Leading up to the Toronto International Swing Dance Championships (“TI”” – February 11-13, 2011) there will be a series of dances taking place at the Grand Dance Studio 5801 Yonge St. (just a five minute walk from the Yonge/Finch subway station). Details to follow.
• Saturday, September 18th
• Saturday, October 16th
• Saturday, November 6th
• Saturday, January 22nd
7:00-7:45 p.m. : Beginner WCS Lesson
8:00-8:30 p.m. : Intermediate WCS Lesson
8:30 p.m.–midnight: Dancing! (85% WCS, and the remaining 15% a mix of East Coast, Night Club 2, Country 2 Step, and Argentine Tango)
Cost $10.00 – with or without lessons
TI Warm-Up Dances
Annual CAMH Benefit Dance – Tuesday, November 16th
Our annual fund-raiser on behalf of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The West Coast Swing Community has been very supportive of this important cause, and we’ve had fun doing so. This year plan to take part in the Transforming Lives Dance Tournament. Find out more about the CAMH Foundation at http://www.supportcamh.ca/
Swingin’ Sundays in London, Ontario
West Coast Swing workshops and dances held at the Optimist Club in North Dorchester
(1653 Richmond Street, Dorchester, ON N0L 1G0)
2:00-3:00 p.m. – Intermediate Lesson – experienced WCS dancers only
3:00-4:00 p.m. – Beginner Lesson – no experience necessary!
4:00-7:00 p.m. – Open dancing
Cost: $15 including workshops. For more information please contact Swing London on Facebook.
Sunday, September 19th with Stan and Pat Vandermolen
Sunday, January 23rd – Shelley and Dave Hutcheson
John Lindo in Montreal – December 11th
Hosted by the multi-talented Cheryl and Alain at Danceconmigo (you should check out their Swing Page at www.danceconmigo.com/SwingPage.php) – the irrepressible John Lindo is back in Montreal – on "The Main", no less – for a full day of workshops (5) and dance with Ottawa DJs OldsKOOL and DaCube on Saturday, December 11th.
4324 St.-Laurent Blvd., 2nd Floor.
Only $75 for the day! Registration on-line through the above link.
Toronto International Swing Dance Championships – February 10-13, 2011
("TI" — pronounced "tie"…for short) – www.tisdc.com
Another World Swing Dance Council registry event comes to Toronto! (That means "points" for you avid WSDC competitors).
Professional Staff - aside from the myriad local talent:
Michael & Dawne Kiehm
Jill DeMarco
Mike Topel (yay!)
Bill Cameron
John Kirkconnell (well, okay – he’ll be "local" by then)
and possibly one other instructor t.b.c. at a later date.
Some features of the event:
• A Thursday night dance with several of the pros.(Michael & Dawne, Jill DeMarco, and possibly more). No workshop, just a fun, social dance for those that can come Thursday night. (This will be priced separately from the weekend pass).
• Weekend workshops will be primarily WCS, however, there is a little bit of Argentine Tango (approximately 3 workshops). Jill DeMarco will be teaching her WCS Diva Styling class for followers only….WOO HOO!!! 
• Jack & Jill competions in Newcomer, Novice, Intermdediate, and Advanced. A separate Invitational J ‘N J will run on Saturday night.
• Strictly Swing competitions.
• Pro-Ams, including a Pro-Am Jack ‘n Jill.
• Special promotional offer: FIRST 20 ADVANCED DANCERS (WSDC points) who register for weekend pass will get 50% OFF their weekend pass.
• Early bird price til Oct. 20: $119 CAD for weekend pass
For any questions, you can email Shelley (shelley.saxena@dancewcs.com), Katherine (i_dance_swing@yahoo.ca) or Dave (david.hutcheson@dancewcs.com)
Swing Niagara Dance Championships – September 24-26
Now in its 7th year, Swing Niagara takes place in Buffalo, New York and is a favourite event for West Coast Swing dancers from all over southern Ontario and Western New York. This is a World Swing Dance Council Registry Event, with Jack and Jill competitions that count for "points" – but more importantly, this is an opportunity to take classes with some of the best West Coast Swing instructors on the planet, and to get in more social dancing in three days that you could in six months! More details, and to register on-line at: www.swingniagara.com/
Diva Productions Presents: John Kirkconnell Weekend Oct.22-24
All-Star WCS dancer John Kirkconnell is relocating from Vancouver to Guelph (in time for Swing Niagara, we hope) and Diva Productions is holding a "getting to know him" workshop weekend in cooperation with the Toronto Swing Dance Society and Joy of Dance.
Oct.22 - Friday night TSDS dance at the Lithuanian House, with John teaching; regular TSDS pricing in effect http://dancing.org/tsds
Oct.23 - Saturday afternoon classes and a Saturday night dance at Joy of Dance
- 1:00 p.m. Registration and Warm-up Dancing
- 1:30-2:30 pm Communicating with your Partner
- 2:45-3:45 pm Working from the Ground Up
- 4:00-5:00 pm Shifting your Rhythm
- 8:00 p.m - Doors Re-Open
- 8:30-9:30 pm Sleight of Hand
- 9:30 pm until ? Diva Dance
Each workshop: $15
All four workshops and dance: $60
Evening workshop and dance: $25
Diva Dance only: $15
First 20 people to register for all four Saturday workshops and dance ($60) will be entered in a draw to win their money back!
Oct.24 - "Private-Palooza" – a unique circuit-training opportunity to take Private Lessons from John, Shelley Saxena and Julie Epplett – 20 minutes with each Pro. Space is limited. $60/one hour ciruit.
Coming from out of town? Here are some budget-conscious hotel suggestions, not far from the Joy of Dance:
Clarion Hotel & Suites Selby 592 Sherbourne St., Toronto ON M4X 1L1 (416) 921-3142
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites 335 Jarvis Street, Toronto ON M5B 2C2 (416) 962-4682
Comfort Hotel 15 Charles St. East, Toronto ON M4Y 1S1 (416) 924-1222
Town Inn Suites 620 Church Street, Toronto ON M4W 2G2 (416) 964-3311
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Hustle/Salsa/Swing at 6 Degrees
A unique blend of Hustle, House, R&B, Top 40, Salsa and Disco Classics in a stylish club setting.
Next date: Thursday, September 23rd
West Coast Swing Lesson 9:00pm; Hustle Lesson 9:30
Social Dancing from 10:00 till 2:00am
Admissions $10.00
6 Degrees is located at 2235 Yonge Street (north of Eglinton)
http://www.sixdegreesvenue.com/
West Coast Swing Wednesdays
A great new place to dance West Coast Swing (almost*) every week! Alleycatz is located at 2409 Yonge Street, north of Eglinton. It’s an intimate club with a good wood dance floor, friendly bartender and air-conditioning! The food also seems to be quite good. Jason Ng teaches a beginner WCS class each week, and DJ ‘Why Not’ and I are deejyaing. Only $5!!! But please do support the bar and/or kitchen so that we will remain welcome and can keep this going.
* occasionally we get bumped for a private party. Please watch this space or contact the club directly if you’re unsure.
TSDS Friday Night Dances
The Toronto Swing Dance Society is Canada’s longest-running Swing Dancing club, offering Monday night classes and Friday night dances celebrating a variety of swing styles. Classes and dances take place at the Lithuanian House (1573 Bloor St. West - just west of Dundas West). Dances are preceded by lessons:
TSDS Members pay $6, Non-members $10, Under 21/over 65 $7
Schedule is subject to change. Please see www.dancing.org/tsds for latest updates.
Don’t miss TSDS’s Annual Open House – Friday, September 10th. Only $5!! (Free to TSDS Members)
Usually there’s a "Survival Swing" lesson of some kind and performances in a variety of styles of swing dancing (East Coast Swing and Lindy Hop, as well as West Coast). Bring your family, friends, colleagues…anyone who every said they might be interested in learning how to dance swing!!!
