Spring Term in a Nutshell

What a Spring Term we have had! The committee has been busy bees with organising everything they had planned for this term.

We started the term and the year off with our January Social Dance on Friday 10th January 2024. This was an evening full of dancing with RUSDS members and non-members all in aid of charity. Through the sale of tickets and socks (yes, that’s right!) we raised £90 for the Royal Berks Charity and had a lot of fun doing so.

January Social Dance – Friday 10th January 2024. Charity social dance raising money for Royal Berks Charity

A week later we had our termly trip to The Dairy for a non-dancing social to give our legs a rest from all the dancing. Instead we had a night of chatting, catching up and playing pool (as usual Jamie won every game he played).

This term we have had a Society Swap with the Salsa Society (RUSS) on Sunday 3rd March 2024 where we got to learn each others dance styles. The session was taught by both committees with Isabelle (RUSDS Vice-President) and Manos (RUSDS Treasurer) taught the 6 count basis of lindy hop along with some send outs and pass-by’s. Everyone got the opportunity to learn both roles. The Ella-Mae (Salsa President) and Lauren (Vice-President) of the salsa society taught us the basics of salsa and a few different moves. Check out both societies Instagram accounts for some videos of the collaboration (@rulindyhoppers and @uorsalsa).

Salsa Swap – Sunday 3rd March 2024

We also had a 2nd taster session in a different style of swing dancing. This time in Balboa. Lynn from Balboa Mondays (@balboamondays) came along to give us a taster in Balboa on Wednesday 6th March 2024 which we all enjoyed and can’t wait to try out at a social dance one day.

As a society we like to support other swing dancing groups nearby by attending their social dances. As usual we continued with our monthly trips to Oxford for Hop the Hall organised by our friends the Oxford Lindy Hoppers (@oxfordlindyhoppers). We have also travelled further afield as we made a trip to London for Bishopgates Swing Social Dance (@swingpatrol) on Sunday 25th February 2024. We had a lot of fun dancing to live music all evening and got to catch up with some familiar faces who were previously members of RUSDS. A new social dance, Jitterbug Jam, started in Reading on the second Friday of the month which we couldn’t miss!

Hop the Hall – October 2023

Bishopsgate Swing – Sunday 25th February

Jitterbug Jam – February 2024

We wrapped the term up with our annual Spring Ball that was held on Friday 22nd March 2024. This year it took place at Watlington House and had live music from not one but two bands! ‘Reading University Jazz Band’ (@rumsjazzband) kicked off our night, and ‘Heather Jayne and the Red Shoe‘ (@hjredshoes) ended our night.  Both bands were amazing to listen and to dance along to. Thank you to you both! It was nice to see some of our friends from outside the society who came along to support us and the bands too!

‘Surviver’ Photo

Heather Jayne and the Red Shoes

Reading University Jazz Band

That’s a summary for this term and joint classes will resume after Easter on Wednesday 17th April at 7:30pm along with some more exciting plans and social dance trips!

RUSDS Committee 2023/24

We’re Back with a Swing in 2024!

Swing Dance is starting back again this Wednesday on the 10th January in Wessex Hall.

First Lesson Back!

• 7:30 PM – Level 2 (Advanced class)
• 8:30 PM – Level 1 (Beginner class)
• 9:30 PM – Social Dancing

Entrance to Wessex Hall

Taster Session for Lindy Hop Newcomers!

🗓️Sunday 21st January

🕛12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

📍Wessex Hall

Taster Session in Solo Charleston! Led by a guest teacher, Phalgun, from Oxford Lindyhoppers

🗓️Wednesday 17th January

🕛7:00 PM to 8:30pm (Replacing our Level 2 Class). Level 1 will take place as usual at 8:30pm.

📍Wessex Hall

We have our January Social Dance ❄
📅 Friday 19th January
🕑 8pm to 11pm
📍 Mondial, Reading Students Union
🎟 Tickets: Members £2, Non-Members £4
Everyone is Welcome! Tickets will be sold on the door (CARD ONLY)

Sunday practices are back! The first one happening..

🗓️Sunday 14th January

🕛12:00 PM to 3 PM

📍Wessex Hall

Everyone is welcome to these practices!

We can’t wait to see you all there!

RUSDS Committee 2023/2024

Autumn Social Dance

Our First Social Dance of the Year! 

On Friday 10^th November we held our Autumn Social Dance and had a lot of fun dancing all evening.  It was great to see so many society members, some of our friends from Oxford Lindy Hoppers as well as some complete newbies to swing dancing.  Thank you so much to everyone who came along to support the society! 

During the night we had a few hours of social dancing along with the Shim Sham and a snowball!  Being able to come together and share in an evening of dancing was great fun and we can’t wait to do it again! 

If you are interested in seeing any of the videos from the night take a look at our Instagram (@rulindyhoppers) or Facebook page (RUSDS Facebook) or have a look in our WhatsApp group.  If anyone has any photos/videos from the night please share them with us, we would love to see them.

We already have a date for our next social dance which will be Friday 19^th January so put the date in your diary and we will see you there!

RUSDS Committee 2023/2024

West Coast Swing Taster

On Wednesday 11th October our usual Level 2 class was replaced by a taster in West Coast Swing. This taster was led by Jenny and Shane from West Coast Swing Reading (@westcoastswingreading). In this taster we were taught some basic moves of west coast swing including left side pass, right side pass, sugar push and sugar tuck. (See below the table with an explanation of each of these moves and a link to a video).

Left Side Pass	Follow walks down the left side of the lead	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zx2T0F8cAI
Right Side Pass	Follow walks down the right side of the lead	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KzeaqTJClw
Sugar Push	Lead blocks the follow – hands low	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ce-QeQQlRA
Sugar Tuck	Lead blocks the follow – hands high	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQlWJuk1edM

It was really interesting to see a different style of swing dance which was slower than what we were use to. Everyone who attended had a really good time and really enjoyed dancing with Jenny’s team. Thank you so much to Jenny and Shane and team for coming along to give us a taste of West Coast Swing.

What did our members think of the WCS taster?

Friendly atmosphere while learning something quite different from Lindy Hop. Great experience meeting new people that engage in a dance similar but unfamiliar.

– Fern

Interesting session and was good to be familiarised with the various versions of swing.

– Venni

It was also fun to see how swing can be applied to different types of music!

– Eleanor

Follow West Coast Swing Reading on Instagram @westcoastswingreading

Want to attend one of there classes? Their beginners class is Thursdays at 9pm. Location: School Green Centre, Shinfield, RG2 9EH. Cost: For the whole course Student = £24 and Non Student = £40

RUSDS Committee 2023/2024

First Couple of Lessons at RUSDS

We have had an amazing couple of weeks in our first classes of the year. Our taster class kicked off the year on 27th September with everyone learning both lead and follow roles where we learnt how to connect with a partner and the basic 6-count steps and send outs. Our level 2 class also started back on the 27th September where we learnt tuck turn variations (‘hip hip hoorays’*). It was great to see so many people at our taster session and more people attending level 2.

Wednesday 4th October we picked whether we wanted to lead or follow and went over the basic 6-count steps again as well as learning follow in front and lead in front positions. In level 2 this week we learn sugar pushes (‘shopping trolley’*) and 6 count swing outs.

Our next dance classes are on Wednesday 11th October where we are joined by West Coast Swing Reading at 7pm for a taster in West Coast Swing. Everybody welcome! Our level 1 class is at 8:30pm as usual. Please note that this is our last level 1 class that is suitable for complete beginners! We have a crash course planned for Monday 6th November if you can’t make it on Wednesday.

We hope to see you all at our future classes!

RUSDS Committee 2023/2024

*Names/phrases given to explain some of the moves by one of our teachers

TRAVELLING TO THE LARGEST CHARLESTON WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT

HEY LOVELY DANCERS!

Firstly we’d like to thank everyone who came to the teaching session today, you guys all did so well! We hope that it’s encouraged and excited you for Sunday’s event as it has definitely motivated us into going all out!!

LETS TRAVEL TO LONDON TOGETHER!!

Come down to London with us on Sunday and be a part of Swing Patrol’s Charleston World Record Attempt! We’re planning on meeting at Reading central station at 9:15am and catching the 9:56am train into London and then taking the underground to Spitalfields Market where the event will be kicking off a 12pm.

WALKING FROM PARK BAR

If you want to walk down to the station as a group, Faye will be at Park Bar at 8:40am on Sunday morning and leaving for the train station at 8:45am! If you are planning on walking with her then pop her a Facebook message, or through our Contact page, so that she knows who to wait for. If you have any questions about traveling down to the event or how the event is going to work then feel free to ask her and she’ll try to answer all of your questions!

REGISTRATION

If you want to register for this event follow the link below, remember that registration is free but a £2 donation is required when we arrive at the event so don’t forget to bring your coppers!

http://www.swingpatrol.co.uk/spevents/worlds-largest-charleston-record-attempt/

We hope to see you all bright an early on Sunday, it’s guaranteed to be an awesome day and an amazing experience!!