As we enter the holiday seasons, many are trying to determine what to do during the coming of a new year. For all of you dancers and dance enthusiasts the search is over! Dance Quarter studio is holding the third annual New Orleans Dance Renaissance from December 31st to January 3rd. This event’s mission is to help expand the social dancing to live jazz music here in New Orleans. The four day event consists of social dancing, instructor performances, and workshops.  Three amazing, live, and local New Orleans bands will perform including Zazou City, BRW, and The Palmetto Bug Stompers.  Food, drinks, and party favors will be available on December 31st to help celebrate the New Year! Tickets are on sale now at dancerenaissance.com. Prices increase as the event nears, so make your purchase today to guarantee a Great New Years weekend!

The Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown was a huge success with jazz dancers from all walks of the world from California, Florida, Canada, England, and many more!  The event kicked off with Thursday night with a lindy hop cruise.  Music was played by the Loose Marbles, a band based here in New Orleans.  Friday consisted of a “meet and greet” at Café Du Monde for all participants new to New Orleans and the ULHS event.  A street swing contest was held near Jackson square, followed by social dancing, performance and more competing at the Wax museum that night.

Saturday ULHS’s second round of competitions was held outside of the French Market for all to see.  This was a great way to expose jazz dancing and lindy hop to people in the local community who have never seen or heard of this style of dance.  This venue showed spectators that jazz dancers and lindy hoppers are an open and inviting community of people who simply want to share this American made dance!

NEW ORLEANS | The Art for Art’s Sake festival hosted by Capital One marks the beginning of the art season here in New Orleans. This event allows pedestrians to stroll down the streets of New Orleans while experiencing the various art galleries that New Orleans has to offer.

AFA was created in 1979 by the Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans to support local New Orleans artists.

“‘Art for Arts Sake’ started as a Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) fundraiser,” said Lindsay Ross, director of communications for the CAC. “Now 30 years later it turned into a citywide art crawl - from Magazine Street to Julia Street, French Quarter and beyond.“

Swing dancing is certainly fun to watch, but what reasons can you give an outsider as to why they should learn?  One reason individuals should learn swing dancing, particularly lindy hop and Charleston, is to improve their ability to use improvisation with music.  Jazz music is the common music used in dancing lindy hop.

Varying syncopations and polyrhythm that are prevalent in jazz music challenge the dancer to “think outside of the box” in order to execute unique moves.  This skill can be taken to solo modern dancing, ballet, hip hop, and a variety of other dances.

It’s that time again! Time for the annual Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown! This will be the opportunity you have been waiting for to dance with other Jazz dancers through lindy hop, tap, Charleston, second line, black bottom and eccentric dances. What city is better to visit and groove in then New Orleans, the birthplace of Jazz and swing! There is none! The ULHS mission is to bring together jazz dancers and jazz musicians to inspire each other in taking their creativity to the next level (Codependent jazz and lindy hop).

It is an obvious fact that two individuals are needed to perform the functions of swing dancing.  Of course, the Charleston can be performed solo, but dancing with a partner is what makes swing dancing fun to watch and participate in.  Having the physical connection with another human being that allows two dancers to move as one is what defines swing dancing.

Since its revival in the 80’s, lindy hop has spread to all walks of Earth.  Unfortunately, the dance is usually centralized in larger cities.  Many times there are lindy hop scenes with all girls and maybe two guys.  This inequality of male to female dancers causes a problem with those individuals who want to improve their dancing skills or just want to dance.

It is an obvious fact that two individuals are needed to perform the functions of swing dancing. Of course, the Charleston can be performed solo, but dancing with a partner is what makes swing dancing fun to watch and participate in. Having the physical connection with another human being that allows two dancers to move as one is what defines swing dancing.

Have you ever wondered why you always or never get dances at a social dance event? This is most likely this is partially due to your social dancing etiquette skills. Approaching someone for a dance is much like a job interview. Regardless of your skills on the dance floor, first impressions will always make a difference in the number of dances you receive. If you pass this hurdle, your next step is to manage properly conduct yourself on the dance floor.

So what are the do’s and don’ts in social dancing? When approaching a fellow dancer, avoid getting into their personal space while extending your hand out for a dance and assuming he or she will want to dance with you. Unless you are friends with, or you dance often with this individual, they will more than likely think you are overconfident and overly aggressive! Ask the individual in a polite and pleasant manner if they are interested in a dance with you. Also, try to avoid asking a group of people if any of them would like to dance. This causes confusion among the dancers as to who should accept the offer.

Proper swing dance attire is important, not only for looking good, but also for effective dancing.  Comfort and safety should always come before fashion and style.  Clothing should be comfortable enough to move in.  Skirts or pants that are so tight they rip or clothes that are so baggy that you and your partner trip over are inadvisable.  Footwear is also very important in swing dancing.  The speed and energy that is required to execute these dance moves has a significantly larger impact on your knees and feet then other partner dances, such as in ballroom.  Wearing heels to match a cute vintage dress might not be the best idea.  Girls, leave the stiletto heels at home!  Not only could you fall and break something, but when other dancers get accidently stepped on by those types of shoes it really hurts!