Swing Week at Augusta, July 13-18, A Week Long Music & Dance Camp in WV

[wendibourne]

Announcing: SWING WEEK AT AUGUSTA - July 13 - 18, 2008, Elkins, WV. This very special event features a camp environment that is truly unique: student dancers and serious student musicians learning together to create an experience of unparalleled energy and creativity. Top notch musicians and instructors, spontaneous afternoon jams, and all-night music against a beautiful mountain setting with room and board available on campus. Come see why many people make Augusta's Swing Week their priority Lindy Hop event of the year! This year, we're "kicking it up a notch" for swing dancers. While we still welcome those who are relatively new to swing dancing, we will also provide high level classes for experienced swing dancers. Instructors will be Joel & Alison Plys(San Diego, CA) http://www.2plyswing.com, andMichael Gamble & Jaya Dorf (NC) http://www.michaelandjaya.com. For more info, visit: http://www.augustaheritage/lindyhop. View our youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43zP0Bq0oPw Or e-mail coordinator, Wendi Bourne: swing@augustaheritage.com

[wendibourne]

SWING WEEK AT AUGUSTA HAS LAUNCHED A NEW WEBSITE THAT TELLS ABOUT THE DANCE SIDE OF THE PROGRAM: www.augustaheritage.com/lindyhop On this website, you'll find information (and links to further information) about our week-long swing music AND DANCE "camp" held on the campus of Davis & Elkins College in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. Swing Week at Augusta runs concurrently with Blues Week at Augusta, so saying that "there's lots to do" is an understatement! Check out the website and also our youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43zP0Bq0oPw for more information! Swing Week at Augusta is unique because student dancers and serious student musicians are learning together to create an experience of unparalleled energy and creativity. Not to be missed! Check it out!

[wendibourne]

SWING WEEK INSTRUCTORS:
[color:red] SPOTLIGHT ON JOEL & ALISON PLYS! [/color]

Joel & Alison Plys are from San Diego, CA. Take a look at their website, and you’ll see why we’re so excited that they’ve agreed to join us for Swing Week at Augusta this year! http://www.2plyswing.com .
Since their marriage and move to San Diego, CA in mid-2002; Joel and Alison have made quite a name for themselves. They have a high quality, energetic approach to the dance which makes every lesson with them a blast! As regular teachers at major events all over the world, Joel & Alison’s down to earth, enthusiastic attitudes are contagious and offer a very personal learning experience.
They have taught all over the US (22 states and counting) as well as Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Scotland and Sweden. They are one of few couples that can truly offer instruction in all areas of authentic Swing and are recognized as two of the best Charleston, Balboa, Lindy & Shag instructors in the world.

As promoters of the dance:
Joel co-created the popular All Balboa Weekend in Cleveland, OH - the first ever ALL Balboa event.
Joel & Alison are the creators of the BALBOA RENDEZVOUS - simply the greatest gathering for Balboa instructors and dancers.
They are huge supporters of communities and promoters working together to help each scene prosper and grow.
After 7 years of running weekend workshops, they know what it takes on all sides for a successful event.

As competitors:
Their emphasis is on quality instruction versus competitive placement, yet they have their share of accomplishments:
They have competed and placed at the following events:
American Lindy Hop Championships (ALHC)
American Classic Balboa Championship (ACBC - All Balboa Weekend in Cleveland)

For more information, go to http://www.augustaheritage.com/lindyhop .
Coming soon: Spotlight on Jaya Dorf & Michael Gamble http://www.michaelandjaya.com, as well as descriptions of the dance classes at Swing Week

[wendibourne]

SWING WEEK INSTRUCTORS:
SPOTLIGHT ON JAYA DORF & MICHAEL GAMBLE
Michael & Jaya (Asheville, NC http://www.michaelandjaya.com) have played a nurturing role in the Southeast for the last six years, prolifically teaching, organizing, and devoting themselves to the growth of the Lindy Hop community. In addition to organizing Lindy Focus, Sugar Foot Stomp, and Southern Belle Swing Bash), they have taught workshops throughout the region including Orlando, Atlanta, Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis, Charleston, Greenville, Asheville, Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, Blacksburg, Pittsburgh, and most recently San Francisco and Sacramento.
They have attended and led multiple regional teacher training seminars, and have sought relentlessly to spread awareness of Lindy Hop and to cultivate its tradition and technique. Together and separately they have helped to facilitate and judge a variety of contests of every style associated with the Lindy Hop world.
MICHAEL & JAYA attended Swing Week for the first time last year: Jaya as a dance instructor (assisting Bill Borgida) and Michael as piano accompanist for the vocals class. When these two got out on the dance floor, they brought the house down! Their energy and vitality will be a wonderful addition to everyone’s experience at Augusta!
For more information about the dance program at swing week, go to http://www.augustaheritage.com/lindyhop and http://www.augustaheritage.com/swing.html .

[wendibourne]

SWING WEEK AT AUGUSTA ANNOUNCES DETAILED CLASS SCHEDULES
Hi all - Coordinator Wendi Bourne, here. Thought you might like a look at what Joel and Alison have planned for their classes during the week. I'll post Michael & Jaya's plan in a couple of weeks. Feel free to contact me personally with any questions: swing@augustaheritage.com. You can also find more info on the Augusta Website: www.augustaheritage.com -WB.
DANCE CLASSES – ADVANCED/INTERMEDIATE (Joel & Alison Plys):
Coordinator’s Note: Joel & Alison will be teaching the Advanced/Intermediate swing dance classes all week, both in the morning and afternoon, except for the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon classes, when the Advanced/Intermediate students will get a chance to work with Michael & Jaya, and the Beginner/Intermediate students will have classes with Joel & Alison. The dance teachers and I thought it would be nice for ALL of the dance students to get a chance to work with ALL of the dance teachers, at least a little. –WB

Monday *************************************
10:15 – 11:30am – Joel & Alison
Couples 1920s Charleston: "Solid Foundations and Cool Variations"

2:30 – 3:45pm– Joel & Alison
Evolution of the Lindy Hop "From 20s Charleston to Lindy Hop- the first Swing Out and Variations"

Tuesday ***********************************
10:15 – 11:30am – Joel & Alison
Balboa/Bal-Swing: "Fine Tuning Foundations and Transitions with Finesse"
2:30 – 3:45pm – Michael & Jaya
“Communication: the Name of the Game” Social Dance Drills & Skill-Building

Wednesday *********************************
10:15 – 11:30am – Joel & Alison
Lindy Hop/30s Charleston "Jumpin' up tempo- Harlem style"
2:30 – 3:45pm – Joel & Alison
Stops routine I "Classic Choreography from Original Savoy Ballroom Dancers"

Thursday ***********************************
10:15 – 11:30am – Joel & Alison
Stops Routine II - Finishing off and polishing this classic piece
2:30 – 3:45pm - Michael & Jaya
1920’s Blues: “Harlem Ballroom Blues”: Stylized Slow Dancing

Friday ***********************************
10:15 – 11:30am – Joel & Alison
Performance Review and Q&A
NO AFTERNOON CLASSES –TIME FOR THE STUDENT SHOWCASE!

[gamble]

I really can't say enough good things about this event!

Let me just try and paint a picture for anyone who hasn't gone: You're on this beautiful campus, staying in cushy dorm rooms, surrounded by the most beautiful mountain setting you could imagine. Actually the classes themselves and some of the dances are in an outdoor dance pavilion which is one my my very favorite places to dance.

And, though this has been said before, the constant presence of music makes such a difference. There are literally musicians on every corner having jams, working on swing arrangements, generating a non-stop backdrop of swing which creates a state of mind that is nothing less than bliss!

And, of course, you've got great classes during the day and social dancing all night. I would love to see a huge turnout among my dance buddies for this event, because I know we'd have an awesome time playing together!

Also, my birthday is during the camp, and I'd love to celebrate with my people. :)

Hope to see some of you in July!

[wendibourne]

SWING WEEK AT AUGUSTA DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!!! SWING WEEK at AUGUSTA is just around the corner… July 13 – 18!! This is just a reminder that for as few as FOUR PEOPLE, you can get a group discount of $50 off each person’s tuition! Groups of 7 or more receive $70 each off tuition! There is still room to sign up for this unique event, so don’t miss out! Here’s details:
• Groups of 4 to 6 - $50 off per person. Groups of 7 or more - $70 off per person.
• Each qualified registrant must list the group name on their registration form.
• The group MUST register at the same time and for the same week.
• Only full-time students may be considered as part of a group for discount purposes. Chaperones and guests are not considered full-time students.
• Scholarship recipients and Folks Arts for Kids classes are not subject to further discounts; however, they may be considered toward the total number in a group.
Questions? Contact the Augusta Heritage Center at 304-637-1209, or contact Swing Week Coordinator, Wendi Bourne at swing@augustaheritage.com.[SIZE=7]