Events

Swing right into Christmas at Dowty’s with our excellent Christmas Dance. 20:00 – 23:00.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and festive cheer. This event promises a jolly good time for all.

The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner, and we are thrilled to invite you to our highly anticipated Christmas Social Dance! This festive event promises to be a night filled with music, dance, and plenty of holiday cheer. Here’s a sneak peek:

🎶 Two special guests join the DJ line-up 🎶

Our Christmas Social Dance wouldn’t be complete without the perfect soundtrack, and that’s where our talented guest DJs come in! Jim Key (from Cotswold Shag) and Ollie Parham (from O & H Lindy Hop) will have a guest spot during the evening. Our DJs will be spinning the hottest tunes to keep you swinging all night long.

🌟 Fun performance by our class goers 🌟

Prepare to be dazzled as our dedicated class participants take the floor to dust off some great steps. Be sure to grab a front-row seat – or even better, join the performance gang!

We have a day of workshops booked with the amazing Lana Williams, and an evening of live music from Peter Long’s Rocket Basie

The Schedule

There are 3 parts to the day – and you can buy tickets for whichever bits you’d like.

10:15 – 12:00 Mini Air Steps and Jumps with Lana Williams. £40 per couple.
This will be fixed partners. An introduction to air steps and jumps. Nothing crazy – but some nice moves to start you flying. 1 hr 30 mins teaching and time for some water breaks. Limited to a smaller class size.

13:00 – 16:30 Lindy Hop workshop with Lana Williams. £35 per person.
3 hours of teaching and time for some water breaks.

19:30 – 23:00 Dance. £22 per person.
Evening dance with Peter Long’s fabulous 15 piece big band – The Rocket Basie.

The Teacher – Lana Williams

Lana is a professional dancer, choreographer and dance educator with over 16 years’ experience working in the performance industry; including TV, theatre and film. Some of her work includes; Bridgerton on Netflix, BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, See How They Run (film), The Muppets Movie and The Orchestra Of The Swan. It was right back at the beginning of her career, at just 20 years old, that Lana was introduced to the world of Vernacular Jazz and, of course, the Lindy Hop. Her training in Lindy Hop involved the history, the repertoire, air steps, the fundamentals, performance and social.

Lana prides herself on being grounded in the movement history and the origins of this dance genre whilst still being able to unleash her ever present and contemporary styling influenced by today’s world.

The Band – The Rocket Basie

With 15 top-class musicians this big band stays firmly in the Basie of the 1930s, for that authentic Kansas City feel. Peter Long’s varied career has seen him working with the likes of Jools Holland, Georgie Fame and Tom Jones. He directs the Ronnie Scott’s Big Band and has provided arrangements for Paul McCartney, Seth MacFarlane, Sir John Dankworth, Humphrey Lyttelton and many more. As well as all the favourites like Splanky, Jumpin’ At The Woodside and Shiny Stockings, you can also expect some seriously rare gems.

Venue

Chosen Hill School, Churchdown. This is because the band prefer a real piano and a medium sized hall with a medium height ceiling. The hall has been picked to suit the band’s optimum requirements. There is plenty of parking at the school.

Social Dance at Dowty Sports and Social. 20:00 – 23:00. More details to follow; save the date.

Tickets
45 tickets available at Keeno rate: £95 – SOLD OUT
45 tickets available at Early Bird rate: £110 – SOLD OUT
Remaining tickets at Full Price rate – SOLD OUT
Social Pass (both dances; advanced purchase only): £tbc
Tea Dance only (cash or card on the door): £tbc

Social Dance at Dowty Sports and Social. 20:00 – 23:00. More details to follow; save the date.

Social Dance at Dowty Sports and Social. 20:00 – 23:00. More details to follow; save the date.

Back to School: A fantastic opportunity! Teaching Lindy Hop, or thinking about it? If you’d like to learn from a world class teacher, apply here:

CheltenhamSwing.Dance Weekender with Lisa Clarke and Fabien Vrillon.

Each day has 4 hours of teaching, an hour for lunch and short water breaks.  Lessons start at 10:30 and finish at 16:00. All classes at Andoversford Village Hall.  Free tea and coffee if you bring your own mug.  Please bring your own lunch and water bottle.

The Saturday Ticket: improver and above.  The expectation is that you can social dance to a whole song in Lindy Hop at whatever level you are.

The Sunday Ticket: intermediate and above.  The expectation is that you are: confident on the social dance floor with a variety of partners; demonstrate good technique and musicality; and competent in the quintessential moves.

There will be a Saturday night social dance (20:00 – 23:00) at Dowty Sports and Social Club. 

Ticket details to follow.

Fabien and Lisa met in Herrang, Sweden in 2010 and have been teaching and dancing together ever since. Coming from different backgrounds they both bring their own particular expertise, talents, and enthusiasm to the partnership.

Fabien comes from France and has been teaching swing dancing since 2004, specializing in lindy hop and blues. His love of choreography has led to him to choreograph a number of successful showcases performed at ILHC and other events, as well as the recent ‘French Connection’ Team that placed 2nd at ILHC and ESDC.

Lisa is a professional dancer from London, now living in France. Classically trained from the age of 6 she discovered her love for all styles of dance whilst studying for her degree in Theatre Dance at London Studio Centre. After leaving college she worked professionally in the commercial dance world. She then discovered and fell in love with lindy hop and blues and has immersed herself in all things swing ever since.

Together and separately they have competed and placed in many competitions. (recently 3rd place in the pro showcase 2017 and winning 1st place in the open showcase at ILHC, 3rd place in the Classic Open at ILHC, 3rd place in showcase at Camp Hollywood in LA in 2016. They were also European Swing dance Champions in the slow lindy division in 2013, 2nd place in 2015).

Their fun natured teaching style, yet ability to breakdown a movement, means their classes are a perfect mix for those wanting to progress their dancing. Constantly pushing themselves in their own dancing means they understand the work that goes into becoming a better dancer and are passionate about sharing their experiences and helping others to achieve their goals.

Social Dance at Dowty Sports and Social. 20:00 – 23:00. More details to follow; save the date.

Social Dance at Dowty Sports and Social. 20:00 – 23:00. More details to follow; save the date.

Social Dance at Dowty Sports and Social. 20:00 – 23:00. More details to follow; save the date.