Rusty's Rhythm Club is coming to Tucson for one night only - May 23, Sunday, 5-10 pm. Rusty Frank received the highest honor possible in 2008 in the Swing Dance world when she was inducted into "The California Swing Dance Hall of Fame," where her name now resides among such luminaries as Jean Veloz, Hal Takier, Irene Thomas and Ray Hirsh. She runs the "Lindy by the Sea" dance school in El Segundo, California, and Rusty's Rhythm Club in Playa Del Rey. In 1996 Rusty moved to the United Kingdom for two years and partnered with world-renowned English Lindy Hopper Simon Selmon, together making numerous television, movie, radio, festival and special event appearances. The highlight for the team included a 51-city European tour as the specialty dance act for the big band stage show In The Mood - A Tribute to Glenn Miller. In 2000, Rusty teamed with composer Bill Elliott to produce the stage musical revue Swingin' The Century - The Big Band Show where she performed with her team The Jitterbugs.

Rusty has worked with many of the new swing bands that cropped up in the late '90s such as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra, The Jive Aces, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, The Esquires Orchestra, The Jonathan Stout Orchestra, Mora's Modern Rhythmists, The Campus Five, The Johnny Crawford Orchestra and Jumpin' Joz to name a few. Though not a dance competitor by nature, Rusty won First Place in the "Intergenerational" competition at the National Jitterbug Competition in 2007. She and her partner were the youngest team to win in the 10-year history of the competition. We are excited to have Rusty as a special guest for one night only where she will teach two Lindy Hop classes preceding the dance.

LESSONS
5 p.m. - Intro to the Lindy Hop and Rare Film Clips - $12
6 p.m. - Fun and Tricks with Lindy Charleston - $12
Enroll for both classes for $20
You can register in advance by emailing Krystyna@DancInc.biz or call 520-743-1349. You can pay at the door as well.

DANCE
The swing dance begins at 7 p.m. to the music of the award-winning Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Big Band. Since January 2010 this band has won 1st place awards at the Northern Arizona University Jazz Festival, Fullerton College Jazz Festival and the Essentially Ellington Festival run by Wynton Marsalis - Jazz at Lincoln Center (NYC). May 8-11 TJI Ellington Big Band will travel to NYC to perform at Lincoln Center as the #1 Community Band in The Nation. They are putting Tucson on the national jazz map as they make their coast-to-coast performances and collect their awards. Tucsonans and all Arizonans who want to experience swing dancing to a live, energetic and young big band will be in for a great treat. Vintage clothes encouraged and comforable shoes.
$15 / $12 students with I.D.

DISCOUNT: $30 if you enroll in both classes and stay for the dance.

DESSERTS WILL BE SERVED. ALL AGES WELCOME.

LOCATION:
Old Pueblo Square and Round Dance Center, 613 E Delano, Tucson (1 block south of Ft Lowell and 1st Avenue, NW corner). There is lots of parking available and the hardwood floating dance floor is 5400 sq ft! More information will be posted as it develops. Scroll down to see the initial flyer for the dance.

Rusty Frank is visiting Tucson as a guest artist and teacher at the 20th anniversary National Tap Dance Day Celebration being held at Piima Community College Center for the Arts Proscenium Theatre, West Campus. She will be teaching Leonard Reed's Shim Sham on Saturday at 12:30 pm. If you would like to enroll, visit www.dancinc.biz/ntd (see link at the top of the page) and download the registration form.

Top Ten Reasons to Lindy Hop
by Steve Conrad of the Arizona Lindy Hop Society

1. Great exercise - you burn lots calories without even realizing it. There have been a lot of people that lost a lot of weight and all they changed in their lifestyle was adding dancing to it. Plus, Lindy is a very active and aerobic dance.

2. Social Interaction - You get to meet lots of people and have social contact - This is important during a time of history where you can practically do everything on a computer without leaving your home. Remember, your Blackberry doesn't know how to dance.

3. Endorphins/ Stress release - Exercise such as swing dancing has been found to help reduce depression and stress by releasing these "feel good" chemicals. Plus, a recent study found that human eye contact can, in some cases, release dopamine causing a euphoric, light feeling. Dancing is a great stress reducer and when done mid-week can help reduce stress build-up.

4. Relationships - Studies have shown that activities that best build relationships are those that have the persons focused on each other rather than something external. Swing dancing requires a level of non-verbal communication that strengthens relationships (not just romantic ones).

5. Music - The music is timeless and because of its quality has remained popular for over 80 years. We dance mostly to swinging jazz music with some early rock, rockabilly, blues, and soul mixed in. Swing music and dance got America through the great depression - imagine what it can do for your rough week.

6. History - The lindy hop connects you to American History. The lindy in 1942 was named America's folk dance and it was popular from 1928-1958. Famous people that lindy hop(ped): Malcolm X, Jimmy Stewart, Ella Fitzgerald, Lucille Ball, Ashley Judd, John Travolta, John Wayne and Bette Midler, to name a few.

7. World connection - Lindy Hop is now a worldwide phenomenon with Lindy Hop exchanges in Paris, London, New York, Kiev, Singapore, Madrid, China, and more. You can go just about anywhere in the world, find the lindy hop scene and be taken in by the local dancers in most cases.

8. Creativity/ Brain development - Learning a new skill actually creates new neural pathways in your brain. Learning to lindy hop teaches body control, listening to music, complicated movement, spatial orientation, timing, and rhythm. Dancing is also a great creative outlet and you don't have to be a professional to enjoy it!

9. Avoid the Meat Market - For the most part, the swing dance scene provides a way to go to a club and enjoy yourself without being objectified. Most dancers go just to meet others and not necessarily to "pick them up".

10. It's FUN!! It's hard to find people not smiling when they are swing dancing. It allows for self-expression and creativity. Remember - there are no mistakes, only new moves.

What is "Swing Etiquette?"

• If someone asks you to dance, say "Yes!" (and why not "Yes, I'd love to." or "Yes, thank you for asking me!") -- regardless of their level. It could be the best dance of your life...it could be the best dance of their life. Either way, it is more dancing and all fun.
• Ask people to dance graciously. Gentlemen, offer your arm and lead the follow onto the floor. Protect her while you dance. Take care of her. Then thank her for the dance (maybe have another one!) and then escort her off the floor as graciously as you led her onto it.
• If you must turn someone down, ask for a rain check. This keeps it from being an outright rejection. Then, later in the evening, TAKE THE RAIN CHECK! This lets them know that you don't just use rain checks as a euphemism for rejecting them.
• If you are sitting a dance out and have just asked someone for a rain check, please don't dance with someone else on that song. We wish that this went without saying, but just remember how lousy you'd feel if someone turned you down for a dance and thirty seconds later you saw them dancing with someone else. Ewwww...
• Smile ... at everyone. Your partner, other dancers around you, the band, the DJ, the bartenders and waitresses, total strangers. Remember, we all love this dance and the more people we can draw into it, the longer it will thrive. (And the more partners we will have!)
• Applaud live musicians. As dancers, we get so caught up in the dancing or our partners that we forget that sometimes there are actual live musicians providing us with the music! They are an extremely vital part of a good dance. Show them some appreciation!
• Support the venue. If it's a small "dancer's club" pay the cover with a smile. Someone is working hard to make it available to you and they deserve your support, financially as well as with your presence. If it is a nightclub or bar, buy lots of whatever it is you drink: cocktails, water, juices, soda, whatever. We all need to support our scene like our Salsa brethren do, lest we be dancing in our living rooms shortly!
• Remember, please NO AERIALS except in jam sessions or competitions! Aerials are those moves where a partner is lifted off the floor. Obviously these are not things you want to do in a crowded space and run the risk of hitting someone.
• If you do happen to bump, kick, or otherwise strike another person, remember to acknowledge it, apologize for it, and give a humble smile and keep dancing. (unless the person requires medical attention... :(
• Bathe regularly! We wish this went without saying, but...
• Even if you bathe regularly, use deodorant.
• Brush your teeth. Then use mints copiously.
• Please wear undershirts! This is a pretty high-energy dance, and sweating is an inevitable part of it...so do your dance partners a favor and keep dry! Bring another shirt!
• On a related note, avoid sleeveless shirts while dancing, for reasons similar to those given above.
• Do everything you can to create a positive atmosphere. Make newcomers feel welcome, treat each other well, dish out dancing compliments to help confidence build... Fun is contagious!