WORKSHOP WITH BIRKLEY AND JULIE FROM EDMONTON – Nov 25-27, 2011
Instructors | Schedule | Registration
Swing Dance Winnipeg is pleased to present a workshop weekend with Birkley Wisniewski and Julie Kiraly from Edmonton.
Birkley and Julie are based in Edmonton, but their dancing has taken them around the world. They’ll bring their enthusiasm, expertise and a healthy dose of Lindy Hop, Jazz and Bad Ass.
Instructors
Birkley Wisniewski
Founder & director of Sugar Swing (2005) and lindy hopping since 2002, Birkley now runs his dance business full-time. He is a dancer, instructor, choreographer, performer, deejay, music/band coordinator, business owner, and somewhat of a historian. Strong in Lindy Hop, Solo Jazz, Balboa, and Charleston, he also studies African and Tap on the side. His best accomplishments include choreographing for Victoria School for the Arts, being the Match DJ for Lindybout (2011), and building Edmonton into a medium-sized Lindy Hop scene. In his spare time, Birkley invents new moves, co-leads for Mad Cat Swing, studies old dance clips, and collects music for deejaying. As a teacher, you’ll find that Birkley is very helpful and friendly – he is personable, explains concepts clearly, enjoys technique, and keeps the classes running smoothly.
Julie Kiraly
Julie Kiraly has been an avid lover of all things swing since 2002. She has shared her love of Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Vintage Jazz with anyone and everyone, teaching workshops and classes in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, and Vancouver. Julie is a dancer, teacher, choreographer, performer, and competitor. She is the co-leader of the vintage dance troupe Mad Cat Swing and a Lindy Bout Champion (Vancouver, 2010, 2011). As a teacher, Julie is fun and enthusiastic in class and loves to make her students laugh. She is very excited to have the opportunity to teach in Winnipeg!
Schedule
Tentative schedule. All details subject to change.
- Friday Dance: 8pm-1am – Winnipeg Dance Co-op Swing Night – 109 Pulford Street.
- Admission: $7 members, $10 non-members, included in full weekend registration.
- 8pm - Class and instructors TBD
- 9pm – Swing Walks with Birkley and Julie - Grab anyone and learn something new, fun, and easy! Swing Walks, similar to One-Step, Peabody, and Ballroomin’ of the 1930′s swing era, is a simple traveling dance done in half-time. Although everyone will get the hang of the basic in under 5 minutes and can dance it all night, even advanced dancers will get tripped up by the turns and different positions that Birk and Julie will teaching in this “open-level” drop-in class!
- Saturday Workshop: 10am-4pm – River Heights Community Centre - 1370 Grosvenor Avenue
- Advanced Technique - Technique is important: It is the key to becoming a great dancer. We plan to explain a variety of techniques using fundamental moves like the tuck-turn, swing-out, circle, and whatnot. If all goes well, we will show you a few different ways of doing the Swing-out that you can practice!
- Tricky Charleston – Funny how jam circles always get cheers when people are doing Charleston! Maybe you’ve done Tandem or Side-Side before, but Birk and Julie have come across rarities of transitions and moves in side-side and tandem (even some of their own inventions) that you’ll wanna learn. Hot dog!
- That Lindy Hop Feeling – Hellzapoppin. A Day at the Races. Hot Koko. These are classic movies that show Lindy Hop in its purest, finest form. Why oh why don’t we see that in our lindy hop scenes? Or even ourselves? Of course we don’t want to be copy-cats of Frankie, but it’s important to know the roots of Lindy in order to express it individually.
- Has you got Jazz? - Have you ever wondered how to Shorty like George? Is your Annie a little too Tackie? Do your Drops need a little more Boogie? Then Shimmy on down to Birkley and Julie’s Solo Jazz class! They’ll whip your Camel Walks into shape with a fun jazz routine that is sure to be the Bees Knees!
- Saturday Dance: 8pm-1am – Exchange Community Church – 75 Albert St (The regular dance at the Legion is cancelled).
- Admission $5, included in full weekend registration.
- Sunday Workshop: 11am-4pm – Patricia’s Ballroom & Banquet Hall - 20-2025 Corydon Ave
- Improve with Moves - Tired of that same old tuck-turn? Are your pop-turns loosing their fizz? Does your American Spin feel a little Canadian? Don’t fret! Birkley and Julie will show you some killer moves to lift you out of your Lindy blues! (Warning: this class may improve your awesome level 10-fold).
- Bachelor Party (Leads-Only) -Time to get down to business and face what guys struggle most with: body movement. Ever wonder why some guys can spin so well? Are masters at sliding? Always look awesome? Birkley will work you through exercises and explanations of what ‘body movement’ means to him, and help you become awesome! Bring questions too. Sorry ladies, you’ll have to get out!
- Ladies’ Night Out (Follows-Only) - Do you ever wonder how follows spin so quickly? Why does the end of a Swing Out feel so good? What makes a swivel so swivelicious? Julie is here to help! She will have answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask (and an exercise or two to help you master those following skills). Sorry gentlemen, this class is for ladies only!
- Jazz up your Lindy - Now that you’ve learned some sweet solo Jazz moves, let’s add them to your Lindy Hop! Jazzin’ up your Lindy is one of the most fun ways to add style and pizzaz to your dancing. Birkley and Julie will show you some easy moves and transitions to show off your killer Suzy Q’s and your rockin’ Boogie Drops. Let’s get creative!