Swing Dance Instruction By Mike Quebec

09/11/2024

Tonight's (Tuesday's) 7:45 p.m. Lindy Hop curriculum.

08/14/2024

New Vintage "Jitterbug" Swing Dance Series for Beginners, starting on Friday evening, August 23, 2024, 7:45 p.m., at the Mark Green Sports Center, 31224 Union City Blvd, Union City, CA 94587, Tel. (510)-675-5808.

It's fun, it's easy to do, and it's a healthy way to both learn to dance and while participating in a heart healthy social activity.

Friday evening sessions begins on Friday, August 23, 2024 and ends on September 27, 2024.

Information is on the flyer.

To register, go to the City of Union City's registration link at: https://secure.rec1.com/CA/union-city-community-and-recreation-services/catalog

Click on "Dance and Music Classes," then scroll to "Vintage Swing (n' Other Dancin' Things)" Social Dance Series. Click on that, then scroll to 8/23-9/27 and click on that. (You will have to "Create Account.")

For additional questions regarding curriculum, text Mike at (510)-240-2732 or email at [email protected].

Smooth Style Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate S**g, East Coast Swing, and Rockabilly Jiving weekly clas

07/07/2024

SWING DANCING, FUN AND EASY ON FRIDAY NIGHTS:

Spend a Friday evening at The Mark Green Sports Center learning how to dance the work week away with our beginner-friendly East Coast Swing class.

Swing dancing is a fun and healthy activity that gets you moving in a fun, safe, and sociable environment.

East-Coast Swing is the simplified, easy-to-do version of vintage swing dancing that requires no previous experience whatsoever. It's energetic and fun to do, done to fast-paced vintage Big Band, jump blues, and early rock n' roll, and the class structure is designed in such a way as to enable participants to immediately use what they learn, regardless of skill level.

* Partners are highly encouraged.

Michael Quebec has been teaching swing dancing since 1995. He has been featured in The Argus, The Philippine News, channel 26's Pinoy Pa Rin, and opened up for rock n' roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis at San Rafael's Millenium Party in 2000. Catch his dance videos on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Session start and end dates:
Friday evenings, July 12 to August 16, 2024.

Location:
The Mark Green Sports Center
The Aerobics Room
31224 Union City Blvd.
Union City, CA 94587
Tel. (510)-675-5808

Fee per person:
$68 Union City resident/$78 non-Union City resident

Online registration link:
https://secure.rec1.com/CA/union-city-community-and-recreation-services/catalog

Smooth Style Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate S**g, East Coast Swing, and Rockabilly Jiving weekly clas

06/06/2024

Our first episode of our 1950s true crime series premieres on Saturday, June 8, 2024, 8:00 p.m. Pacific/11:00 p.m. Eastern/10:00 p.m. Central.

Learn about the manipulative mom who made her teenage son do the unthinkable in October of 1957. (June Cleaver, she wasn't!)

The series itself is for 1950s history fans who are looking for a more complete look at our favorite decade, both the good, and the bad, and everything in-between, warts and all.

Episode one will be up for free viewing on YouTube from this Saturday onward at the following link below:

This is the first episode in our 1950s true crime series.For this first episode, we cover the October 1956 case of 35-year-old Hammond, Indiana housewife Gla...

04/06/2024

S**g…In Tandem: Collegiate S**g and Tandem Charleston Workshop for Beginners and Intermediate Swing Dancers.

Are you relatively “new” to Lindy Hop and would you like to up your game and add to your repertoire for fast tempo dancing?

This workshop will cover the basics of Collegiate S**g as well as working on your Tandem Charleston.

The only prerequisites are a basic knowledge of Charleston and basic Lindy skills, and comprehension of leading and following. (And a willingness to learn and have fun, too!)

This workshop is a fundraiser for our new 501(c)(3) California non-profit organization, Atomic Youth: Youth Culture History, 1946-1979 (Tax I.D. # 93-3779030), an educational, historical, research organization dedicated to preserving and postwar youth culture history. (Participants will receive a tax-deductible receipt.)

* And yes, we know that this workshop’s focus will actually be teaching dances that pre-date that time period, but we are hosting this workshop as a request, as our Lindy friends wanted a fast dancing workshop to address Big Band era music. (Our next workshop will focus specifically on dances after World War Two.)

Due to both the size of the venue and our desire to maintain quality instruction, SPACE IS LIMITED TO 12 PARTICIPANTS.

Registration and complete information is at the following Eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shagin-tandem-tickets-840921237057?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join the Facebook event page to stay updated at the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/363768289823597

For additional questions, contact instructor Michael Quebec at:
(510)-240-2732 (text) or [email protected] (email.)

To see what Atomic Youth is all about, visit our website at:
www.1950shistory.org.

A fun vintage swing dance workshop in Collegiate S**g and shadow/tandem Charleston. This is the first fundraiser for our new non-profit.

04/01/2024

Collegiate S**g and Tandem Charleston Workshop:

Ticket link at Eventbrite is below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shagin-tandem-tickets-840921237057

Save on advanced tickets (and get a tax deduction, too, as we are a 501-C3 non profit.)

11/12/2023

SWING (DANCE) INTO THE NEW YEAR: TWO-DAY SMOOTH STYLE LINDY HOP WORKSHOP IN UNION CITY:

Lindy Hop is the vintage style of swing dancing that is the "granddaddy" of most styles of swing, and "Smooth Style" is the version of Lindy taken from the Harlem nightclubs of the East Coast and brought to Hollywood, where it became the "jitterbug" style of dance seen in 1940s Big Band musicals, 1950s teen/rock n' roll drive-in movies, and even into the late 1990s during the "Swing Dance Revival."

It's flashy and fun, and a great way to stay heart-healthy while meeting new friends and engaging in an enjoyable activity with a friend or loved one.

The flyer has all of the information for our two-day Saturday workshop in January (the 13th and the 20th in 2024.)

However, in order to ensure quality instruction, SPACE IS LIMITED.

Reserve your spot at the links below:

Vintage Swing Workshop 1 Day: https://secure.rec1.com/CA/union-city-community-and-recreation-services/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI3NzUwNzQ=

Vintage Swing Workshop 2 Day: https://secure.rec1.com/CA/union-city-community-and-recreation-services/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTI3NzUwODg=

Smooth Style Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate S**g, East Coast Swing, and Rockabilly Jiving weekly clas

08/15/2023

Current curriculum for Mark Green Smooth Style Lindy series.

07/22/2023

Beginner-Friendly and "Easy-To-Do" Swing Dance Lessons at The Mark Green Sports Center In Union City.

Information is on the flyer. Registration link is below:

https://secure.rec1.com/CA/union-city-community-and-recreation-services/catalog/item/2639/57552/2618301?fbclid=IwAR1Q-6bp-nYDoMnofbRUgGbur4Gm22ZBaT2LrBDJ2w6bDOT2FdNz0xEvpKU

Smooth Style Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate S**g, East Coast Swing, and Rockabilly Jiving weekly clas

07/01/2023

Smooth Style Lindy Hop Curriculum for June 27 thru July 11, 2023 (no class on July 4, of course.)

Inside Turn Into A Whip
Right To Right Whip

Review:
Conversation Kicks, Saucy Kicks, Flash Kicks
10-Count Stop and Go Tuck Turn

I also have a video of last night's (June 30) Friday evening East Coast Swing Curriculum, but the picture quality is blurry, so I will redo that next week. (I will include that video however, in the comments section.)

Happy 4th Union City swing dancers.

05/24/2023

Swing Dance friends in the Tri City,

We have new swing dance events happening in June, including a one dollar Open House on June 2 (with lessons and food!) and a new series starting the following week (for beginners, that series begins on June 9th, for our experienced dancers that series begins on June 6th.)

Why learn swing dancing? Being dance, it promotes cardiovascular health (and since it's energetic swing, it is especially "heart healthy!"), while also developing core strength. (And it doesn't really feel like "exercise.")

Swing dancing is also a great way to make new friends, while socializing in a fun and safe environment. (It's also a fun activity for couples to do together.)

For those who "dig" vintage culture, you'll learn how to move to your favorite energetic rockabilly, doo w*p, and Big Band cuts.
Complete information are on the flyers and registration can be done online at:https://secure.rec1.com/CA/union-city-community-and-recreation-services/catalog/item/2639/57552/2542704

* Navigate to "Dance & Music Classes" then scroll to "DANCE CLASSES" then select "Vintage Swing (n' Other Dancin' Things) Social Dance Series.

Swing Dance Open House:
Not sure if you want to commit to a six-week series?

Then come to our Swing Dance Open House on Friday, June 2.
We have a beginner's drop in East Coast Swing lesson, as well as social dancing.

We'll also be providing stews, soups, breads, and snacks to keep you fueled while dancing, and all of this is for the whopping, overly-priced fee of...ONE DOLLAR. (Exact change only, please!)
To reserve your space for that event, go to the Eventbrite link below (SPACE IS LIMITED TO 20, so reserve your spot before we max out, as that event tends to understandably sell out!):
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friday-frolic-swing-dance-open-house-the-summertime-swing-tickets-630552859577?aff=eand

05/07/2023

The flyer says it all.

To register for the One Dollar Swing Dance Open House on June 2 (with food and a dance lesson), go to the Eventbrite link below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friday-frolic-swing-dance-open-house-the-summertime-swing-tickets-630552859577?fbclid=IwAR2TbSbYpbeGRwpyebtn6v1R3o7mzTz_GmUbUFPBLetXEaE7jfTBnWskils

* Space is limited to 20 participants.

Smooth Style Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate S**g, East Coast Swing, and Rockabilly Jiving weekly clas

04/18/2023

Seniors dance (with a vintage youth culture style) at The Ruggieri Senior Center on Friday April 28th!

Dance lessons, food, and non-stop 1950s and early 60s rockabilly, jump blues, doo-w*p, surf, and teen.

Facebook event page is below:
https://fb.me/e/45DRXW4MH

Eventbrite ticket link (for discount advanced tickets) is below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wow-what-a-party-tickets-594047751817?aff=eand

A loungy, rockin', swing dancin', cha-cha-ing daytime formal for our Tri-City seniors!

04/02/2023

Wow! What A Party: An Afternoon of Dancing For Our Active Adults n' Boppin' Baby Boomers!

No!!! This ain't a cheese ball cutesy "fifties" costume party (that's for squares, daddy-o!)

Yes!!! This is a rockin', boppin', n' hep event that evokes the glamor of a vintage Mad-Men-like cocktail party with a TV teen dance record hop in the vein of "American Bandstand."

Vintage dress is admired (but not required), and to show our admiration, we're even providing both a vintage beginner-friendly swing dance lesson before the dance, and the cost of admission includes snacks. (Guests are welcome, but not required, to bring dishes in a potluck fashion, as well.)

However, SPACE IS LIMITED. We are limiting guest attendance to thirty, so if you want to join in, reserve your spot ASAP as this event will sell out.

Complete information is below:

Friday, April 28, 2023
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Beginner’s Swing Dance Lesson
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Open Dancing (to vintage ‘50s and early ‘60s doo w*p, jump blues, rockabilly, teen pop, lounge, and exotica), Socializing, and Eating (Soups, stews, treats, and breads will be provided.)

Ralph and Mary Ruggieri Senior Center
33997 Alvarado-Niles Road
Union City, CA 94587
Tel. (510) 675-5495

Discount Advanced Admission:
$8.00 per person/$14.00 per couple

Admission if purchased after April 25th or at the door:
$10 per person/$18 per couple

To purchase Discount Advanced Tickets, click on the Eventbrite link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wow-what-a-party-tickets-594047751817

Stay updated by joining the “Wow! What A Party!” Facebook event page, at the link below:
https://fb.me/e/45DRXW4MH

Smooth Style Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate S**g, East Coast Swing, and Rockabilly Jiving weekly clas

03/30/2023

SOCIAL AND PERFORMANCE SWING DANCE CLASSES FOR BAY AREA TEENS!

Parents of home schooled teens, if you are looking for physical education classes that will also aid in developing social skills for your teen, vintage swing dancing might have what you and your family are looking for.

Here are the potential benefits of social swing dance classes.

Physical Fitness. Being movement-based, of course, literally any dance style has potential physical fitness benefits. However, Lindy Hop, the vintage swing dancing of The Big Band and Rock n Roll eras is especially suited for developing core strength and cardiovascular health, due to its fast paced and energetic nature.

Social Skills. Lindy Hop is a social, partnered dance style. All social dance styles, including Lindy Hop, encourage cooperation between dance partners, as well as awareness of other couples on the dance floor. It's both physical cooperation (the physical act of leading and following) and social cooperation, a skill that teens can take with them to apply in their everyday lives.

Coordination: Lindy Hop is one of the more challenging styles of social dance, which can make it both interesting for your creative teen, while also helping to build neural pathways in the brain for cognitive development. In other words, it helps to develop coordination.

Memory Cognition: Aiding in coordination also strengthens memory. That, of course, can aid your teen's study skills in other subjects that require memorization.

Classes are forming.

We are working with The Joanne Brown Dancers, located at 33535 Western Avenue in Union City, California, and the Alta Independent Homeschooling Program, in bringing swing dancing as a physical education activity for our Tri City (Fremont/Newark/Union City) home school families of local teens, in order to provide these benefits of social swing dance for our local youth, while also filling the physical education credits for home schooled students.

Six-week, one-hour group classes will be held on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. at the Joanne Brown Dancers (33535 Western Avenue, Union City, CA, 94587), starting in May, 2023.

SPACE IS LIMITED TO 12 PARTICIPANTS.

Discount early registration (before the last week of April) can be done at the Square checkout link below:
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML4MSRX0Z122B/checkout/WKQS6A6FY5IVP5GQI2WF7MHG

For information regarding class curriculum and format, contact Mike Quebec at [email protected] or by text at (510)-240-2732.

* EXTRA:
Try out a no-obligation drop in swing dance lesson with open social dancing after, with your whole family, for ONE DOLLAR per person at our Swing Dance Open House on Friday, April 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at The Mark Green Sports Center, located at 31224 Union City Blvd, Union City, CA 94587.
Reserve your spot for that event on Eventbrite at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friday-frolic-swing-dance-open-house-the-april-edition-tickets-595430066357?fbclid=IwAR18WLJUasqVC8SPdb1YErWAHzgTQod8iRv7mkO0jbBTtQLvRYOu1SkLY8k

For information on the Alta Independent credit capture for high-school equivalent physical education units, go to:
https://www.altaindependent.com/product/ydg-design-product-1/

Sources for the health benefits cited for social dance classes:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.925958/full

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9234256/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-dancing-leads-to-bonding/

https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/benefits-of-dance

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5267615/

*The photo of a teen swing dance class from the South Bay Area, used in the flyer, is posted with the permission of the parents of the teens involved.

Smooth Style Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate S**g, East Coast Swing, and Rockabilly Jiving weekly clas

03/22/2023

Friday Frolic! Swing Dance Open House:The April Edition

This is an almost "free" ($1.00!) Friday swing dance "open house" with both a dance lesson and social (with complimentary stews, breads, and snacks, too!)

It's a vintage rockin' record hop, with a beginner-friendly swing dance lesson beforehand with food, fun n' friendly company, and for the "exorbitant" fee of ...$1 dollar!

In these times, where are you going to find that kind of a deal for a fun social dance event, on a Friday night, locally here in Union City?

Admittedly, this is our way of promoting our new, upcoming weekly swing dance class sessions (Thursdays Beginning Lindy Hop on April 13 and Fridays East Coast Swing on April 14.)

This event will be a "graduation" for the current session, and an introduction to welcome new participants and introduce them to the joys of (energetic!) partnered vintage dance.

SPACE IS LIMITED. (20 GUESTS ONLY.)

Sign up before you lose your spot. (Space fills up quickly.)

Where?
The Mark Green Sports Center
31224 Union City Blvd.
Union City, CA 94587

Classroom B (On the left side of the building, after entering and checking in at the front desk. We will NOT be in the aerobics room that night, so that we can have access to the sink and kitchen.)

When?
Friday, April 7, 2023

7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. East Coast Swing/'50's "Jitterbug" Lesson (Beginner friendly, no experience necessary.)

7:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Open Dancing to vintage '50's Jump Blues, Doo W*p, Rockabilly, and Teeners. Snacks will be provided.

* Guests are welcome to contribute in a potluck fashion, but are not required to, as there will be enough snacks for everyone.

Cost? $1 dollar.

Register at the Eventbrite link below for "free," then bring $1 on the day of the event (exact change only please!):
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friday-frolic-swing-dance-open-house-the-april-edition-tickets-595430066357

For more information, text instructor Mike Quebec at (510)-240-2732 or email him at [email protected].

Smooth Style Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate S**g, East Coast Swing, and Rockabilly Jiving weekly clas

03/04/2023

A bit of tonight's 7:00 p.m. Friday "Jitterbug" East Coast Swing class.

In a few weeks, we're going to have another "graduation" swing dance party (so stay tuned!)

02/18/2023

SWING DANCING HERE IN THE TRI CITY:

Fellow Fremont area/surrounding Tri City area residents (who happen to like dancing and are looking for a fun way to spend an evening locally), Below are screen shots from a quick video that I took of last night's "Friday Frolic" promo swing dance party at The Mark Green Sports Center in nearby Union City.

It was packed, and we’ll be doing more dances, and weekly social dance classes, right here in the Tri City.

I'm working with Chris Valuckas from The City of Union City's recreation department in planning a similar event in the day, a swing dance for our Tri City seniors on April 28th. Local parents of teens (particularly those who have artistically inclined teens) I'll also be working with Joanne Brown (the owner of The Joanne Brown Dancers studio), as we'll be starting up a weekly teen swing dance program.

More info coming soon on those two upcoming swing dance happenings.

The next weekly vintage swing dance sessions at Mark Green (Tuesdays for Smooth Style/Dean Collins style Lindy Hop, Fridays for 50s jitterbug/double-time East Coast Swing) begin next week and registration can be done online at the following link (navigate to the "Dance & Music Classes"): https://secure.rec1.com/CA/union-city-community-and-recreation-services/catalog

* I have to use screen shots from the video, rather than the video itself, since I played a copyrighted song during the lesson, "The Wanderer" by Dion. Facebook would take the video down. I think I'll use more obscure songs for the lessons. ;-) Also, I need a photographer at these events, so we can get some higher quality photos for promotion (It's about getting the word out, so we can grow, dig?)