Learn The Charleston Workshop 30/11/2024
Saturday 30th November 2024 from 2:30pm until 3:30pm
The Cherwell School South Site, Marston Ferry Road, Oxford, OX2 6UX.
Members £6 – Non-Members £10
Our Learn The Charleston Workshop is taking place in a few weeks time. The workshop will be taught and led by Lucy.
Learn The Charleston Workshop
Leading the Workshop will be our own Lucy Taylor who is highly experienced at dancing and teaching The Charleston. She notably taught it at Blenheim Palace during the 1920s “Let’s Misbehave Exhibition. Lucy is especially adept at teaching it to those who are new to the dance.
You can expect to be led gently through all the figures, steps and shapes. These will build to make up each set of moves and gradually lead into a routine. Consequently, you will learn through repetition that very gradually builds the dance up.
The workshop will take place over one hour on a Saturday afternoon. Just wear the normal shoes you would wear for class and something that is easy to move in. If you do that, you will be all set.
The History Of The Charleston
The Charleston originated in the 1920s, and captured the exuberant spirit of the Jazz Age. It’s development coincided with the emergence of Jazz as a musical style and is inextricably linked to it. The dance shares its name with the town of Charleston in South Carolina which is a historically important place in American history with several key moments in American history taking place there. As the new century started to establish itself, Charleston was seen as a way to celebrate a new way of thinking for America and the Jazz Age was the perfect personification of it.
The dance was initially performed onstage as part of a show called “Runnin’ Wild”. It featured a song written by James P. Johnson called “The Charleston” and a dance routine was developed which showed off the music with its playful, syncopated steps and kicks. The show was a hit and the dance moved from the stage to the dance halls as a craze amongst young people. The Charleston became synonymous with the flapper culture, celebrated for challenging traditional norms. Wherever it was danced there seemed to be a party going on.
Learn The Charleston Workshop Content
Dancers perform the Charleston with swivelling feet, bent knees, and an upbeat rhythm that involves kicking legs and flinging arms. Originally a solo dance, it evolved into partner and group variations, reflecting the improvisational nature of jazz music itself. The Charleston became a symbol of rebellion, celebrating freedom and breaking away from the formality of earlier dances. Its influence is still seen in swing and jazz dancing, preserving its timeless energy and bold character.
The refreshments including tea, coffee and squash will all be laid out. It is also highly likely that chocolate biscuits will be on offer. These are all included with your entry price.
You can book in advance at any of our classes or you can turn up and pay on the door, on the day. We accept cash and contactless payments. The workshop price is the standard class rate, £6 for Members and £10 For Non Members. This helps us cover the cost of hire for the Gym.
Finding Us For The Learn The Charleston Workshop
If you are approaching along Marston Ferry Road from Headington & Marston and heading towards the Banbury Road junction, the turning is on the left.
If you are approaching from Banbury Road take the turning for Marston Ferry Road and the entrance will be a right turn into the school.
In both cases you will cross a cycle path so please take care. There is a map on our website for reference.
There is lots of free parking in the car park as well as places to store & secure your bicycle. Head to the middle entrance next to the secure bicycle parking. We will be there to welcome and direct you.
Apparently there is an issue using the postcode with Sat Nav that directs you wrongly. It is due to a shared postcode. If you are using Sat Nav please ensure you enter “Cherwell School South Site” on Marston Ferry Road rather than the postcode. If you follow the directions above, you won’t go wrong.
You can also find us on Google Maps search for Swing Dance Summertown
If there are any questions you can contact us via email or drop us a line through our form on the Contact us page
We are in Gym 1 (Not Gym 2)
Our normal teaching space on a Wednesday night, is known as Gym 2 by the school. On this occasion, Gym 2 is not available and so the Shim Sham Workshop will be in Gym 1. Gym 1 is at the opposite end of the corridor to Gym 2. If you find yourself in Gym 2, turn around, walk back along the corridor as far as it will go. Then walk through the double doors, past reception and at that point you should hear the music. There will be people around to help you if you get lost but it is very easy to find.