April Newsletter

Written By Kelly O'Connor

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

Kelly O'Connor