My Text
RCMA
this weekend
Swing & Vintage Jazz Dance
classes & events
Charleston, Lindy hop, Swing, and related dances,
from the introductory level to the advanced
Everyone can learn to dance.
Improve your fitness, confidence, coordination, and social life!
No partner required to register.
RCP Calendar: classes
Intro to Swing: 4-week series
Thursdays,
February 23 to March 15
Beginner Lindy Hop
Thursdays
March 1 to April 5
Advanced Beginner Lindy Hop
Saturdays,
February 25 to March 31
Intermediate Lindy Hop
Tuesdays,
February 21 to March 27
Adv-Int Lindy Hop
Swing Dancing in Vancouver
(every other) Wednesday:
The Jen Hodge All Stars play at Guilt & Co. in Gastown
Thursdays:
Rhythm City Strut
at St. Michaels Hall
Fridays:
Royal City Swing in New West
Sundays:
Suburban Swing in Abbotsford
register
for a class
Rhythm City Instructors
Lucy Falkner - Owner, Administrator, Instructor
Lucy discovered Lindy hop in 1999, and has since travelled extensively to dance, train, and teach. She has taken up numerous other dances, all more or less in service to her first love: Lindy hop. In 2000, she spent two months studying African dance in Ghana, and now takes African, Jazz, and Tap dance classes in her hometown of Vancouver. Recently she has dabbled in Ballet, for balance, grace, and all that good stuff, but couldnt get over the feeling that she was in drag. Lucy has taught Charleston, Vintage Jazz, Lindy Hop, and Blues across Canada and the Pacific Northwest, and at the world-famous Herräng Dance Camp, in Sweden.
"You have to go too far to find out how far is far enough."
Eric Shaw - Instructor
Referred to as "the Energizer Bunny" by his peers, Eric is as fearless and fierce on the social dance floor and in competition as he is mild-mannered in social settings. He travels to dance, train, and compete, but his greatest honour came in Vancouver, when he was chosen to train and perform with the South African performance group Umoja in January 2007. Although an avid performer and competitor, Eric's priorities remain in the realm of improvisation and the boundless potential in every partnered social dance, an approach that makes him one of the strongest, clearest, and most approachable teachers in the region.
"Same thing but different."
Edina Hechanova - Instructor
Edina has been teaching Lindy hop since 2005. She is champion, with Eric Shaw, of the Hellzapoppin competition in Utah, February 2008 and the Flyweight (Fast Lindy) competition at Lindy Bout II in April 2008, but her priorities as a dancer and teacher are in having fun with people, growing the scene and spreading the love of Lindy hop. In addition to travelling to dance, compete, and attend workshops from the masters of Lindy hop, Edina keeps her inspiration up and swivels fabulous by dancing in her kitchen every chance she gets.
"Learn to dance with your own body and assets. Have fun."
Walker Banerd - Instructor
A rock star as well as a stellar dancer, Walker has an astonishingly melodious voice, along with a charming stage presence. Teaching since 2007, he is also a keen competitor and is Champion of the Welterwieght (slow Lindy) and, with Lisa Marks, Featherweight (mid-tempo Lindy) competitions at Lindy Bout II in April 2008. Walker's teaching is characterized by clear and precise attention to technique and by his celebrated combination of self-deprecation and self-aggrandizing. You have to see it in action to believe it can be done.
"Once more, with feeling."
Lisa Marks - Instructor
Lisa teaches Balboa and Lindy hop and is celebrated for her ability to follow anything and remain cool in any storm. With a background in jazz and flamenco, Lisa started partner dancing via West Coast and East Coast Swing, but soon discovered Lindy hop and Balboa, and there her heart remains. She won the first Lindy hop contest she entered, in 2002, and was a founding member of Vancouvers award winning Hot Koko. Her ulterior motive as a dancer and teacher is to have more Lindy hoppers and Balboa enthusiasts to dance with.
"Dancing transformed my life and I've watched it transform others. It's the best high in the world."
Léo Newman - Instructor
Léo started classes at the tender age of 14, and has been unstoppably enthusiastic ever since. Traveling for workshops, dance events, and jazz festivals, Léo is a zealous advocate for the lessons that can only be taught through active social dancing. A keen competitor from the start, he has placed or won at numerous regional competitions, taking 1st at every match he entered in Lindy Bout 2007, the Western Canadian Lindy Hop Championships.
"It's not the destination: it's the journey."
(Léo is currently on assignment in Paris. Expect shocking revelations about European Lindy Hop in the summer, 2012!)
Thursdays at St. Michael’s Hall,
2474 Prince Edward St,
8-9pm, 4 weeks
Upcoming series:
$48 or $80 for two students who sign up together
No partner required
This is your chance! Get started in the wonderful world of swing dancing! There’'s nothing like moving in rhythm with a partner. If you’'ve always wanted to try but were afraid you'’d have two left feet, this is the class for you. Super basic and easy-going, learn to dance in a friendly, supportive environment. Meet new people, get moving, improve your co-ordination, and have a lot of fun!
Beginner & Advanced Beginner
Lindy Hop run in alternation on Thursdays and Saturdays.
If Thursdays work for you, sign up for the next Thursday Beginner series, and the Advanced Beginner series will follow it on the calendar. If Saturdays are more your thing, check the schedule for the series running on Saturday.
Saturdays, 5-6pm at West 7th Studio
Thursdays, 7-8pm at St. Michael's Hall
$70 for six weeks ($125 for two)
Upcoming Beginner series:
The fundamentals of Lindy hop, the first partnered swing dance, spirited
and versatile. Basic partner skills, rhythms, and 8-count patterns. We start with the foundations of partner dance and the rhythm that is the heart and soul of swing dancing, and add moves and patterns that put those skills into practice, in class and on the social dance floor.
No partner required.
Upcoming Adv-Beg LH series:
A launchpad to Intermediate: you are comfortable with the basic 8-count steps, you know some moves, and you want to be able to put them together more confidently. In this series we make enthusiastic leads and follows by improving on partner and musical skills and adding to your repertoire with Charleston, Swing Out variations, 6-count figures, and more complex patterns. No partner required.
Tuesday evenings, 8:30-9:30pm
1555 West 7th Studio
$75 for six weeks.
You’'ve done the Beginner and Advanced Beginner series and you need more Lindy hop in your life (and who wouldn'’t?). Intermediate classes expand on the fundamentals of the beginner lessons, getting into more complex techniques of partner and rhythm skills, and cover diverse patterns and figures (those “moves” that everyone craves once they’'ve gained some confidence with the basics!). There are three Intermediate series of 6 sessions each: Intermediate A, B, and C. You may take them in any order. Each covers different material at an intermediate level to give you the technique, steps, moves, and confidence you need to step boldly onto the social dance floor with any partner.
Tuesday evenings, 7-8:30pm
1555 West 7th Avenue Studio: top floor, rm 227
$95 for 6 weeks
LHE is a programme that covers all the areas of this partner jazz dance that make it so versatile, spirited, soulful, and part of this complete breakfast. Connection, Charleston, groundedness, musicality, techniques for both fast and slow dancing, rockin' out in jams, versatility, and more: these will be explored at an advanced-intermediate level in the Lindy Hop Essentials classes.
hover over titles for more info
get started in the wonderful world of partner swing dancing. Thursdays
the fundamentals of Lindy Hop. Saturdays and Thursdays
the next step: refine your basics, add moves, increase your confidence.
Saturdays & Thursdays
breaking through on the social dance floor: moves, technique, variations. Tuesdays
intensive classes for upper level social dancers. Tuesdays
• Solo Jazz (such as the Shim Sham
• Partner Charleston
• Themes in partner dance (e.g.,connection,
styling variations, fast or slow, . . . )
Rhythm City offers classes in many dances related to the Jazz and Big Band era of the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s. In the past few years there has been an explosion of interest in partner dance in general and swinging dances in particular.
If you are ready to find out what all the fuss is about, we can give you the foundations, show you the steps, and give you the confidence to step out onto the dance floor with any partner.
After every lesson series, we film the material we taught. We add captions to the video, so, if you like, pause the video, catch the gist of the caption's instructions and tips, and then watch the steps.
Subscribe to our youtube channel to stay up to date with all our material!
Come Dancing!
Every Thursday evening at St Michael's Hall in the centre of Vancouver.
Beautiful hall with a gorgeous hardwood floor
at Broadway just east of Main
Friendly and outgoing swing dancers of every level are eager
to welcome you onto the dance floor!
$7 regular admission
$5 for RCP students
9pm-midnight
See the lessons page for info on Beginner Swing lesson series before the dance.
Thursday night swing dance
St Michael's Hall,
2474 Prince Edward St
$7 ($5 for RCP students)
Evening schedule:
7-8pm Beginner/Advanced Beginner
Lindy Hop lesson series
8-9pm Intro to Swing lesson series
9-midnight Dancing
Winter 2012 Calendar
January 5 - DJ Hussy (Lucy)
January 12 - Spoonful of Swing
January 19 - DJ V (Vanessa)
January 26 - DJ Battle (RCMA welcome dance)
February 2 - DJ Trollop (Angie)
February 9 -
February 16 - Live Band!
The Jen Hodge All Stars
February 23 -
Big answers to Big questions
coming soon!
Handy Links
Swing Dance in Vancouver...
RCP Facebook Page
Royal City Swing
Suburban Swing
UBC Swing Kids
Strictly Lindy Facebook Group
Other types of dance...
The Rhythm Room (Tap dance classes)
Vancouver Tap Dance Society
Jesse Essombe (African dance classes)
Blues in the City Facebook group
Swing Dance around the world...
Herräng Dance Camp (Sweden)
Victoria Swing
Swing Jam Productions (Seattle)
Seattle Swing
Toe Tappin' Swing (Calgary)
Sugar Swing (Edmonton)
Bees' Knees Dance (Toronto)
Toronto Lindy Hop
Cat's Corner (Montréal)
Dance Resources...
Frankie Manning
Jazz Roots
Blogs
Dance World Takeover
Swungover
Karen was first seen on stage at age 9
performing a tap dance to Lollipop
in a striped leotard and has been
dancing ever since (in fact, she can
still be seen dancing around in a leotard
from time to time). She discovered Lindy Hop during the Swing craze in 1998 and has never looked back.
Andrew and Karen are basically the same person except Karen likes unicorns and rainbows while Andrew likes dragons and beer. All they want to do is dance and make each other laugh. Having fun is awesome. They hope you like awesome too.
Andrew was first exposed to Lindy Hop back in 1998 but didnt actually develop rhythm until booty dancing
in college. Since 2005, Andrew has developed a uniquely energetic style of Swing dancing with a focus
on fun and learning things right the first time.
His only hope is to share his love of the dance and the energy it brings forth with as many people as possible.
Andrew and Karen are
basically the same person
except Karen likes unicorns and rainbows while Andrew likes dragons and beer. All they want to do is dance and make each other laugh. Having fun is awesome. They hope you like awesome too.
Todd has won countless championship titles from the most prestigious competitions around, has been nominated for induction into the California Swing
Dance Hall of Fame, and has been
interviewed for articles by Swing
Dancer Magazine as well
as various
other
publications.
He teaches
vernacular jazz,
balboa, lindy hop,
and other vintage
swing dances, and
loves spreading his
passion for social
dancing. He has
been a featured
instructor,
performer, and
judge at events
the world
over.
He specializes in connection and musicality,
which is apparent every time he steps onto the
dance floor. He has worked with dance and music
legends alike, and can frequently be found
performing and competing with the acclaimed dance
troupe the Silver Shadows.
Lindy Hopper. Belly dancer. Hair-removal Laser Technician. The mysterious figure that is known only as "Nina" (and sometimes "Naomi") has many titles from prestigious dance competitions. But that's only a small part of her accomplishments. For instance, she can swivel in midair. She can create vintage-style dresses and then destroy them while dancing.
She can make 12-minute biscuits in 10minutes.
She writes upbeat musical theatre involving funeral homes. And last, but not least, she is a part of the award-winning Lindy Hop team the Silver Shadows, which sounds like it's a group of super heroes.
And that's what she is. A Super Hero--one whose main super power is doing swivels in midair. And one day, they might save the world. Until then, she lives in Baltimore and falls down a lot.
workshops! dancing! inspiration!
Workshops with internationally-acclaimed instructors, outrageous social dancers,
and awesomely fun people!
Live music!
Dancing, learning, and mixing with dancers from all over the place!
Todd Yannacone & Nina Gilkenson!
Andrew Thigpen & Karen Turman!
Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators!
RCMA Jack & Jill competition!
click here for schedules
and workshop descriptions
hover over the names to the left for bios
$180
for all weekend workshops & dances
Intermediate Track
Bring Back That Loving Feelin' There are some things you should just never lose in this dance. Some call it "basics", some call it "essentials". We call it That Loving Feelin'.
Speedy Feet Productions Some people say that to dance fast, you just move faster. We tend to agree. Be prepared to sweat.
It Dont Mean A Thing... If It Aint Got That Swing It all starts with a swinging rhythm and a ready smile. This is our fancy way of saying well cover the basics in this class.
Stop Trying; Start Dancing Sometimes we try so damn hard to lead and follow, to get the instructions, to impress our partner... and we forget to dance. Take it easy; find the fun again. Dance!
Joy of Lindy Hop Bodacious. Wacky. Outrageous. Awesome. Gorgeous. Funny. Cowabunga.
Breakin' Away For the Breakaway of your life! Sugar push it to Pop it! Rock-step it to lock it! Break it away to make it!
**Yes, it's a Breakin' the movie reference.
Instructors Choice What fabulous treats will they have in store for you...?
When You Need It; When You Dont It in this case is power: that awesome stretch-and-return momentum that Lindy Hop thrives on. But sometimes you want to ease off on that dynamic. This class is about using it a little to gain a lot.
Advanced Track
Swing Out We all agree that it’'s about the best thing ever, right? What could be better than to explore it with these two? Meet the swing out anew. Fall in love for the first time... again!
Effortless & Sublime Leading patterns & transitions like you've done it all your life; dancing through your momentum with simplicity and sublime, effortless finesse. It's a perfect, sunny, easy breezy day, for this class and forever...
The Music, Your Partner, and You. And The Music Yup. Musicality.
Are You Going To Finish That? AKA Use It All: squeeze every drop out of the music and the time you have. Are you cheating on the twists when it's fast and rushing through when it's slow? Get your whole body into it! Finish It All! Don't you know there are starving Lindy Hoppers in small towns with no dancing! Lick your plate clean!
Moves That Changed The World Choreography and steps from influential performances of our scene's past.
Register
for the
Weekend!
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