June Newsletter

Upcoming Calendar Highlights

Monday Nights at The Dance Conservatory
Charleston theme wrap up on June 1 (no class May 25), then a new theme begins the following week on June 8

Wednesday, June 3, Redline Swing
with Ahlfabet Swing Group

Saturday, June 20, Swing Dance at TDC
Live music this month with Parlour Noir from Philadelphia

Sundays starting June 7 at 5pm
Zumba classes with Kelly at TDC

Save the date Wednesday August 26
Special Edition of Redline Swing with Sunny Side from New Orleans

Sundays Sept 27-Nov 15, 4pm at TDC
Fall session of Extra Credit: Lindy Edition for grades 9-12

Hi everyone,

May has been such a joyful month for me because of the many shared moments with all of you.

From lighting up Redline Swing with Danny Lipsitz & The Brass Tacks, to our beach party night with at TDC with Smoky O, to a full month of Charleston classes, and all the birthday love that filled the room, I’ve been feeling especially grateful for this community.

Now we are heading into June with even more to look forward to!

Monday Night Classes at TDC

Quick schedule note: Monday night classes will be off May 25 for Memorial Day.

Our Charleston theme resumes for the final part of the series on June 1, and then we will kick off a brand new theme starting the following week that will run through the rest of June.

If you have been wanting to jump in, June is a great time to start.

As always, no partner needed. Come for one class or stay for both.

Private Lessons

If Monday nights do not work with your schedule, or you want to focus on something specific in your dancing, private lessons are always available.

They are a great way to get personalized feedback, build confidence, and work toward your own goals at your own pace.

Lessons are typically at TDC, with some flexibility for alternate locations depending on availability.

Wednesday, June 3: Redline Swing with Ahlfabet Swing Group

Our next Redline Swing is Wednesday, June 3 at Redline Music Stage inside K1 Speed in Mount Kisco, NY

This month, we’re welcoming back Ahlfabet Swing Group! If you’ve been to one of their nights before, you already know the vibe. They bring fun & playful music that keeps the room moving.

Let’s keep the momentum growing for this one!

Monthly Dance at TDC with Live Music: Parlour Noir

This month’s TDC social dance will feature live music by Parlour Noir, visiting us from Philadelphia.

They play hot jazz from the 1920s and 30s, and it is going to be a really special night for anyone who loves dancing to classic sounds.

Tickets available now, mark your calendar!

Zumba is Coming to TDC

Starting Sunday, June 7 at 5pm, I’ll be offering Zumba classes at TDC.

This is going to be such a fun way to stay active, get energized, and boost cardio health and endurance. It will benefit your swing dancing too, along with daily life.

If you love music, movement, and a good endorphin boost, I hope you’ll come join me!

Save the Date: Sunny Side Jazz Band at Redline Swing

Looking ahead, save the date for Wednesday, August 26, when we welcome Sunny Side, a traditional jazz & swing band all the way from New Orleans for a special edition of Redline Swing*.

This is going to be a special night, and we’re offering tiered tickets to reward early planners:

$18 Early Bird Tickets available through August 12
$22 Advance Tickets through August 25
$28 Day-Of / At the Door

*Please note: this event will take place on the last Wednesday of August rather than the first Wednesday of September. Redline Swing will resume after that on Wednesday October 7.

Extra Credit: Lindy Edition

Also coming this fall, SRDC will be offering a new session of Extra Credit: Lindy Edition at TDC.

Sundays at 4pm from September 27 through November 15
An 8-week series for grades 9–12

Students will learn classic Lindy Hop moves through a routine they will perform for a friends-and-family showcase at the end of the session.

If you know a teen who might enjoy it, keep this on your radar!

World Lindy Hop Day

May 26 is World Lindy Hop Day, celebrated in honor of Frankie Manning's birthday.

Frankie is known as the Ambassador of Lindy Hop, and this day is a great reminder of how much this dance tradition has become part of our lives.

The joy, the music, the community, and the culture we share exists because of the dancers who came before us and built something powerful. We get to carry that legacy forward, and share it with the next generation.

Final Thoughts

I’ll have more information on our July and August dances coming soon, but for now, keep these dates in mind: Wednesdays July 1 and August 5 at Redline Swing, and Saturdays July 18 and August 15 at TDC.

I know summer fills up quickly with travel and other events, but these community dances only continue because people choose to show up, support them, and invite others in. If you enjoy having these spaces to dance, connect, and unwind, please consider helping spread the word and bringing someone new along, even if you can’t make it yourself.

Thank you again for being part of this community. I can’t wait to keep dancing with you this summer.

With gratitude,
Kelly

May Newsletter

Spring Calendar Highlights

• Mondays, ongoing – Weekly Monday Night Classes at The Dance Conservatory
  This month’s theme: Charleston!

• Wednesday, May 6 – Redline Swing with Danny Lipsitz & The Brass Tacks
  Monthly social dance at Redline Music Stage (1st Wednesday of every month)

• Saturday, May 16 – “Swingout Rhythm Goes to the Beach” Live Music Birthday Celebration at TDC
  Come celebrate May birthdays, live music, and a beach-themed night of dancing!

May is packed with excitement:
We’ve got Danny Lipsitz & The Brass Tacks next week, a beach party with more live music later this month, and a full month of Charleston ahead.

Here’s more on what’s coming up…

Wednesday May 6 - Redline Swing with Danny Lipsitz

Our next dance at Redline Music Stage inside K1 Speed in Mount Kisco is coming up next week with Danny Lipsitz and the Brass Tacks making their Swingout Rhythm debut.

If you’ve danced to them before, you already know they bring incredible energy and keep the floor moving all night. If not, you’re in for a treat. It’s going to be an unforgettable time, so come be part of it.

Saturday, May 16 – Beach Party at TDC

Later in the month, we’re bringing live music to The Dance Conservatory with Smoky O.

We’re turning this one into a beach party. Think 60s beach movie vibes: Hawaiian shirts, summer looks, whatever gets you in the spirit.

It’s also a birthday celebration, not just mine (May 18), but for all of our May birthdays in the community. We’ll be gathering everyone for a big birthday jam, and we’d love to have all of you come out and celebrate together!

This will be a really accessible night to bring friends, even if they don’t dance or don’t know swing yet. While swing is at the heart of it, the band will be playing a mix of styles and feel-good grooves that make it easy for anyone to jump in and have fun.

Monday Night Classes – Charleston Month

This past month, we explored Flow and Connection, and it’s been great seeing these ideas show up on the dance floor.

For May, we’re diving into Charleston. Many of you have been asking for more of it, so we’re going all in:

• May 4: 20s Charleston

• May 11: 30s Charleston

• May 18: Tandem Charleston

• June 1: Charleston Variations

Mondays at TDC:
7:30pm – Swing Express
8:30pm – Lindy Lab

Come for one or stay for both. Sign up for all 4 weeks for the best value or drop in when you can.

No partner needed, but if you sign up with a friend, pair pricing options can make it even more affordable per person.

Private Lessons

If our Monday night classes don’t work with your schedule, or you want more focused attention, I also offer private lessons.

They’re a great way to work on your dancing at your own pace. Lessons are typically at TDC, with some flexibility for alternate locations depending on availability.

April Reflections

Thank you to everyone who showed up this past month!

We kicked off something new with our first monthly dance at Redline Music Stage. Seeing dancers fill the floor to live music in a new space was a reminder of what’s possible when people come together.

We also had the pleasure of hosting Brian Lawton for workshops, and it meant a lot to see so many of you come out to learn, dance, and stay for a full night of social dancing together.

A Quick Note

If you love having a local swing dance community and want to see it continue to grow and offer more opportunities, one of the best ways to support it is simply by coming out when you can and bringing a friend along. Every person adds to the energy of the room and helps keep things growing.

If you’re looking for easy ways to help beyond that, here are a few that make a real difference:

• Liking, commenting on, or sharing posts

• Marking yourself as interested or going to Facebook events, even if you’re not sure yet

• Inviting a friend who might enjoy it

• Hanging or sharing flyers

• Forwarding event info with anyone who might be interested

It all helps more than you might think, and it’s a big part of how this community continues to grow. Thank you to those of you who are already doing these things, we see you and appreciate you so much!

More live music is coming in June, and some new ways to move and train together are on the horizon as well.

I can’t wait to see you on the dance floor soon!

With Gratitude,
Kelly

April Newsletter

Spring Calendar Highlights

• Mondays, ongoing – Weekly Monday Night Classes at The Dance Conservatory
  This month’s theme: Flow & Connection!

• Saturday, April 18 – Guest Instructor Brian Lawton: 2 Special Workshops at TDC

• Wednesday, May 6 – Redline Swing with Danny Lipsitz & The Brass Tacks
  Monthly social dance at Redline Music Stage (1st Wednesday of every month)

• Saturday, May 16 – “Swingout Rhythm Goes to the Beach” Birthday Celebration at TDC
  Come celebrate May birthdays, live music, and a beach-themed night of dancing!

• Sunday, June 14 – Extra Credit: Lindy Edition Showcase
  High school swing class showcase; all are invited to watch & dance for free at TDC!

Swing Into Spring

Spring is finally here, and I can feel the shift. The days are getting longer, the energy is picking up, and things are moving faster in the best way. After a winter of hibernation, it is time to shake off the cobwebs, get out of the house, and swing into spring.

This season is full of exciting momentum for SRDC, and I am so grateful to be building something special with all of you. Every time you show up, you are not just attending a class or a dance. You are helping create the kind of community space that makes this whole thing possible.

If you have been meaning to come out again, this is your moment.

Monday Night Classes | Your Secret Weapon

If you want to feel more confident at socials, improve your connection, and actually understand what you are doing when the music gets good, Monday night classes are the perfect place to build that foundation.

This month, our classes focus on Flow & Connection: learning to move more smoothly, connect more clearly with your partner, and dance in tune with the music.

We have two classes every Monday night:

• 7:30 PM – Swing Express: Dive into the essentials of Lindy Hop while building confidence dancing in both 6 and 8 count rhythm patterns and shapes. Strengthen your fundamentals, rhythm, and groove in a way that will make your social dancing feel more natural.

• 8:30 PM – Lindy Hop: Explore more nuanced concepts like musicality, improvisation, creativity, and technique that makes dancing feel easier and more fun. Occasionally we mix in Charleston and Solo Jazz for variety.

You are welcome to stay for both classes to get the full experience, and you do not need a partner to participate. For those who want to commit and save, class packs are available and you can save even more when signing up with a friend.

Each week we will layer new skills:

• Week 1: Finding your personal flow

• Week 2: Connection foundations

• Week 3: Musicality in motion

• Week 4: Putting it all together for social dancing

If you have been coming regularly, you already know how quickly things start to click. If it has been a while, consider this your invitation to jump back in. Coming to class is a way to invest in yourself, your confidence, and your joy. Think of it as self-care that also happens to be incredibly fun.

Monday nights are where the growth happens. Drop in for a class or come every week and you will notice your confidence, creativity, and social dancing improving right away.

Guest Instructor Spotlight: Brian Lawton | April 18

In two weeks, we are welcoming guest instructor Brian Lawton for two special workshops ahead of our social dance at The Dance Conservatory.

Many of you already know Brian, especially if you have danced up in Kingston, seen his work with Vanaver Caravan, or caught him at The Flurry Festival. He has also performed in Sw!ng Out and has an impressive list of credits in stage, TV, and film as both a performer and choreographer.

But beyond all of that, Brian is one of the kindest humans you could hope to learn from. He brings so much clarity, musicality, and precision to the dance, and I feel incredibly lucky that we get to learn from him right here at the heart of our home scene.

These workshops are going to be something special, and I hope you will join us for the full experience.

Redline Swing Returns May 6th (Every 1st Wednesday)

March brought a huge milestone for SRDC with our inaugural dance at Redline Music Stage featuring Annie and the Fur Trappers. It was such an energizing night, and it confirmed what we’ve been hoping for: this venue has real potential to become a consistent home for live swing dancing in our region.

As of April 1, Redline is officially the home of our new monthly social dance with live music on the first Wednesday of every month.

Mark your calendar & buy tickets now for the next one:

Wednesday, May 6
Danny Lipsitz and The Brass Tacks
Redline Music Stage (K1 Speed), Mount Kisco NY

This is what we’ve all been missing since our dance at Lucy’s came to an end. Let’s keep it alive and growing!

Birthday Beach Party at TDC – May 16

Mark your calendars for a special beach-themed birthday celebration at The Dance Conservatory:

Saturday, May 16

It’s my birthday weekend, and I love celebrating with our dance community. I know we have lots of other May birthdays too, so consider this a shared celebration! Invite your friends, make it your birthday party too, and enjoy live music, dancing, and good vibes.

More details coming soon, but for now, save the date!

New Offering! Extra Credit: Lindy Edition (Grades 9 to 12)

I am excited to announce a new class series for high school students, grades 9 through 12, starting soon.

Sundays at 4:00 PM
Starting April 19
with a student showcase on June 14 (everyone will be invited!)

This is a structured, beginner-friendly series that will build toward a choreographed routine and performance opportunity, while also giving students the confidence and skills to social dance.

If you know a teen who would love this, please help spread the word. This is a big step toward growing the next generation of swing dancers in our area.

A Quick Personal Note

At the end of March, I went up to Boston Tea Party and came home with a full heart and a notebook full of inspiration. Being surrounded by some of the wider dance community reminded me how powerful this dance can be, and how much it matters to have spaces where people can move, connect, and feel part of something.

I am excited to bring that inspiration back to our local scene and continue building something that feels joyful, welcoming, and sustainable with all of you.

Help Us Grow This Spring

If you have been enjoying SRDC events, one of the best ways to support what we are building is simple:

Come dance. Bring a friend. Share an event post. Invite someone who has been curious.

This community grows one person at a time, and the more people in the room, the more magic we create together.

Spring is our chance to build momentum and keep this going strong.

I hope to see you on the dance floor very soon.

With gratitude,
Kelly