Swing Dance Classes with John and Sandra

Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
- Chinese Proverb

You don't stop dancing because you've grown old. You grow old because you've stopped dancing.

Swing Dance Lessons with John and Sandra

Introduction to Swing Dance

East Coast Swing / Smooth Style Swing

Intermediate Swing

Smooth Style Swing / Lindy Hop / Other styles

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2007/2008
class descriptions

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John and Sandra's Classes

About John and Sandra

John & Sandra offer relaxed, fun and informative classes as they balance professional instruction with practice time and opportunities to experience the fun and joy of dancing. Tuesday night group lessons are offered to the public between September and June at Tracy Hall, the town hall in Norwich, VT. You may browse through the schedule below and register on this page for any of their classes.

They presently offer two group classes in Norwich. “Introduction to Swing Dance” and "Intermediate Swing Dance". The primary influence for the material in both classes comes from Smooth Style Swing, a style of swing dance first introduced by Dean Collins in the 1940's. Smooth Style Swing is both a popular style of Lindy Hop today and the basis from which West Coast Swing was born.

John and Sandra draw from the vast material handed down over the years from Dean's work to present a unique approach to East Coast Swing and Lindy Hop. Their Intro class focuses primarily on East Coast Swing/Jitterbug styles while their Intermediate class extends the range of instruction through Smooth Style Swing, Lindy Hop and other styles of swing dance, depending on the particular interests of the students. All of their classes include an emphasis on technique, lead & follow skills, and on the roots and original character of swing dance.

Classes are organized in five-week sessions. The first week of each series contains fundamentals and a focus on technique to help dancers build a base for learning. Then, in the weeks that follow, they build on the material progressively and provide each class of students with a broad range of skills. They welcome students of all ages and ability levels.

No partner is required, but students are encouraged to team up with partners to practice between weekly classes. Students are invited to join their classes during either of the first two weeks of each series. Weeks three through five are reserved for students who have participated in the first two weeks or for returning students who have had previous instruction from John or Sandra.

Each series of classes contains different material. It is common for students to take several series of classes at the same instructional level. “Introduction to Swing, Series A” contains different material than series “Introduction to Swing, Series B” and so forth.

Swing dance instructors, John & Sandra are well-known for their emphasis on lead and follow technique and for their ease at demonstrating the otherwise difficult concepts of counter-balance, compression, and resistance that make partner dance look and feel effortless.

John has been teaching and helping to build the Upper Valley dance community since 1994 when he began publication of the “Twin State Dance News” and started teaching dance workshops in White River Jct, VT. In 1999, with the help of Robin Russell and other local dancers, John began hosting dances at Tracy Hall in Norwich, VT, from which the Upper Valley Swing Dance Network was born, bringing the newsletter to the Internet and expanding oppportunities for classes and events.

Sandra studied traditional Lithuanian country dance in Lithuania and became interested in Lindy Hop when she moved to the United States. She joined John as a teaching partner shortly after they were engaged in 2003. Together they host monthly dances, offer special dance workshops, and teach group classes in Norwich, VT. They also teach private lessons in their home in Hanover, NH.

John & Sandra study swing dance from a variety of instructors including World Swing Dance Champions and American Lindy Hop Champions, Nathalie Gomes & Yuval Hod, of New York City. They occasionally travel to teach classes and special workshops. Among other places, they have taught for dance communities in Portsmouth, NH, New York City, Boston, MA, Greenwich, CT, Burlington, VT, Syracuse, NY, and at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck, NY.

Prior to teaching together, John was a part-time faculty member at Richmond Middle School in Hanover, NH, teaching swing dance as part of the phys-ed curriculum for seventh and eight grade students. They are both faculty members for Swingin' New England, one of the premier swing dance events in the US, and they have served as faculty members and performers for the annual Vermont Dance Festival in Lyndon Center, VT.

Norwich, Vermont - Class Descriptions

Classes held at: Tracy Hall (Town hall) - Norwich, Vermont
Co-sponsored by Norwich Recreation Council and Upper Valley Swing Dance Network.

Introduction to Swing Dance - East Coast Swing/Smooth Style Swing 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

- with an emphasis on the roots and original character of swing dance.
This class is for those who are just beginning and for those with some limited swing dance experience. It's also for experienced dancers who are new to Smooth Style Swing. In this class you will learn and practice basic “East Coast” and Smooth Style swing dance to get you feeling comfortable on the dance floor. Each 5-week series of classes highlights different material. Many students take multiple series of classes to gain a wider range of skill.

Winter/Spring 2007/2008 Beginner class notes: John & Sandra will teach 6-count fundamentals in January, followed by an extensive syllabus of East coast swing dance moves through the winter and spring. With each new series, John & Sandra will review the fundamentals and useful dance techniques during the first week, followed by a different syllabus of dance moves for each series.

Intermediate Swing Dance - Smooth Style Swing 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

- with an emphasis on the roots and original character of swing dance.
To participate in this class you should have been swing dancing for at least six months, go out dancing occasionally, and are comfortable with East Coast swing or Lindy Hop. In this series you will continue to build your dance vocabulary while you focus on developing more lead and following skills and learn some fun moves. Each 5-week series of classes highlights different material. Many students take multiple series of classes to gain a wider range of skill.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Swing Dance, or equivalent experience.

Winter/Spring 2007/2008 Intermediate class notes: John & Sandra will teach 8-count fundamentals in January, followed by an extensive syllabus of Smooth-style swing dance moves through the winter and spring. We will spend the ’07/’08 winter focusing on dance moves that are distinctive of Smooth-style swing. If you have been thinking about joining the intermediate classes, this will be an excellent time to start. Grab some friends and join us this winter and spring.

Tuesday Night Practice Dances 9:00 PM - 9:30 PM

- open to the public and free for Tuesday night students.
The practice dance is open and free to anyone. Students in the beginner class are invited to watch the Introductory class and then join the Practice Dance at 9:00 PM. Intermediate students are always welcome to join the beginner classes for no-charge refreshers.

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2007/2008 Schedule
Series A:	Tuesdays, Sep 11, 18, 25, Oct 2, 9
Series B:	Tuesdays, Oct 23, 30, Nov 13, 20, 27
Series C:	Tuesdays, Jan 22, 29, Feb 5, 12, 19
Series D:	Tuesdays, Mar, 11, 18, 25, Apr 1, 8
Series E:	Tuesdays, Apr 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13

Schedule: Everyone who dances understands the value of practicing what you learn in classes. So we offer a schedule of classes that encourages practice immediately following the lessons. Instruction time for each class runs for one-hour (Introductory classes at 7:00 PM and Intermediate at 8:00 PM) immediately followed by a guided practice time with the instructors from 9:00 to 9:30 PM.

Rates: Norwich residents: $40.00, non-residents: $45.00 for five weeks. Group registrations available for groups of four or more at $37.00 each for Norwich residents and $41.00 each for non-residents. Or attend individual classes at $9.00 per class for residents and $10.00 per class for non-residents. No partner necessary. We attempt to maintain “leader/follower” balance.

Partners: No partner is required for any class but we encourage our students to team up with partners to practice between weekly classes. We make efforts to establish a leader/follower balance in the classes.

Shoes & Clothing: Please carry in a comfortable pair of shoes with clean soles to change into after you arrive. These shoes should have laces or straps to hold them securely to your feet when you are dancing. They should not be too heavy. As an example, Hush Puppies are great, bowling shoes are also great, or any similar shoe. But avoid sneakers, boots, and rubber soles that will stick to the floor. Dressing for dance classes is like dressing for aerobics classes. Dress lightweight and comfortably.

Class Notes: Each series of classes contains different material. It is common for students to take several series of classes at the same instructional level. “Introduction to Swing, Series A” contains different material than series “Introduction to Swing, Series B” and so forth. All classes are held at Tracy Hall in Norwich, VT. Click the link below for our on-line registration form. Be sure to fill out all information. Then, after registering, please mail your payment to:

Norwich Recreation Council
PO Box 1137
Norwich, VT 05055-1137

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Upper Valley Swing Dance Network
Hotline: 603-643-5341
PO Box 5184, Hanover, NH 03755