Ragtime, Jazz Age & Swing Era danceswith
Nikki Santilli
African-American jazz dances, 1900-1950:
Solo Jazz – Balboa – Lindy Hop – Charleston – Black Bottom
With a long-standing interest in the history of these styles, I compliment my classes
with lectures and discussions to give context to our dancing.
I also try to help develop the art by creating new dance pieces.
PAPER MOON
Sunday 15 June Paper Moon presents…
THE HOT HOUSE COMBO
plus Guest DJ The Melody Man
Tickets >>
5pm – 9pm
Hargrave Hall
Archway London N19 5SP
No bar – BYOB- but we do share out Cake
Dress your best!
vintage / retro / modern, all styles enjoyed
NB Paper Moon often sells out. Please check there are tickets available before travelling without a ticket.
Next dates…
26 October – Lana-May & her Hot Jazz Band DJ Aila Baila
14 December – A Christmas Paper Moon
Moonshine – Very occasional informal dance, Wimbledon
*Live jazz-swing music
ideal for dancing Balboa
also: Shag, Lindy Hop & Jazz Dance
The History of Authentic Jazz Dance
by Nikki Santilli (Aug/Sept 2021)
for the National Jazz Archive
Read Part 1 here >>
Read Part 2 here >>
my thanks to John Rosie for his valuable editing assistance
Dave Doyle’s review of Rhythm & Book
in the Syncopated Times
(Sept 2020)
Read it here >>
Rhythm & Book
March 2020 – June 2021, I hosted a weekly live zoom session where guest speakers or I presented topics concerned with dancers, musicians, literature, fashions and more that made the 1900s-1950s such a rich period in history. Our aim was to define “jazz” as something greater than a style of music and to understand it as a shared culture. Our particular focus was the history of jazz & swing music & dance in social dancing. However it became clear very quickly that the history of jazz was the history of a struggle for civil rights. Never before, perhaps, has a fight left such a rich and enduring artistic legacy.
This ‘lockdown series’ has now closed.
