* * * *  Kristine's NJ Swing 2012 Kick-off  * * * *

Special DOUBLE HEADER - Part 2

 Friday 1/20

MICHAEL JAGGER      |    GORDON AU and The Grand Street Stompers

               

AMERICAN LEGION BALLROOM:
13 Legion Pl, Whippany, NJ http://www.njswing.com/directions.htm

 NO partner and NO dance experience needed.
Discounts for prepaying, students, and out-of-staters.

World-renowned award-winning Michael Jagger is BACK --by overwhelming popular demand-- for two more Swing/Lindy Hop workshops 6:50 & 8:00... a special NJ opportunity to really learn (or relearn) your core dancing, plus dynamic footwork & styling, from a master dancer/instructor/performer. Following is our 3-hour LIVE MUSIC dance party 9:00 to midnight, featuring NYC's very popular The Grand Street Stompers, lead by the talented Gordon Au (trumpet), with Molly Ryan (vocals), Davy Mooney (guitar & banjo), and returning from our 11/4/11 13th Anniv. Bash band (lead by the amazing Gordon Webster) are Matt Musselman (trombone) and Rob Adkins (bass).

WORKSHOPS:
"I've never laughed so much and learned so much in a lesson! Michael Jagger is truly fantastic!" (scroll down for raves by students)

I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH WHAT A MUST these Michael Jagger workshops are
(and, your last NJ Swing chance for quite some time). Truly ENTERTAINING and EFFECTIVE.
PROBABLY THE BEST INSTRUCTOR (certainly in the top five) WE'VE EVER HAD IN OUR 13 YEARS OF NJ SWING.

6:50 - 8:00 p.m. Swing/Lindy Syncopation & Styling - (Cannot make it until 7? Still join us!) (Prerequisite: must have solid knowledge of 6- and 8-count Swing / Lindy Hop patterns. If you're not quite there yet, but still want to give it a try, you're welcome to, if you remain outside the partner rotation circle). Add rhythmic variety to steps you already know. Michael offers fun yet challenging dynamic footwork variations for your social dancing, to make you stand out on the dance floor!

8:00 - 9:10 p.m. Swing/Lindy 6 & 8-count Fundamentals (No experience needed.) Learn new, or relearn and refine, core 6- and 8-count Swing/Lindy Hop, Michael Jagger-style. He'll add varied patterns combining 6 & 8, not covered on 1/13. This much more in-depth workshop will replace our usual 8:40 6-count Swing Basics lesson for this dance event. A must!

DANCE PARTY:
9:00 - 12:00 Dance Party featuring LIVE MUSIC by The Grand Street Stompers from NYC (lead by the talented Gordon Au) on our huge chandelier-lit wood ballroom floor cooled by A/C. Complimentary light food and refreshments.
[NOTE: the 8:40-9:00 Swing Basics lesson is replaced by the excellent in-depth 8:00 workshop with Michael Jagger (see above).]

PRICING & DISCOUNTS:
Workshops with Michael Jagger (1.2 hours each): $20 each prepaid; $25 each at the door (if there's still room)

Dance Party with The Grand Street Stompers (9:00-12): $20 ($17 w/ID Discount or if prepaying with workshops)

Full Night Package: $55 prepaid.

ID Discount: $3 off for Students w/ID (under 26) and for Bridge & Tunnel Out-of-Staters
w/ID (wherever you live if a Toll Bridge or Tunnel crossing is require to enter NJ).
Show ID at the door upon check-in, even if you've prepaid.

REGISTRATION & PREPAY DISCOUNT:
Registration required. Reply to kristine@njswing.com with full name(s) to register for workshops
and please indicate your payment method.
First-timers & new guests include full contact info (addresses & phone #s).

For Discount, prepay by:

• CASH: in person this week.
• CHECK: mailed by 5 p.m. Wednesday to: PO Box 245, Denville, NJ 07834. Payable to "Kristine Powell". (Include full current contact info & phone #). Saves $ and no online fee.
• ONLINE: Prepay by midnight Thursday via www.paypal.com to PayPal ID: kristinep@mindspring.com. Add $1.50 per person to total. (Note: no credit cards at door).

Registration required. Prepayment suggested and appreciated. It will save you money, hold your spot, and will allow us to monitor class sizes, prerequisites, and ratios. Either way you pay, please arrive beforehand for quick check-in. If there is still room, payment may be accepted at the door. Workshops end 5 minutes before hour to allow for changeover. Same price to watch workshops or dance event. No videotaping. Though we offer complimentary ice water and light refreshments, and the ballroom has a lounge/bar/poolroom downstairs, you're also welcome to bring your own food and drinks, if you've no chance to eat dinner before arriving for workshops.

INSTRUCTOR:
Michael Jagger, award-winning and internationally-highly-sought-after instructor from NYC, has performed as a principle Lindy Hop dancer with Wynton Marsalis at the Kennedy Center, on three seasons of TV's "So You Think You Can Dance", and in the Broadway show "SWING!". See Michael Jagger (with partner, Evita Arce) perform in this GREAT VIDEO various Jazz-era Swing dance styles and techniques with spot-on musicality, fun facial expressions, traditional jazz steps, aerials, Lindy Charlestons, and 1920s Charlestons.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcs5xJ_q8kE&feature=related

Feedback on Michael Jagger from dancers who attended Kristine's NJ Swing 13th Anniversary Bash on 11/4/11 (photo at bottom):

"Michael Jagger, OMG. Fantastical! Michael's was the most fun lesson ever."

"I had Jagger's 7 and 8pm classes. He was great. Concise, clear, funny. He kept it moving along well but didn't leave anyone behind. He saw and addressed specific problems and still had time to meet his objectives."

"[Jagger] was truly excellent. Clear direction, fun, and taught great new stuff... I felt like we really understood and will also actually retain what we learned."

"One of the best nights of dancing I've had. Michael Jagger is an amazing dancer."

"Michael taught a great class. I took both of his last Friday night. He obviously knows how to present material clearly and understood where people would get stuck or go wrong."

Feedback on Michael Jagger from dancers who attended this past Friday 1/13's workshops:

"so glad that I attended... Michael Jagger has a way of engaging his students through humor, sincerity and his dance expertise that I have not experienced before.  Although I did not have a partner, I felt as if I was benefiting with whomever I was paired with or even by myself.  After the dance it was a special privilege to be able to dance with him socially also.  I highly recommend his workshops to those at any level of dance experience".

"Friday night was fantastic.  Michael is a great instructor charming, funny and really good at what he does. I liked that he inserted bits of historical information in between teaching the steps  Also in explaining the roles of leader and followers, there was practical reasons for the way you held your partner and he effectively demonstrated with both groups. I was able to understand most of his instructions because he effectively communicated both verbally and visually. I hope you can get him to come back. You run a great program. It's wonderful to be able to come in as a single person and just dance without pressure.

Thanks for having Michael Jagger teach last night. Not only is he the top-notch performer and dancer but he is also an excellent teacher. He uses a body-centered approach to instruction that works. In our lesson, I saw many people who have never done a swing-out before do it first time through. Anyone who has put in many hours to understand and follow the swing-out will appreciate that statement. He gets people out of their heads and into moving their bodies very quickly. Michael also uses humor effectively to loosen everyone up to receive the most from the class. In other words, he gets you to get over yourself and just dance. I'm definitely coming back for more on the 20th! He is terrific.

Michael's teaching is so organic. He introduces a concept at its basic core, so it makes sense when the entire step or sequence is complete. I also appreciated his efforts to reinforce the techniques behind leading. His use of humor and playfulness is not only engaging, but also helpful in demonstrating his point.

Michael is a great teacher and I really enjoyed the workshops.  He was clear in all of his explanations, and I felt that all of the material presented was prepared really thoughtfully.  Everything built on what came before it.  It's clear that he has a lot of love for Lindy and swing, and the knowledge to go with it. I would not hesitate to take another class with him and am really looking forward to  this Friday.

The workshops with Michael were a pleasure. I've never seen swing-outs taught that way, & it was a VAST improvement on the way I first learned them.  ...got a lot out of it.  ...always plenty of room for improvement on the basics.

Michael was great and I really was able to have a bunch of things click for me... I'm looking forward to this Friday

Michael is a great teacher. I am glad you hosted him and I that I made the trip [all the way from the burbs of northern Philly].

I had a very positive workshop experience with Michael. He is a wonderful teacher with a personality that only enhances his instruction and make people want to learn.  He is so knowledgeable, patient and complete in his instruction for both leaders and followers.  I am looking forward to another lesson with him.

TEAM NEEDS:
2012 event team help needed in exchange for free admission (or other compensation if non-dancer).
HIRING: Administrative part-time help needed (paid position).

UPCOMING EVENTS:  Mark your calendar!
In addition, group and private lessons nights in between the following dance event dates:

• Friday, February 10th - Workshops & Valentine's Swings Dance Party & Workshops
• Saturday, March 10th - Workshops & live music Dance Party with Gordon Webster
• Friday, April 13th - Workshops & "Spring Swings" Dance Party
• Possibly Friday, May 4th - Workshops & Dance Party
• Possibly Saturday, June 9th or Friday, June 22 Workshops & "Swing Into Summer" Dance party, (6/22 possibly with Boilermaker Jazz Band)
• Friday, July 13th - Workshops & "Let Freedom Swing" Dance Party
• Possibly Friday, September 21 or 28 - Workshops & "Swing Fall Kick-off" Dance Party
• Likely Friday, October 12 - Workshops & Dance Party
• Likely Friday, November 9 - Workshops & "NJ Swing's 14th Anniversary Dance Bash"

We'd like to hear from YOU. Reply with which dates work best for May & June, and if you know of any conflicting special events regionally. Thanks everyone! We'll let you know which May & June dates once the votes and responses are in.

CONTACT: 

Kristine@NJSwing.com     (973) 299-SWING (7946)

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Michael Jagger teaching workshop at Kristine's NJ Swing 13th Anniversary Bash on 11/4/11 (photo by David Mager)

 

Photos from past events.