April 2013 newsletter

Birthday celebration - Tuesday 23 April 2013

Yes - it's Mr Ritchie’s bird-day.  And to celebrate – the Duxton Inn in O'Connor has put on a Tuesday Two for One Pizza deal because he is special!  Well, actually they do it every week.  But anyway, let's head down to the Duxton for 2 for 1 pizzas before class at 5:45pm and to wish Dave a Happy birthday.  What's more, I expect all you gals and maybe a Lead or two to take him for a spin on the dance floor tomorrow night. :-)

 

Next West Coast Swing term starts 30th April

You know, word of mouth has the greatest result for any company.  We hope you are our fans and ambassadors and we really, really need you to sell Audacity Dance as well!  It builds a great community and allows us to bring you world class events like the recent Kiwi Konnection workshops at cost prices.  Like I said, all help appreciated.  Email mark@audacitydance.com.au for a special deal for your friends.

Also - our term 1 students will be broken into two classes with those who have their moves perfected given the opportunity to do an 'Essentials' course in a spare room at the club.  see you in Term 2.

Next Dance Party is 3rd May

Our next Friday night dance party is the 3^rd May - $10 at the Turner Bowling Club. Join us at 6pm for a meal at the Burmese bistro.  If you turn up after 6:30pm, the meals take much onger to come out and are harder to digest when dancing :-(  Dance starts at 8pm.  Bring a non-dance friend - they can come in at no cost and do a free dance lesson.  Put it in your diaries now!!!

Kiwi Konnection DVD now available

The Kiwi Konnection workshops were a great success.  The price of the quality and professionally assembled DVD is set at $15.  Our next event is our annual Winter Solstice Wine Tour (on or around the Winter Solstice).  I will do a separate post for this event.

Want to go on a WCS Tour ?

We are heading to New Zealand and Melbourne in October.  Come to one event or both.  Pay your own airfares and share accommodation costs.  We know all the right WCS venues and guarantee a great time.  Email mark@audacitydance .com.au and ask to be put on my mailing list for itinerary and likely expenses.

Improve your WCS - learn a Dance Routine

A dance routine is THE best way to improve your WCS.  You need to have a regular dance partner and be prepared to practice.  Just ask us if you at class to assess if you are ready to learn a team routine.  We aim to take our 'You and Me' routine to the CMJ West Coast Swing championships and the GDS competion in June and July.

Upcoming interstate dance opportunities

• Swingsation on the Gold Coast - May - booked out
• CMJ Sydney - June long weekend - Sunday 9th June - $50.  Goto www.ceroc.com.au
• Winter Solstice Wine Tour Canberra - Audacity Dance event - more details soon
• Third Foot Adelaide - Intensive weekend with numerous pros from USA - prices range from $570 for a weekend to $1600 for a full week (27/7 to 5/8).  http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4106691224?ref=ebtn#
• GDS Ball in Canberra - local dance club GDS has a fun comp and ball at the Hellenic Club in July.  $128  http://www.gabysdancestudioclub.org/ 
• New Zealand championships Auckland - $200 - October 10 - 13th http://swingfx.co.nz/nzopen.html
• Australian Open in Melbourne - $300 - October http://australianopenwcs.com.au/register-now/ - earlybird prices end 30th April 2013.
• Swingtimate Gold Coast - www.rawconnection.com.au

 

Kiwi Konnection Workshop details

We have workshops and a Dinner Dance planned for the 13th April.  Kiwi WCS champions Ani Fuller and Eric Gray will be our guests and main workshop teachers.  You can attend one or more workshops and/or the Dinner Dance but you need to book through Eventbrite.  The most popular option so far is the Dinner Dance and Two workshop deal at $149 plus Eventbrite fee.  http://kiwikonnection.eventbrite.com.au/

 

The Saturday night Dinner Dance is at Joey's Kitchen /restaurant at Watson for Tickets are limited to maximise floor space! I will close off the Dinner Dance sales when numbers hit 40. Admission price includes drinks until the kitty runs dry!  Last time it was 11pm :-)

 

There are four workshops on the Saturday and the content of each workshop is provided below.   The workshops will be held at the Southern Cross Club in Turner. They are incremental by nature suiting Novice Dancers through to Continuing level/ Intermediate students.   Each workshop will be stand-alone. 

 

11am: Mark and Karolina will run a Transition to Continuing Level workshop starting from 11am to 1pm.  We will concentrate on the techniques and attributes you will need to transition from the Beginner level to Continuing level classes.   This workshop is aimed at our 2013 intake. 

 

Ani and Eric will be doing three workshops on Saturday afternoon.  I have a two page workshop description you can request at class for a full rundown on the curriculum.  

 

Starting at 1:30pm - WS1: The Kiwi Konnection - Connecting with Your Partner - the importance of connection, understanding the &a1, how to read your partner, maintaining ebb & flow in your dancing without getting tired, being a responsible lead and a fantastic follow, adding projection into your dance. (This workshop will be suitable for regular Beginner level dancers and up.)

2:45pm WS2: Shapes - more options than you think. Shaping both as individuals and as partners is the theme of this workshop. Level changes, slot changes, body shaping, even hairography! Suitable for Continuing level students.

4:00pm WS3: Centre! Six letters that will change your world! More of a patterns workshop but still working on techniques including stealing momentum from your partner, taking a free ride from your partner's energy, working it in close. Suitable for Continuing level dancers.

Dinner Dance

Pre-dinner drinks at Joey's Kitchen Watson from 7pm. Dinner is served at 7:30pm.

 

Discount Offers:

Our 5% early bird discount has now expired. However, interstate dancers receive a discount to assist with petrol and accommodation costs. You just need to identify as a non-ACT and environs resident. The code is listed in the ticket description!.

Welcome to Autumn 2013

First Dance Party a roaring success.

Our first dance party for 2013 was a great success!  We had around 15 people join us in the bistro for a great value Burmese meal - and the odd Surf and Turf and Snitzel and gravy. :-)  There were 20 dancers and all I can say is we had a blast.  Your teachers were on the floor - every song - all night long!  No wonder my feet are a little tender this morning.

Kiwi Konnection Excitement

Ani Fuller and Eric Gray have their airline tickets booked for our Kiwi Konnection weekend.  I spoke to Eric on Friday and he told me that he and Ani are super excited. They have 3 workshops planned.  "Workshop 1 is called Connecting with Your Partner.  We will demonstrate the importance of connection, how to read your partner, being a responsible lead and a fantastic follow.  In Workshop 2 we work on eliminating that 'stunned mullet look" Eric told me.  "It might have been goon in a haircut in the 70's but it isn't fashionable when dancing."

 

The third workshop is called "Centre - six letters that will change your world!"  I love that title and  asked Eric why they chose it.  He told me that identifying where your centre is located is the key to power, smoothness and enhanced musicality.  I am so looking forward to the workshops.  The workshops are for all levels of dancer.  Anyone with at least 3 - 4 months of dance experience in WCS will leave these workshops amazed at what they have learned on the 13th April through Eric and Ani.  Book your tickets here: http://kiwikonnection.eventbrite.com.au/#

Get your discounted tickets before the 9th March

The 5% discount for Canberra patrons to our Dinner Dance and workshops ends on the 9th March. The Dinner Dance and workshops will be held n the 13th April   The discount is our way of saying thank you for your patronage.  Our ticket pricing is kept right to the bone and so we must pass on the Eventbrite ticketing fee of 2% in order to cover costs.  The meal at Joey's Kitchen is superb and the drinks kitty ensures you are kicked off to a great night in the right fashion! 

 

Eric and Ani are well known in Australia being champions at a number of events.  Here they are in a recent NuRoc Open Level Final.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cfLrCIGyAk

 

Discounts for Interstate patrons

Interstate friends of Ani and Eric – we are offering you a range of discounts for the Dinner Dance and workshops.  Discounts range from $9 for a single workshop up to $39 for the Dinner Dance and all workshops.  When you go to the Eventbrite website, you need to enter the relevant Promo code for your discount.  The Promo codes are written into the ticket descriptions.

Earn free dance time with us

Want to earn some cash or get a discount on your next six class pass?  It’s easy.  We have this great offer where any new student you introduce that purchases a $149 Ten Class Intro to WCS package entitles you to a $20 discount per package sold.  Not only that, but if your friends purchase the classes before the 10th March, we will give them a $30 discount and we will absorb the $4.72 ticketting charge!  Total cost before the 10th March is $119.  Details at http://audacitydance2013term2.eventbrite.com.au/?discount=EB30# or email mark@audacitydance.com.au.  Students can have this deal for $99.  http://audacitydance2013term2.eventbrite.com.au/?discount=Student
 

Want to improve dramatically?

Like to do a private lesson to enhance your dance?  We charge $60 for a private lesson for a couple and $50 for an individual.  We have a special offer where two couples can share the cost of a private lesson for $80.  Talk to us at class for arrangements.

Men’s and Ladies shoe dance sale. 

Men’s shoes reduced from $140 to $60.  Ask at class on Tuesday.  Also - one pair of Ladies shoes size 39 available for $40.

Feb 16th - Exciting News!

Upskill your West Coast with a 2 couple private lesson

Classes continue to have a great edge with all our new patrons doing exceptionally well.  Everyone is enjoying class.   We just wish we could dedicate more than just a song dancing with each of you after class.  Having time with an experienced lead or follow can really upskill your levels very quickly.  With that factor in mind, we want to offer our new and existing students a private lesson format that we know will really help consolidate what you have been learning.  It will also put you in great form for our upcoming Dinner Dance and Workshops with international guests Eric and Ani on the 12th April.  (More on that news later!)

Our offer - pick a time on Saturday the 2nd March between 11am and 5pm.  We will offer a two couple private lesson for an hour.  Two teachers will work and drill you in the concepts and techniques of West Coast Swing for $20 per person.  You will be amazed at how much you can learn when the teachers can spend one on one time with you as a lead, follow or couple. 

Monthly Dance Party on Friday 1st March 2013

We have booked the Southern Cross Turner Bowling Club from 7:30pm - 11pm on Friday 1st March.  Cost is $10 and includes some nibblies and we might teach you a smick move or two.  Why not get there around 7pm and have a meal from the great Burmese restaurant at the club.  Good food, great value (most meals under $15) and an entertaining night out. 

New Zealand West Coast Swing stars coming to Canberra

We are really excited that our friends Eric Grey and Ani Fuller are coming to Canberra.  They will run workshops on the 13th April during the day and we will have a Dinner Dance that night.  I will be creating a web site soon with all the booking details.  I am still working on the finer details but I expect two workshops and a Dinner Dance to be between $140 and $150 - including a few drinkies :-).  The Dinner Dance on its own will be around $75 and single workshops around $40.

Our next term of 10 week lessons starts 29th April 2013

We would like your help promoting our next Intro to WCS course starting just after the school holidays.  We'd like your input on keeping classes fresh and fun.  We would also like to offer you $30 cashback for every new starter to WCS that signs up thanks to your efforts.  Talk to us at class and we will sign you up as a WCS Ambassador!

Welcome to our first term 2013

A warm welcome to our 2013 Semester 1 class.  Thanks for choosing Audacity Dance as your partner in learning West Coast Swing.  We aim to provide you with fun classes and a most enjoyable Tuesday evening.  Once a month we have socials on a Friday night at the Turner Southern Cross Bowling Club.  There is a great Burmese restaurant there and the chance to enjoy a beverage or two together.  So book the 1^st March in your diary.  The week before that date we will consolidate our first four weeks of lessons with a fun revision class.  You will be surprised how much you have learnt over four or five weeks!

I highly recommend that you consider writing a few notes each week about what we cover in class.  You might also like to arrive 15 minutes before class and get in some warm up practice.

In this post, I plan to summarise some of the things we have covered over the first two weeks:

Handhold: we aim to make our Follows comfortable, around hip height or handshake height is what the Leader aims for.

Options: so far we have covered the Normal Handhold and the Handshake handhold when leading the dance

Lead: the Leader moves the Follow two steps forward every time – it is one of the few ‘rules’ of the dance

The Slot: Follows define the slot.  They own it and it is up to the Lead to get out of the way in a Left Side Pass or a Right Side Pass.  If the lead doesn’t get out of the way, it is a blocking move.  We call that move a Push.  We will teach you two Push variations next week.

Footwork patterns: We have been concentrating on the 6 beat pattens to date.  We call out – ‘Walk, Walk, Tri_ple_Step, Tri_ple_Step’.  The Lead walks BL (back left), BR (back right), LRL, RLR which is 8 steps in 6 peats.  Follows walk FR (forward right), FL, RLR, LRL.

Our dance is a conversation: The lead is offered and the follow accepts the lead.  The conversation is the interplay between partners and the music.  The top instructors refer to dancers as being the human instrument in the song.

International Guests, Dinner Dance and Workshops

We have other exciting news.  I have been negotiating with two international WCS champions to come to Canberra in April.  We are close to finalising the deal and if it comes off, they will teach workshops and we will have a dinner dance on the weekend of the 12th April.  More on this soon.

Kat is back - more workshops for 10th November

We have enough people interested to justify bringing Katrina Branson back to do three more workshops on Saturday 10th November.  The venue will be at the Turner Bowling Club in McCaughey St in Turner (TBC). 

 

The first workshop will start at 1:30pm and review and build on the unique levels idea that Katrina introduced in last week’s workshops. 

 

(I noticed on Tuesday how much this concept has added to people’s ability to change up ordinary moves into something different and exciting without overly stressing the brain of the Leader!  Thanks Kat!  Many of us needed those techniques and our teachers will be reinforcing this technique at class in upcoming Intermediate lessons.)

 

The second and third workshops will focus on Whips.  WS2 will be Whip Theory – how to add stretch and spring to your whips.

 

WS3 is a BYO Whip session (where B stands for ‘Build’).  This is exciting stuff that will really enhance your dance.

 

Cost is $39 for 1 workshop, $75 for two workshops and $109 for all three.  Please book through Eventbrite to make things easier administratively.  Bookings open 31 October 2012 at 8pm.  We will absorb the Eventbrite fees for this set of workshops.  http://katisback.eventbrite.com.au

 

Bookings close Wednesday 8th November at midnight.  See the contact details below for late bookings.  You can pay at the door but this attracts a $5 admin fee.

We will look for a venue we can “invade” for a dance.  Hopefully we will find good live band.  Your suggestions are most welcome!  If we cannot find a suitable band, we may arrange a BBQ and private dance.  You are welcome to join us for a PAYG dinner also at a place to be announced.

 

Contact mark@audacitydance.com.au or further information or leave a message at (02) 61616159

September 2012 News

Visiting US Pro

We are super excited to tell you that US West Coast Swing Pro Katrina Branson will be in Canberra from Tuesday 23rd October to Sunday the 28th October.  Katrina will be teaching our Tuesday Class and be available all week for private lessons.  There will be workshops on the Saturday and Sunday as well as a Dinner Dance on the Saturday night. 

 

Katrina is a gorgeous person and one awesome dancer.  Check her out with her regular partner in 2011 - Micheale Kielbasa in this Youtube clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQW0di5WLVI

 

Free private lesson

We plan to give away a free private lesson with Katrina to one of our lucky students.  You just need to be at class for 3 out of the next 6 weeks to get 1 chance, 4 from 6 for 2 chances and 5 from 6 to get 3 chances! 

 

I highly recommend you consider booking a private lesson with Katrina.  At $100, you will get a solid hour of dance instruction from one of the best in the business.  There will be limited lessons available so you need to book in early.  We will refund you the cost if you win the free private lesson. 

 

Next Dinner Dance and workshops

Our next Dinner Dance and workshops will be held the weekend of the 27th/28th October with Katrina leading the workshops.  I am searching for a venue for the Dinner Dance on the Saturday night.  I should finalise a location this week.  I will work with Katrina to make the workshops suitable for a range of Beginner through to Intermediate level dancers. 

Tickets to all events will be on Eventbrite to simplify administration.  Several of the top Sydney dancers plan to attend this event so expect a great night out!

 

10% discount for all our regulars who supported us over Winter

As a big thankyou to those who supported us over the Winter period, you may have a 10% discount on any of the Katrina Branson workshops or the Dinner Dance price.  That is 10% after any earlybird or final pricing.  Thank you for supporting us!

 

Volunteer needed!

Audacity Dance wants to grow WCS in Canberra and we need your help to do so.  I would like to recruit a social club coordinator to organise Friday night dances.  Any volunteers?  (You can bet it comes with a sweetener!)

Cheers
Mark& Karolina