Announcements including details of Winter Solstice Wine Tour and Dinner Dance

Karolina, Russell and Mark just got back from the Terry Roseborough workshops in Sydney.  Terry was flown out from Texas by West Coast Swing Australia.  There were 5 workshops in all and a great dance party.  It was well worth the travel to be taught by one of the best!

Speaking of the Best . . .
We will do our best to bring top flight Australian WCS talent to Canberra and our next set of workshops will coincide with the Winter Solstice Wine Tour and Dinner Dance.  More on that below - but first, let me tell you about our

Workshop and Afternoon Tea Dance this Sunday 25 March 2012:
If you have just finished the 8 week Intro to WCS course, what should you do next?  Firstly – we offer you the opportunity to move up to the Continuing level class.  You can purchase a 6 class pass (with 10 week expiry date) at the discount rate of $70 (normally $90) but it does come with a condition.  Firstly, you must work through (attend) the 7:15 Introductory material again to really consolidate what you have learnt over the last 8 weeks.  This is important because WCS Foundation techniques require consolidation to give your partner (Lead or Follow) the most enjoyable dance experience.  Secondly, you need to attend the Continuing Level Workshop this Sunday, or dance with Karolina or Mark at class to assess your technique in the essentials (see dot points below) before you move up.

Those of you who have just finished the 8 week intro to WCS course should do your best to attend the Continuing Level Workshop this coming Sunday. 

This coming Sunday 2pm – 4pm is the workshop that will prepare you for moving up to the Continuing level class.  It runs from 2pm to 4pm and is priced at $40.  We will cover:

·         Know your Basics – quick review of the 12 Basics

·         WCS Continuing Essentials
·         Footwork exercises
·         Elasticity exercises
·         Anchoring exercises
·         Spinning Techniques
·         Inside Turns
·         Outside Turns
·         Syncopations
·         Body flight
·         Starting the Dance
·         Passes at the Continuing Level
·         Whips at the Continuing Level
·         Tucks and Push Breaks at the Continuing Level

Enjoy a free glass of champers at the end of the course (or for that matter a soft drink, or a beer or wine).  Entry to the workshop gives you free access to the Afternoon Tea dance which includes tea, coffee, cappuccino, cake, etc.

Afternoon Tea Dance – 4pm to 6pm this coming Sunday

$10 entry fee, all proceeds towards the bust trip component of the June 2012 Audacity Winter Solstice Winery Tour and Dinner Dance.  What could be better?  Afternoon Tea dance, good company, a cuppa and cake – or if you so desire – a beverage or two!  Join us at the Southern Cross Turner Bowling Club this Sunday. 

Winter Solstice Wine Tour and Dinner Dance.
And speaking of the winery tour – we are pleased to announce the guest teachers for the Saturday and Sunday workshops.  Nathan Toussaint and his Deanna Rolfe will be in Canberra on the 23rd and 24th of June to run workshops as well as be the guests at our Winter Solstice Wine Tour and Dinner Dance.  These two are well known across the dance spectrum being champion WCS, Salsa, Lindy Hop, Modern Jive dancers and teachers in their respective genres. 

Nathan and Deanna

See anyone else you know?

We are yet to finalise the intricate details of the event, but it will be fun, warm, dry and plenty of fine food, wine and dance for you to enjoy.  Tou can help us keep costs down by attending our Sunday Afternoon Tea dances.

Here are some pictures of the location.

Great floor for dancing - heat pump and wood fire!

Excellent food + good wines = great times

Lake George Winery at Collector

Looking to the Vineyard at Lake George Winery, Collector

March 2012 News

Interview with Jordan Frisbee
I have provided a link to an interview with world champion - Jordan Frisbee discussing “What is West Coast Swing”.  I think anyone new to the dance will be interested in Jordan's perspective.  he is one of our favourite professional dancers.  Frisbee Interview

Next Beginner Courses
Our next Intro to WCS course starts 20th March 2012 in Turner and 29th March in Tuggeranong!  We will be switching to the latest teaching techniques used by US champions Kyle Redd and Sarah Van Drake.  This technique emphasises the pattern based nature of WCS.  The curriculum emphasises the two basic rhythm patterns and six essential techniques for WCS over 8 weeks.  Students who grasp the essentials can then move up to our continuing level class.

Introduce a friend and get a free class!  Also - it is in your interests to attend both the Beginner and Continuing classes.  You get to go over the essentials of WCS and concentrate on your technique.  You meet new students and your encouragement and smiling face helps them overcome their trepidation of learning something foreign - and we greatly appreciate it!

Progression to Continuing Level Workshop - 25/3 @ 2pm
Speaking of Continuing level class - we will run a Progression to Continuing Level workshop on 25th March between 2pm and 4pm at the Southern Cross Bowling Club in Turner.  The cost is $40 and this includes entry to the Afternoon Tea Dance, a glass of champers and tea, coffee and cake!  We will review the Beginner level moves, show you the essential differences that allow you to become a "Continuing" level student, give you confidence to attend the Continuing level classes, introduce you the simple ways we get beyond WCS Basic moves.  Celebrate with a free champers afterwards!  This is guaranteed to be fun with a capital F!

We haven't made this workshop compulsory for New Starters - but you would be mad to miss it!

Sunday Arvo Tea Dance - 25/3 @ 4pm
On the very same day, straight after the workshop, we will have a WCS Sunday afternoon tea dance starting at 4pm with cakes, tea and coffee supplied.  It will be free for Workshop attendees and $10 for everyone else.  All the profit from the workshop will be returned to students via the great Audacity Canberra Winery Tour - see below.

Canberra Region Winery Tour and Dinner Dance - 23 June
The Audacity Dinner Dance with Allan and Holly Skinner was a great success and we want to follow this up with something equally audacious.  We are negotiating with two top Australian WCS champions to come to Canberra in June.  We plan to take our students on a Canberra Region Winery Tour and Dinner Dance.  In order to keep costs down, we plan to throw all the proceeds from the next three Sunday Afternoon Tea dances into a pot to reduce the overall cost to you! 

So - keep the 23rd of June free and attend the Afternoon Tea Dance on 25th March.  You will be benefitting yourself and your fellow students and getting in plenty of practice.

Attend all classes in April and win a free place on the Winery Tour!
If you attend every class in April (at either Turner or Tuggeranong), we will put you in the draw for a free ticket to the Winery Tour and Dinner Dance.  Value in excess of $100.

Half price class offer - only during April
Want some extra dance practice during April?  Use your class pass or pay for a Tuesday class at Turner, and get into the Tuggeranong class two days later for half price.  Pay for a Thursday class and get into the following Tuesday class at Turner for half price. 

Routine to Big Big Bang
We are now perfecting our new Beginner routine to the song - The Big Big Bang by the Rock Mafia.  We aim to demonstrate this at class by early April.  There is a link on the audacity web site to the song on YouTube - song starts about 56” into video.Link to Big Big Bang

Learning from the Pros
Audacity Dance will be represented at Seattle Easter Swing! Go team!  A few of us are also heading down to Sydney to attend Terry’s WCS Downunder Tour!