Lindy Focus New Year's Lindy Hop Party - Asheville, NC.

[bighappydance]

SATURDAY OCT 31ST LAST DAY FOR OCT. SPECIAL
On Sunday Nov. 1st the registration price will increase, so make sure to get yours in by this Saturday and save money! Sign up now: http://www.lindyfocus.com/registration.php

COMPETITION REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
That's right, you've had a few weeks to think about it, and now's the time to sign up. If you're planning on doing the Couples Showcase or Vintage Cabaret note that there has been a lot of interest in those divisions, so make sure to sign up fast before those slots fill up! You can sign up for competitions and learn more: http://www.lindyfocus.com/camp_competitions.php

ADD MERCHANDISE TO YOUR REGISTRATION
That's right, this year's garments are up and ready for you to check out. Last year we completely sold out of popular sizes, so make sure to pre-order your goodies in order to guarantee your size. Check out a sneak preview below, and check out all of this year's options: http://www.lindyfocus.com/camp_merchandise.php



Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

NEW YEAR'S PARTY TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
Those who are already registered for our full camp or dance-only pass already have this included, but for those of you who just want to attend our New Year's party, we now offer online registration, including discounts for signing up early! This pass includes your main New Year's Eve dance experience including an optional beginner dance lesson and featuring Russ Wilson and his Nouveau Passe Orchestra, the spectacular New Year's Dance Show featuring performances by worldwide Lindy Hop champions, and your midnight champagne toast. After the late night breakfast, dancing continues until sunrise with our all-star lineup of swing DJ's. Get your pass now: http://www.lindyfocus.com/registration.php

LAST CHANCE FOR TWO MONTH PAYMENT PLAN
If you haven't signed up yet and want to break your payment up into two parts for your convenience, you can still do so up until 11/15. After that, we will accept full payments only.

MERCHANDISE ADDED
We've added 2 new items to the merchandise options, a girl's grey cap-sleeve shirt and a unisex grey jacket in large sizes. See it all: http://www.lindyfocus.com/shop/merchandise/

COMPETITION SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE
If you're only attending part of camp, or if you're just a very curious person, we've posted our competition schedule: http://www.lindyfocus.com/camp_competitions.php Competition registration is live.

COMING SOON
Stay tuned later this week for some very special updates including added instructors, an exciting new post-lindy focus tradition, and more...

Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

SPECIAL GUEST INSTRUCTORS ADDED!
We're very pleased to welcome these special guests who will be running electives, community classes, and other learning opportunities at camp. Welcome to the team, guys!

Mikey Pedroza & Nikki Marvin
Alice Mei
Jojo Jackson
Joel Domoe & Melanie Myers
David & Jennifer Coulombe
Jon Darvill & Carsie Blanton
Reuel Reis & Mike Legett
Scott Angelius & Vanessa Shields
Patrick Szmidt & Natasha Ouimet
Andrew Thigpen & Karen Turman

POST-FOCUS PARTY BUS TO NEW ORLEANS DANCE RENAISSANCE
Can't get enough? Don't just crash after Lindy Focus! Go to Dance Renaissance, an awesome dance event in New Orleans that will take you all the way through the end of the following weekend! In cooperation with Dance Renaissance and the the Canadian Swing Dance Championships, we have organized transportation from Lindy Focus to Dance Renaissance on January 1st to get you on time to their Mardi Gras Party and the rest of that fabulous event. This is a One Way Trip in, not any bus, THE PARTY BUS! It will take you from Asheville to New Orleans, door to door. Tickets are $95.

About the Party Bus and Dance Renaissance: http://www.dancerenaissance.com

Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

SATURDAY OCT 31ST LAST DAY FOR OCT. SPECIAL
On Sunday Nov. 1st the registration price will increase, so make sure to get yours in by this Saturday and save money! Sign up now: http://www.lindyfocus.com/registration.php

COMPETITION REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
That's right, you've had a few weeks to think about it, and now's the time to sign up. If you're planning on doing the Couples Showcase or Vintage Cabaret note that there has been a lot of interest in those divisions, so make sure to sign up fast before those slots fill up! You can sign up for competitions and learn more: http://www.lindyfocus.com/camp_competitions.php

ADD MERCHANDISE TO YOUR REGISTRATION
That's right, this year's garments are up and ready for you to check out. Last year we completely sold out of popular sizes, so make sure to pre-order your goodies in order to guarantee your size. Check out a sneak preview below, and check out all of this year's options: http://www.lindyfocus.com/camp_merchandise.php



Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

NEW HOUSING OPTION: SWEET PEAS HOSTEL
A brand new, European style hostel has opened up, just 1 mile from the Crowne Plaza, where all Lindy Focus events take place. Features include a full kitchen, high ceilings, wood floors, and lots of windows! They're offering beds to Lindy Focus attendees starting at $25/night! To learn more visit our new travel page: http://www.lindyfocus.com/travel_hostel.php

A-LA-CARTE OPTIONS
Many of you have emailed asking us about a-la-carte classes, single-day passes, and single evening dance passes. Due to the overwhelming number of full camp registrations we've received, we will not be offering a-la-carte sales of any daytime classes. We WILL offer single class tickets for evening elective classes, the New Year's Eve beginner lesson, and all evening dances. We will publicly post those elective class topics, schedule, and costs for individual classes and dances no later than Dec. 15th. Thank you everyone for your interest!

FASHION CRAFT CLASSES
After her fantastic debut at Southern Belle Swing Bash, we've decided to bring in Morgan Kestner for not just one, but a series of 3 fashion-craft classes FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN to help you accessorize your dance wardrobe! Projects will include Bloomers, Vintage Hair Pieces (pictured below), and Men's Accessories (photos coming soon). There may be a small supply fee for those who wish to participate, but it will be well worth it!



Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES NEXT WEEK
Can you believe it?? In less than one week, we will have our last day of pre-registration (Wednesday 12/15). It's been a marathon run and we'd like to take a moment to give a thankful shout out to those who joined us way back in July for our most successful Early Bird ever! For those of you just now joining us, don't miss this last chance to save -- a whopping $25 off at-the-door prices!

MINI MASTER'S TRACK!
In addition to the Advanced tracks, there will be the option of auditioning for a brand new Masters Level mini-track (3 classes that don't conflict with the Advanced track schedule). Class size will be very limited, and class topics/instructors will be posted at camp.

HEALTH & FITNESS AT CAMP
We know that Lindy Focus can be hard on the body -- so as always, we're offering a variety of ways to help keep you in one piece at camp. First of all, we'll once again be having full hour-long Yoga classes on three out of four mornings! And if you're still feeling stiff we will have two on-site massage therapists working their magic for campers at very reasonable rates, including both short and long sessions in Swedish massage, Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, and Rolfing. Appointments are likely to fill up, so sign up early during camp to reserve your spot!

VINTAGE HAIR CLASSES & APPOINTMENTS
We are excited to offer special classes which will cover the basic history of vintage hair from the 20's through the 50's. You can learn the techniques of some of the most loved hair-do's such as the Marcel water wave, the Veronica Lake glam hair do, victory rolls, pincurls, and the super in-vogue pompadour, plus techniques for using hair rollers and the best products to buy. The instructors for these classes will also be offering discounted appointments for vintage up-do's on New Year's Eve, available first come, first serve by sign-up at the event.



Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

TUESDAY 12/15: LAST DAY TO REGISTER
That's right, folks - we're about to shut down pre-registration for this year. Pre-registering saves you $25 off at-the-door prices! When registration closes, we will be posting a complete list of at-the-door options.

MASSIVE UPDATES TO ONLINE SCHEDULE
Get a real picture of what your camp experience will be like by checking out our new online schedule: http://lindyfocus.com/camp_schedule.php

LAST PUBLIC UPDATE FOR 2009
We will now move the conversation from here to our internal mailing list of registrants. Thank you, dancers, for making this the most amazing registration season yet - over 450 dancers from across the globe will be joining us for this celebration of jazz dance, and even more for the New Year's Party. We sincerely can't wait to see you all.

~Michael, Jaya & Sosh


Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

IT'S LINDY FOCUS REGISTRATION TIME!
Alright, guys - Registration opens July 8th at 9pm EST. As always, the first few batches of registrants save good money. Last year we sold over 50 slots in under 3 minutes, and we expect this year to be just as competitive! To help with this, we strongly recommend creating an account ahead of time (last year's account will still work, or you could also use your Southern Belle account if you registered for that event.)

IMPROVED REGISTRATION SYSTEM
In addition to the servers hopefully not crashing this year due to excessive traffic, we've improved the system itself so that you don't need to RUSH to fill out your registration. Once you begin the registration process and choose a pass-type, you've got it reserved for you until you finish filling out the form (unless you quit your browser or your computer explodes).

CLASS RECAPS ON IDANCE.NET
All of the class recaps from the last two years of Lindy Focus are now available for FREE on iDance.net! Refresh your memory or check them out for the first time: http://www.idance.net/collections/list.php?id=2

NEW LINDY FOCUS TRAILER (1/3) 'A VINTAGE CABARET'
This first installment of highlights from last year's event features the many performances enjoyed by last year's attendees, including the amazing Red Hot Rhythm Review on New Year's Eve.
Check out the new trailer: http://www.lindyfocus.com/
Check out all the performance videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/jazzartonline

GET CONNECTED WITH US!
If you're getting this message at all, your connected with us in some way - but are you connected with other attendees? Do you get real-time updates to event news and special announcements during the event? Do you remember your account info from last year's registration? If the answer to any of these questions is 'no', then it's time to get connected.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/lindyfocus
Join our Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5600678199&ref=ts
To create/retrieve your Lindy Focus account, go to our home page and click 'log in'.

MORE UPDATES COMING SOON
So- who's teaching at Lindy Focus anyway? What will the classes be like?? Get connected to learn more before registration opens on July 8th!


Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

REGISTRATION OPENS TOMORROW (Thursday, July 8th) @ 9PM EST
This year we're using a tiered registration system in which those who sign up the soonest pay the least. The first 50 slots get our super early-bird discount, the next 50 get slightly less of a discount, etc. The opening awesome price of $199 gets you five nights of dancing with amazing bands and DJ's, 4 days of classes from many of the top instructors in the world, and of course your unforgettable New Year's party! See registration details below to learn more...

TRACK SYSTEM ANNOUNCED
This year we've got a wide range of tracked classes to allow you to explore your different dance goals. Your main Lindy Hop tracks include Beginner, Intermediate, Intermediate/Advanced, Advanced, and Masters. Furthermore, we will be offering a Lindy Hop Comp & Show track that is a mixed-level track, but we recommend at least an Intermediate/Advanced level of experience. ALSO, we are very excited to be offering two full Balboa tracks: Intermediate & Advanced. (Beginner Balboa dancers will be offered two optional classes - no need to pre-register for those). Read about the track system: http://www.lindyfocus.com/about/thecamp

INSTRUCTOR LINEUP ANNOUNCED!
For Lindy Hop we have: Nina Gilkenson, Andy Reid, Kevin St. Laurent, Jo Hoffberg, Max Pitruzzella, Annie Trudeau, Juan Villafane, Sharon Davis, Mike Faltesek, Casey Schneider, Nathan Bugh, Evita Arce, Michael Jagger, Todd Yannacone, Nikki Marvin, Mikey Pedroza, Carla Heiney, and Zack Richard!

For Balboa we have: Jeremy Otth, Laura Keat, Kelly Arsenault, Mickey Fortanasce, Kate Hedin, Bobby White, Adam Speen, Abigail Browning, Zack Richard and Maryse Labeau!

More special guest instructors to be announced soon, as well as bands and DJ's! Learn more about our amazing lineup: http://www.lindyfocus.com/thepeople.php

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION DETAILS
First and foremost, you should sign up for an account *before* registration opens. Might as well do it now! This will save time and stress during the registration process. If you already have an account with us, we STRONGLY recommend you retrieve that account info using our automated system so you aren't frustratedly trying to do that AS you register.
Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

EARLY REGISTRATION WAS AMAZING!
We are always surprised and humbled by the swing community when it comes to registration time. You guys showed your dedication and enthusiasm (okay, and your desire to save a few bucks), and we were impressed. Our first 50 passes sold out in 9 seconds. Our next 50 sold out in under 2 minutes, and the next 70 within the next day. This really helps us pull together the resources we need to put this thing together, and we are enormously grateful!

NEW TRAILER (2/3) 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?'
The second installment of highlights from last year's event features mostly footage from social dancing and jams at camp. There's also a lot of great photos from camp photographers Hilary Mercer and Aris Pikeas, as well as some great candid photos taken by campers.
Check out the new trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av3RAX98FOc

TIME TO SIGN UP: NOW
- We've got just 20 spots left at this price point
- Lindy Hop tracks are filling up fast and WILL be capped
- Today is the last day to start a 6 month payment plan

More updates coming soon!


Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

LESS THAN 10 SLOTS LEFT AT CURRENT PRICE
That's right, we expect to sell out of the current price point within a few hours, so jump over now to lindyfocus.com and sign up!

LIVE MUSIC ANNOUNCED
We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting two of our very favorite dance bands for this year's event: Tuba Skinny from New Orleans, and Seattle's Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators! They will each play shows on separate nights of camp, and come together for an unforgettable combined set for our New Year's party! Of course that's not all the live music awesomeness we'll have, so stay tuned for more announcements as we get closer to camp...

TUBA SKINNY
Tuba Skinny is a band that takes its listeners back in time to the jazz and blues music of the nineteen twenties and thirties. The members have been playing together since April 2009. Tuba Skinny plays traditional Dixieland Jazz and Old Blues songs. They're cousins of Loose Marbles and Baby Soda in NYC. These groups have interchangeable players and it is a joy to witness these youngsters spreading the word about the New Orleans music.

GLENN CRYTZER AND HIS SYNCOPATORS
Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators is a jazz band dedicated to the popular music of the 1920's, 1930's and early 1940's. Founded in 2007 by band leader Glenn Crytzer, the group has become a favorite among dancers around the country. The group's repertoire includes songs and arrangements by Benny Goodman, Fats Waller, John Kirby, Jelly Roll Morton, and more, as well as new original tunes composed in the vintage style. The Syncopators have been featured at Camp Jitterbug, the Seattle Lindy Exchange, Hot Mess, the Emerald City Blues Festival, the Savoy Swing Jam, the Century Ballroom Masters of Lindy Hop and Tap, Harlem Nights, and the Killer Diller Ball, and is the house band at Seattle's Historic Century Ballroom.

More coming soon...

Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

REGISTRATION UPDATE
Alright folks, passes are selling fast, and some are close to selling out:
- less than 10 intermediate lindy hop follower spots left!
- less than 15 int/adv and advanced lindy hop follower spots left for 1st half of camp!
- less than 10 full pass spots left (regardless of track) before next price increase!
- 3 month payment plan only available for two more weeks!

So far we've got dancers coming from 29 US states, 127 US cities, and 9 countries, with more being added every day. Come join the party! Register now: http://www.lindyfocus.com/about/register

FORUM OPERATIONAL
Looking for roommates? Carpools? Comp & Show partners? Hook up with other attendees using our newly activated forum: http://www.lindyfocus.com/forum/

DANCE-ONLY PASSES AVAILABLE
For those of you who just want to come out to the evening dance parties, we've now got dance passes for sale on our registration page: http://www.lindyfocus.com/about/register As with regular passes, these are cheaper the sooner you buy them. This pass includes all main and late night dances, performance and competition viewing. Those who are planning to compete need to hold either a full camp pass or dance pass.

HOSTEL INFORMATION AVAILABLE
We are excited to let you know we'll be partnering again with Sweet Peas Hostel for those that prefer an alternate housing option. This beautiful little place was a favorite for last year's attendees, and we encourage you to check it out: http://www.lindyfocus.com/about/travelinfo

Competition info, DJ's, and more coming soon!
Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

REGISTRATION UPDATE
Classes are filling up, folks! Note that if you want to take a track, but it's full for half of camp, you can take another track for that half. (For instance, if you hadn't considered it, we've got a Comp and Show track, leveled Lindy Hop and leveled Balboa tracks to flesh out your learning experience.)
- Intermediate Lindy Hop is FULL for follows.
- Advanced Lindy Hop is FULL for follows for the first 1/2 of camp.
- Intermediate/Advanced Lindy Hop has 3 SLOTS LEFT for follows.
- Intermediate Balboa has 1 SPOT LEFT for follows for the 2nd 1/2 of camp.
- register now: http://www.lindyfocus.com/about/register

NEW YEAR'S EVE-ONLY PASSES NOW AVAILABLE
If you've already registered or are planning on registering for the Full Camp or Dance pass, the New Year's Party is already included. But if not, or if you know someone who might want to just come and celebrate New Year's Eve with us, we're now selling passes for just that night. The evening features a magnificent duel between our two headlining bands - Glenn Chrytzer and His Syncopators and Tuba Skinny, a dance show featuring performances by your favorite Lindy Focus instructors and special guests, and a midnight champagne toast! DEAL: buy two or more passes and get $5 off each pass.

MORE INSTRUCTORS - WELCOME TO THE TEAM!
We're very excited that among our already-announced stellar lineup, our teaching staff will be joined by Mike Roberts, Laura Glaess, Patrick Szmidt, Natasha Ouimet, Davis Thurber, Claudia Joyal-Laplante, Scott Angelius, Vanessa Shields, Frederic Barbe, Patricia Brodeur, Andrew Thigpen, and Karen Turman! See our whole lineup: http://www.lindyfocus.com/thepeople.php

COMPETITION REGISTRATION OPENS MON. NOV. 1ST
And slots will be limited, so sign up fast! Here is a list of the official competitions at Lindy Focus. The less you know about the unofficial ones, the better. In order to participate in competitions, competitors must hold either a Full Camp pass or Dances Only pass.

- Novice Any-Swing-Goes Jack and Jill
- Open Balboa Jack and Jill
- Open Lindy Hop Jack and Jill
- Invitational All Star Balboa Jack and Jill
- Invitational All Star Lindy Hop Jack and Jill
- Open Strictly Balboa
- Open Strictly Lindy Hop
- Slow Dance
- Solo Jazz and Charleston
- Lindy Hop Showcase

See all the details and rules on our Camp page: http://www.lindyfocus.com/thecamp.php

SWEET AIRFARE DEALS
We've found some great one-way fares flying into Asheville from all over the US using kayak.com. Check out our new airfare deals page: http://www.lindyfocus.com/travel.prices.php


Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

REGISTRATION UPDATE
Even more classes are filling up, folks! If a track you want is full for half of camp, you can take another track for the other half. (For instance, if you hadn't considered it, we've got a Comp and Show track, leveled Lindy Hop and leveled Balboa tracks to flesh out your learning experience.)

- Intermediate Lindy Hop is FULL for follows.
- Intermediate/Advanced is FULL for follows for the first 1/2 of camp.
- Advanced Lindy Hop is FULL for follows for the first 1/2 of camp.
- Intermediate Balboa is FULL for follows for the second 1/2 of camp.

Note: Followers wanting to get on the waiting list for any of the full tracks should contact us. Also, you'd be welcome to take half of camp as a lead, depending on your experience. (For example a more advanced Lindy Hop follow might take beginning Lindy Hop as a lead if her track is full.) If interested, contact us! Register now: http://www.lindyfocus.com/about/register

BALBOA AT LINDY FOCUS
You might have noticed that we're kind of making a big deal of Balboa this year, with leveled tracks, competition divisions, and an amazing assortment of Balboa instructors. You may ask 'Why here? Isn't this Lindy Focus??' And the answer is that while Lindy Hop was the dance that many of us began with, we believe its past time that the swing community as a whole celebrate the amazing art form of Balboa! Furthermore, we believe these dance forms can and should play TOGETHER, for ultimately it is swing music that brings us together and gets us movin'. If you haven't looked at the Balboa tracks yet, we invite you to check them out!

DJ's ANNOUNCED - WELCOME TO THE TEAM!
Our carefully selected crew of swing music experts was chosen for their spotless taste, impressive collections, and dance floor awareness. We proudly welcome Daniel Newsome, Allen Kerr, Mike Thibault, Michael Gamble, and Kristy Milliken, but that's not all! Stepping up as main DJ is North Carolina's own Rob Moreland, and presenting some special all-vinyl sets will be the esteemed Jim Wheatley of Atlanta. See our whole lineup: http://www.lindyfocus.com/thepeople.php

COMPETITION REGISTRATION IS OPEN
And slots are quickly filling up, so go ahead and register if you're planning to compete -- these divisions WILL be capped! See all the details and rules on our Camp page: http://www.lindyfocus.com/thecamp.php

More updates coming soon folks, we'll see you soon!

Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!

[quantum swing kitten]

LINDY FOCUS IX GARMENTS
Because we know you like variety, for this year's design we will offer over 25 colors and styles to choose from at the event. Supplies will be limited, so make sure to grab the one you want early on! (And sorry, no pre-ordering will be available)

RETURN OF THE SPECIAL EDITION
Back by popular demand, we will once again be offering a very limited number of special edition garments (created by Nick Weinmiller) with an updated design for this year. (Featuring Juan and Sharon... and maybe someone else too) Yeah!

See them: http://www.lindyfocus.com/about/extras

2 MONTH PAYMENT OPTION ABOUT TO EXPIRE
Just a few more days left to register if you wish to break your payment up into two parts. Participation in payment plans has been awesome, and we are proud to offer this service to make paying for this event as convenient as possible!

PRICE ABOUT TO GO UP
We've just got a few more slots left for the full camp at the current price, so register now to save!

PLANNING ON TAKING BALBOA?
We will be offering beginner-level Balboa electives, but if you are planning on taking the Intermediate Balboa track or higher, we ask that you review some pre-requisites. Adam Speen and Nelle Cherry have a great collection of introductory lessons on iDance.net, which we encourage you to check out prior to camp:

Intro to Pure Balboa: http://www.idance.net/pack/177
Intro to Bal-Swing: http://www.idance.net/pack/179

NEW TO LINDY HOP, BUT STILL COMING?
One of our most frequently asked questions is which track to take if you've taken a few Lindy Hop lessons, but aren't sure whether to place yourself in Beginner (which starts from the ground up) or Intermediate (which assumes a certain level of experience.) We ask that those taking the Intermediate track be confident executing the 'basic core repertoire' of the dance, which can also be found on iDance.net, in a lesson pack taught by Kevin St. Laurent and Jo Hoffberg.

Intro to Lindy Hop: http://www.idance.net/pack/112

Registrations are pouring in! We've got an amazing event planned for you guys -- more updates soon; we can't wait to see you all!
Visit us and learn more at http://www.lindyfocus.com!