A day of solo jazz workshops with Ramona Staffeld, a party with live music, and plenty of fun.
Saturday 8th February
10.30am-4pm: A day of solo jazz workshops with Ramona.
6.30pm: Social dancing with Andrew Dickeson's Blue Rhythm Band.
Sunday 9th February
2.00-5.00pm: Bal and Shag (and solo jazz!) Social at the Wriggle Room.
Ramona teaches a day of all-levels solo jazz workshops which focus on: playing with music, understanding jazz structure, and feeling good about dancing. We will use solo jazz steps, but focus on working with a partner or group - great practice for lindy hoppers and balboa dancers too!
Are you under 18 and keen to try solo jazz? Boom. You are very welcome. But all young people under 18 years of age need to be accompanied by an adult. That adult doesn't have to take workshops, but they must be on site.
Are you a carer or parent and want to take workshops? Boom. You are also very welcome. You may register for a workshop pass with a friend or fellow carer, and then swap in and out of workshops during the day as you need.
The big night of the weekend, when we throw off our work hats and jump into our party shoes.
This event is run monthly by Andrew Dickeson's Blue Rhythm Band. Yes - a dance run by musicians for dancers.
BASS (Bal and Shag (and solo jazz!) Social is a monthly low-key afternoon for practicing, socialising, and hanging out. Join our friends at The Wriggle Room to practice your workshop learns or just hang out.
Registration for Jazz with Ramona 2025 opens 11am Friday 17th January, and closes at 5pm Saturday 1st February.
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, she's danced in big name troupes, 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.
Andrew Dickeson is our live music manager for the weekend, heading up the Blue Rhythm Band, currently one of Australia's favourite jazz bands. Andrew and his musicians have been working closely with dancers for years now, figuring out what works for us also makes them happy. They have played music for lindy hop, balboa, and solo jazz contests, they've played for social dances, they've worked with tap dancers in improvised shows, and they've played live music for performances.
What makes them so great for dancing?
Andrew is a jazz history scholar, and he knows what musicians in the swing era did to make such great music. As a drummer, he understands the importance of a good rhythm section, and as a band leader, he knows when to rein in the band, and when to let them fly.