L. A. Music Center Swings!

I was surprised to see how many folks for all the local venues showed up at last night's outdoor swing at the Los Angeles Music Center. There were so many familiar faces and it was a full dance floor for four hours!

For those who missed it, you missed a super fun venue! The live band was Mora's Modern Swingtet. We danced under the stars and Japanese lanterns. Admission was free and there was free swing lessons at the beginning and during the set break. I danced almost every dance. I also met some new folks and encouraged them to take swing dancing lessons at PBDA!

Unfortunately this event is only once a year. Last year, however, they did have two nights. I wish I took my camera. If anyone took any pictures, please pass it to me to post here. (That means you, Byron!) Thanks!

Kyle and Jenny Astro Blasting!! 

Disneyland Swings!!

It is the happiest place on Earth!

A bunch of us saw Stompy Jones in the Carnation Plaza at Disneyland last Saturday and it was absolutely fantastic!! There was a large crowd that night - thanks to Rose and Dubby's 66th Anniversary Celebration.

Folks from PBDA, Lindy Groove, Atomic and Memories were there! It was so much fun.

A few of us took a break when the band completed a set to visit Tomorrow Land's newest addition: Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride. It was a hit!! (Literally....Not to brag, ok... a little: I had the highest score among our little group! Yee Haw!!!)

Anyway, Pete Jacob's Wartime Radio Review is on this Saturday and it's just too tempting not to go.

Hope to see y'all there!

Swing Beat: April 9-16

Hi everyone -

Just for PBDA folks, am starting a new "what's happening?" email for events for this week, aptly named "Swing Beats."

I know that this past Saturday, lots of folks, including me, didn't get the Claremont College Swing Dance information - it was free and they had an 18-piece orchestra. I heard it was fantastic!! If and when this happens again, we'll do our best to get the word out.

Disneyland - Stompy Jones - Saturday, April 16.

This coming Saturday, lots of people have told me they are heading out to the happiest place on Earth to dance to Stompy Jones.

Future bands:
April 23rd: Pete Jacobs Wartime Radio Revue
Arpil 30th: Swingtown

For those that would like a free pass to Disneyland:

Below is a link which, if you Apply, get approved, and use your card once before July 31st 2005, you will get a free pass to Disneyland. In 4-6 weeks they will send you a free 1-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper ticket. No annual fee. The park hopper ticket must be used before December 15th 2005.

http://www.disneylandfriendfree.com/

Jenny at Seattle's Farmer's Market 

Seattle's Camp Jitterbug - Memorial Day Weekend

Do you want to be re-inspired with your lindy hop? Do you want to bring your lindy hop to the next level? Then you need to go to Camp Jitterbug in Seattle this Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-30th!

Signing up is easy! Go to www.campjitterbug.com where you can check out the schedule of events and register online via check or credit card. All three days of workshops are only $135 if pre-registered by April 25th. You do not need a partner to sign up...the only requirement is that you are comfortable with the fundamentals of lindy hop. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Tonya at swing@jitterbugclub.com . We look forward to seeing you in Seattle!

Spend a weekend sightseeing around Seattle and attending one of the best lindy hop events in the country. There are great airfare specials on www.alaskaair.com and there are great group rates for Camp Jitterbug dancers at a hotel two blocks from the venue. Travelling to lindy hop events is a great way to meet new people and learn a lot in a short amount of time.

What should you expect at Camp Jitterbug? First of all, some of the best instructors in the world will be featured at Camp Jitterbug this year, including your own Shesha & Nikki! There will be several competitions and performances this year. There will be live bands and world renowned dj's throughout the weekend...and if you don't get enough dancing in the evenings, there will be after hours dances until 5am!

COST:
Workshop Weekend Pass
$135 if you register and pay by April 25th
$150 if you register and pay by May 9th
$165 if you register and pay after May 9th

WHERE TO STAY IN SEATTLE

Looking for a swing host? Go to http://forums.delphiforums.com/seattleswing/start and find the Camp Jitterbug Hosts topic. If there isn't one there, feel free to start one yourself!

We have group rates at the The Silver Cloud Hotel. Room rate includes a hearty continental breakfast. This is a new hotel that is very nice and is only a couple of blocks from the Century Ballroom. There is a 24 hour heated indoor pool and hot tub, so bring your swim suits! They also have a complimentary shuttle to downtown and around Capitol Hill if you want to sightsee! Parking is available for $12 per day.

Check out the Cayenne Restaurant and Bar in the hotel...they have a great happy hour! www.cayennebarandgrill.com/happyhour.htm

Camp Jitterbug out-of-towners will receive a discounted rate:
$109 group rate for a room with 2 queen beds.
**In order to get this discounted rate, you MUST make your reservation by April 27, 2005

The Silver Cloud Hotel
1100 Broadway
Seattle, WA 98122
800) 590-1806

Herrang Bound!!

Hi everyone -

I talked to Lennart last week and secure a room for me and Mariah for Herrang. I have yet to buy the airline tickets. We're trying to get creative and by the roundtrip ticket from LAX to London, Heathrow. Stay the night at a friends in Kent and take a cheap Ryan air flight to Stockholm. Cindy has offered her Swedish friend's pad as a place to crash in Stockholm. We'll see. If any of you want to coordinate, we are going the 3rd week of July - approx July 15-23. Let me know and we can make the group pilgrimage.

For those who need more info, below is the March Newsletter email from the Herrang Camp folks!

HERRÄNG DANCE CAMP NEWS LETTER

The below late March information is written while Herräng is still covered with snow and ice. We nevertheless believe that things will be different within a few months, and we are therefore happy to pass on the following comments and news in connection to the 2005 Herräng Dance Camp.


EVENINGS AND NIGHTS

One of the trademarks of Herräng is probably its late night/early morning dances. These events are normally very well attended and often the dance floor becomes crowded. We are however happy to announce that we this summer will be able to make use also of our second main dance area (Dansbanan) until early morning.


ACCOMMODATION

HDC can today offer three kinds of accommodation: general, private or camping. Most people stay in the general one which comes with no additional cost. This type of housing is normally busy and no doubt crowded. For the summer to come we are however happy to inform that we will have access to more space within this alternative. At the same time we take the opportunity to remind people interest in private accommodation to get in touch with us sooner rather than later. We still have a fairly good supply of alternatives but know from experience that they can disappear quickly once the summer is around the corner.


TEACHERS

Except for the positive fact that Ursula Ledergerber and Lorenz Ilg have been added to the Lindy Hop program for week 3, there are no changes compared to the information available in our brochure or through our website.


DANCE TENTS

In addition to the two tents that we have used for many years, we are planning to build also a third one. We have also found better floors and we hope that we will be able to provide all three tents with theses new ones.


Thank you very much for your time and hearty welcome to the 2005 Herräng Dance Camp.

HERRÄNG DANCE CAMP: Fatima, Frida, Daniel, Lorenz and Lennart.

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Herräng Dance Camp, Vetegatan 5, SE-118 59 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone/Fax: +46 (8) 6434058 e-mail: info@herrang.com
http://www.herrang.com