Upcoming Events

Here is our calendar of events. If you know of something in the area that is not on our list, please sent us an email at info@swingcville.org!

The Lindustrial Revolution
Sept. 3 - 5 | Charlottesville, VA

Past Events

July 24th - Blues, Blues, & More Blues with Amber & Z!!

"We stood in a dance studio lined with mirrors and lit only with white Christmas tree lights, and Z was teaching me some isolations. As the soulful voice of B.B. King rose, we rushed around the room, spinning and jumping, and then we would stop and echo the simple pulse of the music in our shoulders, chests, and hips. We embraced, and my back followed the slight movements of his arm." --Amber

Who the heck wouldn’t want to teach blues after that?!

After Z and Amber started dating (sorry ladies!), they organized their passion for blues into Virginia Tech’s first series of blues dance lessons. The lessons focused on musicality, isolations, and other badass blues basics that started the Blacksburg blues craze—at least that’s what they tell themselves. They taught and refined these lessons for the next three years, while also DJ-ing late nights and organizing professional workshops. After regretfully graduating, they sought their blues instructing fix in Fredericksburg, Richmond, Charlottesville, and the DC area, where they currently live. Amber and Z regularly teach for Capital Blues, and they aspire to someday honor their New Year’s resolution to choreograph or compete in something.

June 26th - Lindy Hop Styling with Courtney Widger and John Ennis!

Learn some cool styling and musicality to make your dancing dynamic, fun, and fit your own unique personality! Afterwards we'll have DJ Mike Guzzo (and perhaps a few others!) spinning your favorite tunes! As always there will be plenty of drinks and snacks to enjoy!

About Our Teachers!

Courtney Widger
Courtney's groovy style, crazy hips and high flying aerials made her one of the best amateur follows in LA and now she lives in Charlottesville!
Courtney has been competing since 2006 and placing in many local and national competitions. She was an honorary member of Ben and Sheri's championship team the One 2 Swing Jitterbugs and a member Carol Fraser and Debbie Gitt's highly acclaimed team, SuperCaliLindyLicious, winning 2nd place at the National Jitterbug Championships, 1st place at the American Lindy Hop Championships, and 1st place at the U.S. Open.
As a teacher, Courtney enjoys making her classes fun and inspiring for everyone.

John Ennis
John Ennis, the winner of the Amateur Grand Slam award at the 2007 National Jitterbug Championships, has won and placed in a wide variety of contests (including winning the 2009 College of Swingology Jack and Jill!) since he began dancing in 2002. Known for his creative musicality and enthusiastic teaching, John loves to share his unique perspectives on leading, following, technique and styling.

About Our DJs!

Mike Guzzo
Mike started dancing in 1999, and has been DJing and teaching since 2001, and he co-founded the ECU Swing Dance Club in 2002. His music is a reflection of the history of Jazz, Blues, and Swing Music, mixing together old standards and new grooves to keep the dance floor fun.

Cat's Corner with Tamar Rachel

Wednesday, June 16th

Tamar Rachel Picks Your Dancing Apart!

This is an AMAZING opportunity! Your Choice: Blues or Lindy. Dance 1 song and Tamar will help you 1 on 1 with what she sees!

Tamar Rachel, born in Ohio and raised in South Florida, is currently beginning her next great adventure as she leaves her most recent residence in DC to travel. She started teaching dance in 1999 at Florida Atlantic University and in local nightclubs. Almost as soon as she started offering private lessons, she had been invited to teach abroad. Traveling to exchanges and workshops allowed Tamar to continue her own education, dotting her dance resume with lessons from some of the world’s top instructors. Although her specialties include lindy hop and blues, Tamar also enjoys teaching social ballroom and Latin dancing when she can. As her music collection grew over the years (due to a clear love of the era), her natural next venture as a DJ came to fruition and, eventually, the secret was out that Tamar is a singer. She has been fortunate enough to sing with Gordon Webster, Solomon Douglas, Joshua Fialkoff and several great musicians across the country, most recently making appearances at Philly Lindy Love 2010 and the Boston Independence Exchange 2010. With invites to DJ at regional and national events over the last few years, Tamar has never been short of a challenge to express her love of the music and the dance to the crowd she adores most, dancers.

Balboa Workshops with Chris & Holly Owens

C'ville Savoy - May 22

Jam Session Workshop

May 1st - Special Event

The Jam Session Workshop with Courtney and Jason was a blast! I felt like a kid in a candy store. Courtney and Jason really brought some of their best moves. When I saw them do the kip aerial all I could think was "no freakin' way"" but we're getting there! They kept it so light and fun, but worked us too. AWESOME!! Check out my practice video below the recaps... it is only part of the whole aerial, but I'm getting my legs around… I figure that's half the battle. I'm sore and bruised, but I had so much fun! Here are the links to Courtney and Jason doing a recap at the end of that awesome but exhausting workshop:

Courtney & Jason Frog Jump Recap
Courtney & Jason Lamp Post (aka Lindy Flip) Recap
Courtney & Jason Pancake Recap
Courtney & Jason Kip Recap

Melissa’s Kip from the Jam Session Workshop Video

Lee and Crista Workshops

C'ville Savoy - April 24

Lee Tucker and Crista Seipp came for April's C'ville Savoy. They taught us a short routine that required some fundamental Lindy Hop techniques. The first video is the routine and the second one is the review video. Please forgive the quality of the video - I forgot my camera and had to use my phone!

I liked the stretch used in this routine. At first I thought it was a memorized routine, but it really has to be led and followed or it doesn't work! I love following. Hope you enjoyed it if you were there, but regardless I hope to see you at the next one!