop? Exchange? Plain old party - what does that mean?" Well, I, along with Steven, Tena, and Manu have put a lot of thought into this event and now that I have a second, maybe I can give everyone a clearer idea of what Swing & Soul will be.

First let's start with what the event isn't:

* This event is not a soul exchange, although it will have the focus on tons of dancing and making new connections that makes exchanges so fun.
* This event is not a workshop weekend, but we will still have some great lectures and classes during our Soul Sessions on Saturday and Sunday that we hope to have everyone take part in.
* This event is not an attempt to capitalize on the "trend" of soul music at Lindy events nor is it an outgrowth of the Blues movement, but we will play some amazing blues, and as far as we are concerned the more people who enjoy soul music, the better.

More than anything else Swing & Soul is an outgrowth of the things that Steven, Tena, Manu, and I have always valued the most in dancing. Check out the "About Us" section at www.swingandsoul.com.

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Now, what about what the event is? Here's what we want everyone at Swing & Soul to get from the event:

Inspiration

We would like people who come to our event to be inspired by what they find there. We want to provide opportunities for folks to learn some new things and to grow as dancers with the Soul Sessions that we are planning (and of course at the dances at night). These will include classes in old school dance movement, line dances, partner dancing, and more, as well as some lectures from experts on soul music, maybe some inspiring video, and a discussion with some of your favorite dancers on what inspires them the most and what they think is most important in the dance.

This is why our event is one price for everything. We want to encourage people to come and be a part of the entire experience. Come get to know during the day the folks who you will be partying with at night. We believe that when we share that time together it makes the party better. We don't think of this event as a couple dances and a few hours of workshops with some lectures and other surprises sprinkled in there, we think of this as one weekend-long party with various different parts, some mellow and relaxing, some frenetic and crazy, but all fun and inspiring.

Community

We think that having everyone together for the whole event will also help us come together and create some community. With Swing & Soul, we want to celebrate not only great dancing, but also the people who make that dancing so great. As partner dancers, we are used to finding a connection with one person at a time with each new partner that we dance with. At this event, we want to extend that connection to the whole dance floor, to create that feeling that happens at the best parties, where you can feel yourself moving not just as an individual, or even as a partnership, but as part of a whole. We want to get everyone to try that line dance, to get in that jam circle or in that soul train line. Our message will be, as Jesse Jackson might put it, "Don't spectate, participate!" and be a part of that whole.

Joy

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Swing & Soul will be a party. We want this to be everyone's chance to come and let it all hang out. There are no rules this weekend. There is no competition to worry about, no pressure to be the fanciest dancer in the world. For this weekend, we are inviting any dancers who love music and dancing with soul to come and be a part of this celebration. We will have only the best music, some gospel and blues and all kinds of soul. There is no prescription to what we play, other than it has to be good, and it has to make you move. For now we intend to keep the music in the hands of DJ's so that we can play the quality of music that is so hard to find in a band nowadays, as well as the variety of music that one band would be hard pressed to play. We'll have music from the 40's & 50's all the way up to some current jams from today if it gets the party started, of course with tons of 60's and 70's soul in between. Soul music will be our anchor, but not our cage for this event. It is going to be all about having a good time, and what better way to do that than with some of the best music of all time and with some of the best dancers in the world?

We'll be posting more and more info as we get closer to the event, but for now here are some things you can expect from the Swing & Soul Party:

Some of the world's best Lindy Hoppers
Amazing soulful music played by DJ's from the Lindy world and beyond picked by me (as well as my own sets of course)
Classes in:
* Classic 60's dance moves
* Old school party dances
* Line dances, old and new
* Partner dancing, with a focus on soul music
* African drumming with Mama Yeye
* ...and MORE!
Special lecture by Allan "Dr.Licks" Slutsky, producer of "Standing in the Shadows of Motown"
Special dancer's forum with some of your favorite dancers from around the world
Late night soul food buffets (with vegetarian stuff too, honest!)
Some very special treats that we will keep as surprises for those who make it out to the event

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To Steven, Tena, Manu, and myself this event is very special, more than just some dances and classes over a weekend, and it can be difficult to sum up exactly what Swing & Soul is about. In one sense this event isn't about Lindy Hop. Or West Coast Swing, or Hand Dancing, or Steppin' or whatever specific dance world you come from for that matter. It isn't about a specific dance with a basic step and specific moves. In a deeper sense, though, it is about Lindy Hop, as well as all of the dances related to it. In a deeper sense it is a celebration of the energy that inspired Lindy Hop in the first place - the same energy that inspired the musicians to create the music that moved those early dancers to dance. This weekend will be a celebration of soul, that energy that inspires all of us in our music and in our dancing.

Hope to see you there!

-Peter and the Swing & Soul Team

www.swingandsoul.com
www.myspace.com/swingandsoul

This event just keeps getting better...

Master dancer, comedian, band leader and choreographer Chester Whitmore will be joining the Swing and Soul party! Chester started out as a tap dancer in 1974 and trained under the legendary John Bubbles and Cholly Atkins. Cholly Atkins directed, staged and choreographed acts for countless Motown artists including Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, the Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the O'Jays, and Aretha Franklin.

Fellas….you want to join Chester for a Soul Session on the Temptations. This session will be for Guys Only and Chester will be leading you through choreography and teaching you some of the Temps' fabulous moves!

Chester will also be puttin' it down on some Cholly Atkins choreography, showing everybody the link between jazz and soul and the movements that run through both.


A reminder of our confirmed Special Guests:
Naomi Uyama
Nina Gilkenson
Ramona Staffeld
Mikey Pedroza
Alison Plys
Joel Plys
Ria Debiase
Andy Reid
Nicole Frydman
Skye Humphries
Todd Yannacone

and just to name a small spattering of folks already registered to get the party started:

Shesha Marvin LA
Nikki Marvin LA
Marie Mattson Sweden
Alex Dreyer Washington, DC
Austin Dreyer ATL
Scott Angelius Austin, TX
Jeramie Anderson Washington, DC
Natalie Manigualt ATL
Patrick Manigualt ATL
Gina Helfrich ATL
Melissa Varriano St. Paul, MN
Nick Peterson Las Vegas
Brandy Little Las Vegas
Tomo Tanaka NYC
Elaine Hewlett Dallas

We have people registered from 26 states thus far and 5 countries including Canada, Australia, France, Sweden and England! Come join the party!!!!!!

Go to www.swingandsoul.com to register.

Important Swing and Soul Updates:


* How many of you are fans of SYTYCD? If you watched every single episode like some folks we know, you will probably remember a fantastic dancer popping, locking and doing the robot to Christina Aguilera's "Ain't no other man". (Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGvIv7WArho)

Welllllllll… Chibi Robot (aka Bryan Gaynor) will be joining us Friday night to do a little special dance performance he calls Chibotics for us!!!!!!!!


Seriously people, you don't want to miss this weekend! Register while you still can!

* If you are planning on staying in one of the Swing and Soul hotels, space is still available in the room block at Sleep Inn Buckhead (Room block extended until Nov. 15). Also note there is a huge convention in Atlanta the same weekend and many hotels are booked solid! So reserve your room now!!! For hotel listings go to:

http://www.swingandsoul.com/housing.html

Need a reason to register for Swing and Soul Party...hmmmm.. let me see.. here are a few names registered….maybe ya'll want to party with a few of these people?

Dawn Hampton
Virginie Jenson
Naomi Uyama
Nina Gilkenson
Ramona Staffeld
Mikey Pedroza
Alison Plys
Joel Plys
Ria Debiase
Andy Reid
Nicole Frydman
Skye Humphries
Todd Yannacone
Carla Heiney
Jonathan Bixby
Arte Phillips
John Festa
Teddy Kern
Stefan Durham
Bethany Powell
Shesha Marvin
Nikki Marvin
Marie Mattson
Alex Dreyer
Austin Dreyer
Scott Angelius
Jeramie Anderson
Natalie Manigualt
Patrick Manigualt
Gina Helfrich
Melissa Varriano
Nick Peterson
Brandy Little
Tomo Tanaka
Elaine Hewlett
Dan Newsome
Tiffiny Wine
Erica Berg
Tina Davis
Jerry Warwick
Kathy Warwick
Rob Moreland
Devona Cartier
Melody Sturdivant
Niki Admundson
Pete Green
Josie Say
Sherri Kang
And SOOOOOOO many more.

TONS of great dancers from all parts of the country and international as well!

Online Registration closes December 3rd, so you have a little over two weeks to register!
www.swingandsoul.com

A very special message from Peter Strom & the Swing & Soul Team...

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A couple questions for you people out there:

1. Is it possible that you are not going to Swing & Soul?
2. If so, are you ok with being one of the very few people who wont be at the party of the millennium?
3. Are you content to wallow in regret for the rest of your life?
4. Everybody's doin it - you wanna be cool doncha?
OK, I kid, enough of the hard-sell.

But seriously, for those stragglers, fence-sitters, and others still up in the air about coming out to Swing & Soul, I'd like to re-invite you to what promises to be one hell of a party. Here is a partial list of some of the special things you'll find at Swing & Soul:

* Allan Slutsky, producer of "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" will be showing the movie and giving a talk afterwards about his experience with the artists who made this music we love and answering any questions you may have.
* Bryan Gaynor aka Chibi Robot gave a truly inspirational performance this year on "So You Think You Can Dance" and will be performing a piece just for Swing & Soul as well as teaching a workshop in his own style of dancing, Chibotics.
* Chester Whitmore's amazing workshops. 1st his "Jazz to Soul" class which will show you how the movements of jazz became the movement of soul and 2nd his special guys-only Temptations routine class where Chester shows the guys some classic Temptations moves (inspired by the great Cholly Atkins, tapper, jazz dancer, and choreographer for many of the Motown groups)
* Mama Yeye's workshops on Soukous and West African dance, showing you the roots of jazz movement in the dances of Africa.
* Tena's ladies-only "Divas of Soul" class where she shows the ladies how to work it on the dance floor.
The Swing & Soul line dance (& many more), Texas Swing-Out & 2-step, Party dances from the 60's, 70's, 80's, & 90's from the jerk to the running man, we'll show you the dances that got the parties started.

And that is just talking about workshops! We are gonna have off-the-chain soul music all night long from 8pm-5am Friday, Saturday, & Sunday with music from Shag Music Hall of Fame DJ, Steve Baker, swing DJ Jim Wheatley representing the ATL, Atlanta club DJ, Gary Tate aka Coach DJ, and of course me doing my thing with the music all weekend long and I guarantee we are gonna keep the party rolling all weekend long. And don't forget, we'll have the late night Soul Food buffet (with vegetarian and vegan options) to keep you going strong into the wee hours.

So yes, the workshops will be the bomb, and yes the music will be the bomb, trust me. But of course, that would mean nothing without our peeps. So let us not forget the amazing group of dancers coming to this event already. Not only are the dancers coming to Swing & Soul some of the best dancers in the world, they are also some of the most get-down party-people around. We've already posted some of the names (see previous post), and that's not everybody, just some names you might recognize, there are plenty more party-starters to be met at the event!

So to sum it up it looks like this:

...Workshops x Off the chain
...Music x Crunktastic
+ Peeps x The Bomb
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Swing & Soul

Indeed, amigos, Swing & Soul promises to be a veritable big bang of good times and this is all not to mention a couple special surprises that you will have to be at the weekend to experience. There's not much time left to register...

$124 until Friday, November 22nd
...and after that..
$139 until online registration closes on Monday, December 3rd

...so don't waste time! Sign up now and come on down to Atlanta and join the party!


http://www.swingandsoul.com
http://www.myspace.com/swingandsoul

p.s. if you have a group of 10 or more email tena@swingandsoul.com about a discounted pass.

AirTran fare sale! What lovely timing.

For those of you having trouble with flights, I just found out about this AirTran fare sale, check out the info:

http://www.airtran.com/sale/ATL.aspx?saleID=

There are really good fares from all sorts of places if you are able to fly Thurs - Mon. But hurry, the sale ends tomorrow, Nov. 21st!

As added incentive, there will be an ATL welcome dance put on by the good dancers of Atlanta so you'll have something to do Thursday night. Details:

What: Thursday Night Pre-Swing & Soul Dance Fling
Where: Garden Hills Recreation Center, Buckhead (home of the weekly “Hot Jam”)
Date: Thursday Night, Dec. 6
Time: 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm (possibly later)
Music: DJs
Snacks: Most definitely!
Price: $5.00 Regular Admission, $4.00 for ASEDA Members (This event is separate from the Swing & Soul package.)

For Directions: Go to www.hotjamswings.com (anyone coming from the airport can take MARTA north to the Lindbergh Center Station, #N6, and take a short taxi ride from there)

Just another reason to hurry up and get your tickets and come on down!

Less than 1 week left to register for Swing & Soul! Registration closes Monday, Dec. 3rd.

The FULL SCHEDULE of Soul Sessions is now up on the website: http://www.swingandsoul.com/schedule.html

(Also, a little birdie told me there are a bunch of fine ladies who will be attending this shin-dig, so I'd like to see some more fellas get registered and come get your groove on with all of us!)

Only 3 more days left to register! Online registration closes Monday at midnight (December 3rd)!

Online Check Registration is no longer available, only PayPal Registration by credit card will be accepted and only until Dec. 3rd.

There will be limited a la carte admission to the Swing and Soul Party sold at the door. NO CHECKS or CREDIT CARDS will be accepted at the door, only CASH PAYMENTS! Pricing will be:

Weekend Pass at the door is $139.
Friday Night Pass: $50. Which will include admission to the main dance, the after-hours dance and the Soul Food Buffet. You must purchase the a la carte wristband at the main dance.
Saturday All-inclusive Pass: $65. Which will include all daytime soul sessions, admission to the main dance, after-hours dance and Soul Food Buffet.
Sunday All Inclusive Pass: $45. Which will include all daytime soul sessions, admission to the main dance and the after-hours dance.

****There will be no a la carte sold at After-hours dances and no other passes sold. NO EXCEPTIONS****