Jazz with Ramona

5-7 October 2018, Sydney

A day of solo jazz workshops with Ramona Staffeld, parties with live music and DJs, and plenty of fun.

Friday 5 October
Lindy hop classes with Ramona.
Social dancing with live music.

Saturday 6 October
Solo jazz workshops with Ramona.
Social dancing with live music.

Sunday 7 October
Teachers' Workshop with Ramona.
Social dancing with live music.

Workshops

Friday 5 October

Evening lindy hop classes with Ramona.

Saturday 6 October

Ramona teaches all-levels solo jazz workshops which focus on: developing your own personal 'style'; preserving historic moves and choreography; understanding (and enjoying!) music and the concepts of rhythm and timing.

Sunday 7 October

Another of our popular teachers' workshops, where Ramona leads a guided discussion and practical class focusing on teaching lindy hop and solo jazz dance.

This session is open only to those currently teaching lindy hop, tap, or solo jazz.

Parties

Friday 5 October

We begin the weeked with a casual dance with serious live music.

In the spirit of late night jazz jams, we'll be inviting guest musicians, vocalists, and performers to play with the band, and we invite you to settle in with a drink, a dance, and good company.

BYO drinks, and dress for comfort.

Saturday 6 October

The big night of the weekend, when we throw off our work hats and jump into our party shoes.

Great live music, performances, entertainment, social dancing.

Sunday 7 October

4pm, Sunday 12 February. At the Workers Bar and Kitchen, Level 1 292 Darling St, Balmain. Free.

The Unity Hall Jazz Band's gig in Balmain has been on for 43 years, and dancers adore it. Join us at this stalwart of the Sydney jazz scene for dancing, dinner, drinks, and good company.

Registration

Registration for Jazz with Ramona 2018 will open later in 2018.

Everything

Everything pass
(all 2 Friday evening classes, Friday evening party, all 3 Saturday daytime workshops, Saturday evening party)
The Everything Pass may be shared by two parents or carers as part of the Carers' Pass. Email info@swingdancesydney.com for more information.

Friday Classes

Friday classes
(Pay at the door - note numbers are strictly limited)

All Saturday workshops

Saturday workshop pass
(workshops 1, 2, and 3 on Saturday)
The Workshop Pass may be shared by two parents or carers as part of the Carers' Pass. Email info@swingdancesydney.com for more information.

Sunday Teachers' Workshop

Sunday Teachers' Workshop
Register by emailing info@swingdancesydney.com

Parties

Friday party
Saturday party
Sunday party

Who is Ramona?

Ramona is one of the highest profile lindy hoppers and jazz dancers in the world, performing and teaching at all the major international events, including Herräng (Sweden), Lindy Focus (USA), Swing Out New Hampshire (USA), SeaJam (Singapore), Authentic Jazz Weekend (Korea)....

She's placed first in heaps of the biggest dance competitions in the world (ILHC pro-classic 2016, ILHC invitational jack&jill 2016; ILHC pro-classic 2015, ILHC invitational jack&jill 2015, ILHC lindy hop pro classic 2015), she's danced in big name troupes, (Jazz at Six, Silver Shadows), she taught with Frankie Manning, she taps, she solos, she lindy hops, she sings, she slow drags...

...and she likes Sydney because we have good bands and restaurants. She's also one of the friendliest, nicest people in lindy hop, and she just loves social dancing. More than anything. Make sure you ask her to dance.

Music

Music comes first with Swing Dance Sydney events, and we look for bands who think of jazz as dance music. We work closely with band leaders and musicians to produce programs of live music which make for great dancing, and happy musicians.

The Unity Hall Jazz Band

This band has held down the longest running jazz gig in Sydney for 43 years, and they know what they like. They like hot jazz, they liked a rowdy, crowded room, and they like a good time.

Though there's a good dance floor, this is a band's gig, and the music is the thing. This is drinking and talking music. This is shouting and laughing music. This is dancing music. It is hot jazz in the New Orleans revivalist vein. There is a grand piano, a handful of regular musicians, and always a few guests.