Author: Swing Tyne

Saturday 7th June, St Matthew’s Church

We are super thrilled to announce our June improver+ workshop with visiting instructors Caroline and Joe. You can expect four hours of progressive content, from enhancing your fundamental technique all the way to learning exciting new variations.

Introducing our teachers:

“Joe started dancing in Manchester in 2016. Though his journey began with lindy hop, he quickly discovered his love for shag, with its fast movement and fun style. His teaching stomping grounds were at Manshagster, where he started out before moving his practice to Lancaster with teaching partner Caroline. Nowadays, you will find him teaching weekly classes at Swing North.

Joe is known to enjoy all swing dances as both a leader and follower, and switching dance styles at any tempo. When he isn’t attending local and international festivals, he is practicing footwork in his kitchen!

Caroline’s love affair with shag began shortly after she started dancing in Manchester in 2018. After moving to Lancaster, she continued to grow her passion by joining the local committee, travelling to events across the country and committing several evenings per week to her dancing. She is now back in Manchester teaching shag with dance partner Joe.

Caroline believes that, by creating a playful and relaxed class atmosphere, she can foster a better, more enjoyable learning environment. She takes care to encourage open dialogue, sharing, and experimentation in her classes. Her teaching approach is focused on helping students develop their technique by anchoring it to attuned connection with the partner and the music.”

Get your tickets on Dancecloud before they sell out. Check the event description for information about concessions, refunds, and facilities available at the event.

https://swingtyne.dancecloud.com/dance/37124

Location
St Matthews Church, 11 Summerhill St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6EJ

Date & Time
Saturday 29th March 2025. Doors 10:30 for a 11:00 start. Doors close 18:00.

Teachers
All Classes will be run by Swing Tyne teachers.

Level
The classes are designed for both beginners (dancing <1 year) and improvers who want to hone their technique or learn the opposite role. This workshop will help you be ready for our ‘Improvers and Beyond’ workshop later this year delivered by special guest teachers, so please come along!

We will explore fundamental techniques, movement, connection, quality of dance, core shag vocabulary, and variations that will enhance your individual level of dancing.

No dance partner is required. However, a balance of leads and followers is needed, so there may be a wait list until an opposite role is booked.

Timetable & Schedule
There will be roughly four hours of classes, with regular breaks and lunch, followed by an hour and a half of social dancing where you can hone and practice your moves.

10:30 – Doors open for arrivals, tea & coffee.
11:00 – Lesson 1
11:50 – Break
12:05 – Lesson 2
12:55 – Lunch
13:40 – Lesson 3
14:30 – Break
14:45 – Lesson 4
15:35 – Break
15:50 – Mop up, bonuses, and recaps
16:15 – Social Dancing
18:00 – Close

Facilities
Tea/Coffee and water will be provided.

We recommend bringing your own packed lunch (no lunch provided), as local cafes/shops are limited and the lunch break will be 45 minutes.

Please bring slippy-soled shoes for dancing. Spare shirt/socks/deodorant/dance towel will help you stay comfortable and considerate of others, especially if you’ve been putting in a lot of effort!

Concessions
Concession prices are for those who are students/unemployed/low waged. We ask that anyone who can afford the standard priced tickets please purchase one. We are a not for profit charity so every £ paid is used for our dancing community.

No refunds will be given and no tickets are to be resold (you can re-allocate your ticket). Swing Tyne will try to sell your place and if successful a refund will be issued (up until the 24th March 2025).

Join us tomorrow (Monday, the 25th of November) for fundamentals and improvers lindy hop in Summerhill Bowling Club, as well as fundamentals and improvers balboa classes in St Matthew’s Church! We will end the night with social dancing in Summerhill as usual.

Finally, our fabulous seasonal soirée is around the corner – remember to grab those last-minute Winter Ball tickets while sales last! This Saturday the 30th, we will have a night to remember dancing to live music by House of the Black Gardenia, listening to groovy sets by local swing DJs, and playing games. Check our Facebook page for event details and tickets.