Lindy Diversion, a weekend dedicated to Lindy Hop, Jazz, Tap and Blues October 16, 2009

Chazz Young comes to Denver for

Lindy Diversion Dance

October 16-18

Lindy dance master Chazz Young joins CMDance for Lindy Diversion, a weekend dedicated to Lindy Hop, Jazz, Tap and Blues, October 16 - 18. Chazz Young, a spectacular dancer with a long and successful stage career, was first inspired by his father, Lindy Hop master Frankie Manning.

Discussion and video tributes to Frankie Manning, featuring special guest Chazz Young, (son of the late and great Frankie Manning) will be occurring throughout the weekend.

Chazz enrolled with Mary Bruce at her famous Harlem dance school at 12 and remained until he was 17. His father introduced him to a dear friend, Norma Miller, who was looking for some dancers. He joined Norma Miller & Her Jazz Men at 17 performing at the Apollo Theater (with Count Basie) and together they toured the world performing Lindy, Jazz, and Tap.

Over the years Chazz performed and taught Lindy Hop, Jazz Steps and Tap with his father Frankie Manning - becoming the most famous father son duo in the history of swing dance and, like his father, taught dance while working for the New York postal service for 26 years. He now lives in Las Vegas and teaches at the Austin Dancing School. Chazz continues to actively perform, choreograph and teach internationally.

The weekend will provide dancers the opportunity to learn from champion instructors. Steven Mitchell & Virginie Jensen are known for their extremely innovative style, improvisation and musicality and are always looking for new and creative ways to teach. Frida Segerdahl is among the most sought after dancers and instructors in the world. Frida is still a member of the Harlem Hot Shots and now runs the famous Lindy Hop dance camp that she first attended when she was 15, The Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden. Skye Humphries is a renowned swing dancer and instructor. He emphasizes fun, energetic social dancing with strong partner connection, solid technique, innovative moves, and musicality. Skye was a founding member of the award winning Lindy Hop dance troupe Minnie’s Moochers, and is now a member of the Silver Shadows dance troupe. Laura Glaess & Mike Roberts impart their inspiring, enthusiastic approach to Lindy Hop and Blues.

The Lindy Diversion weekend offers a dancer-friendly atmosphere, with great social dancing, the highest quality classes in Lindy Hop, Jazz, Blues, and Tap and live music with NYC Cangelosi Cards and Gordon Webster and Friends.

Lindy Diversion offers social dances open to the public every night featuring popular national swing bands including one of the most sought after bands in the lindy hop community The Cangelosi Cards from New York City. Known for their hot jazz and smoldering blues, a beautifully unique singer (who has the amazing ability to recreate the sounds of other instruments with her voice) and an incomparable band.

They'll be playing with Gordon Webster and Friends. Gordon developed a passion for lindy hop and blues dancing over the past six years, which has become a significant influence in his life since 2001, in addition to his ongoing creative pursuits as a jazz musician. His latest CD, Blues Till Dawn, was released in 2007 and is now available on iTunes and CD Baby.

Top-notch national DJ’s Shana Worel (Boulder, CO), Mike Roberts (Austin, TX), Mary Frietag (Manhattan Beach, CA), Chris Härm (Australia), Bobby Bonsey (Seattle, WA), Adin Van Duyne (Ft. Collins, CO), Chris Lee (San Francisco, CA) and Harry Saito (Chicago, IL) will be spinning tunes all weekend long.

All proceeds from Lindy Diversion are donated to jazz dance and music school programming for Denver metro area youth.

Friday, October 16 - Denver Turnverein, 1570 Clarkson St.
Doors open for registration at 6 p.m.
Main Dance: 9 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. - Dance to Live Music with the Cangelosi Cards and Gordon Webster and Friends and National Dj's - $25 at the door/ $5 Children under 12.

Late Night Dance: 12:30 a.m. – 3:30a.m. Swing and blues with Gordon Webster and Friends and National DJs - Light buffet included. $15 at the door. (Both Main and Late Night dance $30)

Saturday, October 17 - Denver Turnverein, 1570 Clarkson Street in Denver. Main Dance: 8 p.m. - Midnight. Live music by The Cangelosi Cards and Gordon Webster and Friends. $25 at the door / $5 Children under 12. Free beginning lesson at 7:30pm before the big dance!
Doors open 7:45 p.m. DJ music starts 8 p.m., live music from 8:30 p.m. to Midnight.

Saturday, October 17 - Late Night Dance at the Mercury Café, 2099 California St. 12:30 – 4 a.m. Swing and blues with national DJs - Dance only $15 at the door. Sunday Evening Dance at Mattie Silks House of Mirrors, 1946 Market Street - Dinner 6:45-8 p.m. Dancing 8 – 11 p.m. $10 for the dance/ $5 Children under 12. (space permitting)

Classes are open to all ages and children 12 and under pay on $5 when a parent purchases a class at full price. Register for dances and classes by calling 303-883-6691 or online at www.lindydiversion.com or www.cmdance.org. Discounted weekend passes available.

CMDance is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Denver, Colorado, USA dedicated to the arts. Our main mission is promoting the education and preservation of vintage dances from the early 20th century such as Argentine Tango and Swing dancing in the forms of Lindy hop and Balboa. We run several national events that offer classes for all levels of dancers so that future generations will continue to foster the love of these dances.

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