January 4, 5, 6
 
January 7, 14, 21, 28
 
February 1, 2, 3
Lindy Challenge

The Challenge: 18 classes, 4 instructors, 3 workshops, 2 contests, 1 prize

The Challenge: Push yourself, find more freedom, expand your repertoire, have more fun

The Challenge: Learn a new skill, refine a movement, move differently

The Challenge: Take a chance, make a leap, rediscover yourself

Peter Strom

When he is not teaching Lindy Hop, Peter Strom roams the earth personally recommending what music people should listen to. He has been a featured instructor at workshops all over the world from Australia, to Korea, to Sweden, to France and more, as well as all over the States. He has won titles from such competitions as ALHC, NADC, NYLHO, ULHS, and the USOSDC, some of the fanciest acronyms in Lindy Hop. He is also a 2006 Finnish wife-carrying champion (seriously). Specifically, Peter is most passionate about social dancing and its technique, in both Lindy Hop and Finnish wife-carrying, and he is a member of the fancy-footed Silver Shadows Lindy Hop reenactment group. Ask Peter how you can pay him in guacamole.

Workshop Schedule
Peter will be teaching with Melissa Verriano.

Jason Zabinski and Kelli Wilkerson

Jason has been dancing Lindy Hop since 1998, and teaching on and off since 1999. As a teacher he brings his enthusiasm and joy of movement to his students. He has performed by himself and with Lindy Movement at various events, including Frankie Manning's 88th Birthday Celebration and the Harlem jazz Dance Festival. Jason has competed and placed at ULHS and other various competitions, but his focus is social dance. Jason's style is based on using strong lead and follow technique to connect with his partner and the music.

Kelli has been dancing Lindy Hop, East coast swing, balboa and charleston since early 1998 and has been competing and teaching for 8 of those years. She has placed and won many national titles in many esteemed competitions such as The American Lindy Hop Championships, Ultimate Lindy Hop Championships, Camp Hollywood/Nation Jitterbug Competition, Swing by the Sea, Jitterbug Jam, Triple Crown Los Angeles, Boston Tea Party and many more. She has also taught workshops and lessons at many of the above named competitions and also in places such as San Francisco CA, Los Angeles Ca, Denver Colo, Minneapolis Mn, Madison WI, Boston MA, Nashville TN, Portland OR, Stamford CN, Pasadena Ca, Davis and Sacramento CA. She is a masterful fast lindy and Charleston dancer with a knack for showmanship who encourages great basics and fundamentals so you can have fun dancing with anyone at any speed.

Workshop Schedule

Nina Gilkenson

Lindy Hopper. Belly dancer. Hair-removal Laser Technician. The mysterious figure that is known only as "Nina" (and sometimes "Naomi") has many titles from prestigious dance competitions. But that's only a small part of her accomplishments. For instance, she can swivel in midair. She can simultaneously create vintage-style dresses and then destroy them while dancing. She can make 12-minute biscuits in 10 minutes. She writes upbeat musical theatre involving funeral homes. And last, but not least, she is a part of the award-winning Lindy Hop team the Silver Shadows, which sounds like it's a group of super heroes. And that's what she is. A Super Hero--one whose main super power is doing swivels in midair. And one day, they might save the world. Until then, she lives in Washington D.C. and falls down a lot.

Workshop Schedule
Nina will be teaching with Jason Zabinski.

Melissa Verriano

www.melindy.com

Melissa Varriano, more notably known to all as Mel, was introduced to the wonderful world of Lindy Hop in the Fall of 1998 while residing in San Diego, CA. Since that day she has dedicated herself to traveling all over the United States and Europe, taking workshops from numerous talented instructors, teaching classes in several locations, competing at various events, organizing local events, and dancing the nights away whenever possible.

On October 23, 2003, Mel injured her knee and had ACL reconstructive surgery along with orthroscopic surgery on her Meniscus. She has since fully recovered and is back in the world of dancing, traveling, and teaching.

Registration

  Workshop Referral* Cost (US)
Peter Strom $65
Jason and Kelli $45
Nina Gilkenson $65
About You
Name (First, Last):
Email:
Phone:
Student:(20% off, under 25, must show student ID)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: By clicking below you are registering for the workshops you have selected. Discounts may apply (15% student, 10% all 3 workshops). An email will be sent to both you and MinnesotaLindy c/o Shawn Lavelle.

* Referral: Refer 4 people, get in free! To receive credit for the referral, have the people who you refer enter your name for each workshop when they register. The same person may be entered into the referral field for each workshop, or you may use different people, however you may not list more than one person per workshop. Refunds will be submitted upon payment received for all four referrals. Referral Challenge must be completed before January 1, 2008.

Registrants
Amanda
Andy
Becca
Brent
Caleb
Carlos
Carly
Chris
Chris C
Colin
PN
P
A
A
A
A
N
A
J
A
Dave
Emily
Emma
Erin
Gina
Jenna
Jenny
Jess
Jill
John
JN
PN
A
A
A
JN
A
JN
P
A
Karen
Kate
Katie
Laney
Lauren
Lori
Mark
Marshall
Megan
Milo
P
P
A
N
JN
PJ
P
P
N
J
Paul
Rea
Sarah
Serge
Shawn
Steve
Susan
Wing
Yung-Tsi
N
P
P
A
A
P
P
A
N

Key: A - All Workshops, P - Peter's Workshop, J - Jason and Kelli's workshop, N - Nina's Workshop

A - 15 P - 28 J - 22 N - 26

Locations

Peter/Mel Workshop
Nina/Jason Workshop
Jason/Kelli Classes
Jan 4, Feb 1 Dances
Four Seasons Dance Studio
1637 Hennepin Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55403

fourseasonsdance.com
Jawaahir Dance Studio
1940 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403

jawaahir.org
 
 
Wolereine's Jazz Trio
Twin Cities Hot Club
TCSwing Events
 
Times Bar and Cafe
201 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55414

timesbarandcafe.com
Tapestry Folk Dance Center
3748 Minnehaha Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55406

tapestryfolkdance.org
Contact

Shawn Lavelle

7430 Oak Park Village Dr #7
St Louis Park, MN 55426

952.931.9024
shawn@minnesotalindy.com

Jason Zabinski

952.381.4836
jasonzabinski@gmail.com

Peter's Classes
Saturday, Jan 5 (Location TBA) Sunday, Jan 6 >>
11am Connection Time If you want to improve as a partner dancer, then it's essential to peel back the layers of what you already know and learn some new ways to make partnering easier and more comfortable, more nuanced, and plain old better. Peter's here to help you do just that.
1215pm Leading to Please Making your leading not just clear, but comfortable, and convincing. Learn to lead with conviction and smoothness so that your follows have more fun.
230pm Following to Please A leader's perspective on what feels good and what doesn't. Learn to be a more sensitive follower and have an easier time following while being able to put more of yourself into the dance.
345pm Get into the Groove Once your dancing is in the groove, it's all musical and things can flow naturally. Learn how the music works and learn how to express it better in your dancing.
Peter's Classes
<< Saturday, Jan 5 Sunday, Jan 6 (Location TBA)
12pm Multiple Choice Moves Great chance for both leaders and followers to challenge themselves. From one simple move we'll expand the options to keep followers on their toes and keep leaders clear and confident.
115pm Smooth Transitions Followers and leaders learn how to keep things smooth and comfortable while changing the partnership from monologue to dialogue.
230pm TBA TBA
Nina's Classes
Saturday, Feb 2 Sunday >>
11am Sweet and Hot
(Nina Swings Out)
Yup, Nina is sweet and hot. Sometimes both at the same time. Nina starts the weekend with a look at how she apporaches the swing out. Ladies come and add more sweet and hot to your swing out. Guys come and add some refinement to your lead so you can handle these follows.
1215pm Mad Hot Swivels Leads watch out by the end of this class you'll be in danger from the follows new super power, killer swivels. Follows take your swivel to a new level. Leads come and learn new ways to show off your follow and maybe a few moves where the guy can get some swivel action in himself.
230pm What Nina Wants Leads don't you want to know. Follows don't you want to demand the same.
345pm T'aint What You Do... ...Its the way that you do it. And Nina is here to help you with a styling class.
Nina's Classes
<< Saturday Sunday, Feb 3
12pm Cake and Pie If you like Pie and if you like Cake, You'll enjoy Nina's solo jazz class to get you... ya know, movin' and groovin' on the good foot.
115pm Wicked Charleston We weren't sure if we should call it wicked charleston, killer charleston, or kung-fu charleston. But one thing we are sure of is it will be dynamic, fun and charleston. Oh, and some lady named Nina will be there.
230pm Nina's Favorite Moves Just like it sounds: Moves that Nina really likes. And if she likes them they must be awesome. So if you learn them then you'll be . . . awesome.
Jason and Kelli's Classes
Monday, January 7 (9pm)
Lindy Hop Routine 1 We will begin teaching a full lindy routine full of flash and trash. People can use the routine as a whole to showcase, steal specificmoves out of it to look cool, or use portions (phrases) to jam out in lindy circles.
Monday, January 14 (9pm)
Lindy Hop Routine 2 We finish learning the rest of the routine we did not get to in part one.
Monday, January 21 (9pm)
Socially Messed Up Odd and out of the ordinary social dance moves and individual movement to put into your social dancing. We'll be looking at different rythyms to replace our footwork with, jazz movement replacing footwork, and really complex moves to lead and follow.
Monday, January 28 (9pm)
Solo Routine A full choreographed solo routine filled with jazz, charleston, and a little tiny bit of tap.
Challenge Additional Opportunities
9pm Friday, January 4th
8$/6$ DJ'd Dance*
DJs: Jason Zabinski and Katie Gumpertz
Contest: 5$ Jack and Jill
Location: Jawaahir Dance Studio

730p Saturday January 5
Mouldy Figs Jazz Band
Tapestry Folk Dance Center
TCSwing.com event, Cover charges apply

9p Friday, February 1st
10$ Dance*
DJ: Jason Zabinski (TBD)
Band: SouthSide Aces, talks in progress
Contest: Strictly Lindy Hop
Location: Jawaahir Dance Studio

730p Saturday February 2
Red Rock Big Band
Tapestry Folk Dance Center
TCSwing.com, Cover charges apply
830p Wednesdays
Wolverine's Jazz Trio
Times Bar and Cafe

10p Thursdays
Late Night Swing
Tapestry Folk Dance Center
TCSwing.com

9p 3rd Friday
DJ John Zimmerman
Tapestry Folk Dance Center
TCSwing.com

830p Sundays
Twin Cities Hot Club
Times Bar and Cafe

730p 2nd (4th?) Sunday
Pazaz Swing Dance
Four Seasons Dance Studio
* These dances are included for anyone who registers for the respective weekend workshop. The contests are additional.
Jack and Jill (5$ per entrant)
Friday, January 4th
Prelims: ~10 pm
Finals: ~1115 pm

Judges: Kelli Wilkerson, TBA, TBA
Judging Criteria: Lead and Follow, Musicality
Purse: 100% contest entrant fee

Strictly Lindy (15$ per couple)
Friday, February 1st
Prelims: ~10pm
Finals: TBA

Judges: Kelli Wilkerson, TBA, TBA
Judging Criteria: Lead and Follow, Musicality, and Presence/Showmanship
Purse: 100% contest entrant fees + 200$
Restrictions:
- No aerials (moves where the girl's head can go below her feet, if in doubt, ask)
- Minimum entrants: 6