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.
Tuesday 5 May,
2.30pm – 5.30pm
Tea Hop
A relaxed, informal tea dance for Balboa and other swing dance styles
Take a break from the week and dance at our inaugural Tuesday Tea Hop! Socialise and dance to music from the vintage era of jazz: ideal for dancing lindy hop, balboa, collegiate shag and jazz steps.
South London Irish Association, 138-140 Hartfield Road, Wimbledon SW19 3TG
Entry: £10
Book online >>
or cash/card on the door
Sunday 10 May
PAPER MOON
live band:
La Bouche Manouche
featuring Irene Serra
& guest DJ:
The Melody Man
Tickets: >>
Hargrave Hall, Archway N19 5SP
5pm – 9pm
BYOB
Paper Moon – Occasional, formal dance, Archway
Tea Hop – Monthly, informal day time social dance with music for all swing styles, Wimbledon
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.
