DANCE

" I attended my first dance session with Joo-Lee and Andy ... I've hardly danced in my life before, and I had all the apprehensions that a lot of people have about trying something new ... I needn't have worried! ... What great teachers they are, and what a lovely crowd! ... I stopped apologising to people for being a 'newbie' after the first few dances, because I was learning so quickly! ...  I'm sure that some people just don't go because they worry about being there without a dance partner ... nothing could be further from the truth! (I lost my dance partner within the first 5 minutes, and I must have danced with 30 people on the night!) ... Best bit for me? ... being asked to dance by one of the girls! ... I can't tell you how powerful this was for me ... it just said to me "You've been accepted into the group" ... There are no egos, no showing off, just a great new experience!  I've never been made more welcome by any group ever before ... I'd recommend that anyone wanting a really enjoyable and fun way to learn a new skill, and to meet a really welcoming group of people shouldn't hestitate ... go along for your first 'taster' session ... like me, you'll be hooked within the first 10 minutes ... I'll be back!" ...

 

Ken Day, Teesside

"Lindy Jazz has revolutionised my social life! I started being bored with the gym but I’m loving the way I feel -  rejuvenated! I love the exercise, I love the way I feel, I love the social side. I think that the lessons provide something for everyone no matter what level you are at. You learn new steps, you get opportunities to consolidate the steps.  I love the way we get to learn new things and improve. There is a great mix of people who have been several months & new people. The way you organise the classes, everyone feels valued and at ease as well as having fun. When I watch Joo-Lee & Andy I feel as if I want to learn more as they make it look so easy."

Lynda, Teacher, Durham

“I love the friendly and non competitive atmosphere.  I’ve never laughed so much whilst at the same time learning new techniques.  What I really love is that it’s ordinary people dancing. I love watching ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ but that kind of dancing is so performance based and is just inaccessible to many whereas with Lindy, the aim is to enjoy yourself and develop your own style.  I like it because you meet a lot of nice people and begin to build up friendships. Joo-Lee you are just so professional, whilst at the same time, very down to earth – a brilliant coach/teacher! You make sure we understand what it is we want out of the dance experience."

Janette Johnson, Venture to Think

 

"Rapidly improving due to excellent teaching. A great combination of moves and technique in a fun, friendly atmosphere."

Dafe Bullock, Bell & Bullock Circus Theatre

"Have attended other dance classes and styles, but these have been the best teachers and the most fun by far." 

Karen Bell, Bell & Bullock Circus Theatre

"It’s tough to know where to start – but let’s go with the friendly, welcoming atmosphere.  I think you’d struggle to change it even if you wanted to…but don’t even try!

Excellent teaching
you’re aware I’ve done various other forms of dancing, but in none of them have I learnt nearly as much as I have at Lindy Jazz.  Obviously different people have different methods of learning, and some types of dancing will be more suited than others to individuals, but I’ve always found your teaching to be of the very top calibre.Explaining stuff.  Something I’ve loved about the teaching is that everything you do has a sensible, well-explained reason – whether it’s to give a good lead, to follow through to another move or to look good to people watching.  And also, the way you emphasise priorities on those things by suggesting things to people who are more comfortable with the most important bits – it’s so much better than having teachers trying to get you to do everything new simultaneously (and giving a blanket reason of “Because that’s what you have to do”!)

Switching partners
Helps to get to know people, and helps with learning.  End of.

Almost always stuff going on! 
The rest of my social life – and sometimes, my legs – may not always have approved, but it’s been wonderful being involved in so much this year, rather than just the lessons once a week (I also wish I’d been to more than just the one blues lesson…)Enthusiasm and positivity I’m a sucker for compliments, but it’s so much more satisfying and enthusing than the criticism that seemed to be the driving force for some dance  lessons.

Lessons followed by social dancing
It’s a great structure.

Student pricing!
Plus the much cheaper Fast-Track classes etc.  I’m preparing myself but still guessing I’ll be in for a shock when I start going to London classes as an employed adult…The humour.  I’m never quite sure whether some of the things you say are deliberate or innocent, but it’s always nice to have a laugh in the lessons!

Guest teachers
That’s not to say I like you and Andy not teaching – far from it! (although it is nice to hear you get a holiday occasionally) – but it’s great to see such a community being built up as to have some of the participants able to teach once in a while, and see they’re really good at it!{C} 

All told, it’s been amazing
I’d say that Lindy-Jazz/DUSS/Lindy Hop dancing as a whole has been one of the few – and possibly in fact the only – unambiguously and unfailingly wonderful things I’ve done this year.  I feel like I’ve done and learnt so much, and opened the door to so much more in the coming years"

Simon Castle, Durham University graduate

"I thought it was excellent. I enjoyed the workshop and feel that I learnt a lot about the basics. The triple step was something that I managed to do for the first time. I also feel that I made real progress on being able to lead. The dance move that we did was fun and I felt very positive about learning it. I didn't ever expect to have the confidence to get up and dance at a public event in the way that we did. So I guess I feel great about my dancing now"

Les Graham, Durham University Lecturer

 

"I decided to set up a Dance section of the Procter & Gamble Sports & Social Club to offer something new and exciting for Procter & Gamble employees. With such a range of dance styles to offer, it was hard to know where to begin. Having learnt Lindy Hop, Charleston, Blues, Balboa and Shim Sham through Lindy Jazz with Joo-Lee, Andy and a variety of their guest and assistant teachers, I knew that Lindy Jazz would be a successful, fun and positive debut to the section. The ethos behind Lindy Jazz’s teaching is clear: encourage people to have fun, meet new people and gain lots of confidence through learning to dance in a relaxed and social atmosphere. The passion and organisation that goes into each class given is apparent and who can help but laugh at all of Joo-Lee’s accidental double-entendres?

 

Lindy Jazz has proven to be an extremely great beginning to Procter & Gamble Dancing and I have heard so much complimentary feedback from members of the classes – everyone has noticed Lindy Jazz’s warm, friendly and personalised approach to dance tuition, and I know that after offering some more dance styles in coming months to our employees, I will be inviting Joo-Lee and her teaching partner back to share the Charleston with us all. I can’t wait! Thank you very much Lindy Jazz: you’ve created a brilliant ‘first impression’ for the Dance section of this Social Club."

Vicci Tarry, Consumer Relations, Procter & Gamble UK

I recently worked as 2nd Assistant Director on the film “Joe Maddison’s War” in Newcastle – the film is set in 1945 and I had the rather daunting task of finding dancers for two key days of filming. This would involve about 40 dancers to cover a number of scenes and dance styles including Swing, Waltz + Foxtrot.
I was fortunate to discover  the “Lindy Jazz” group on the internet and made contact with dance teacher Joo - Lee Stock who invited me to one of their dance rehearsals.  Joo – Lee was incredibly helpful and supportive of the proposed filming and along with her dance partner, Andy, was obviously a very talented teacher.
I signed up some dancers that evening – but I had so many restrictions with regard to hair length and colour because this was a period piece! Unfortunately, because of this, I had to reject many talented and enthusiastic dancers. However, Joo – Lee assured me that she would be able to find more dancers to fit the profile .
As the filming dates drew nearer, Joo – Lee and I were in frequent contact with each other, making all the necessary arrangements (which is rarely straight forward in the filming world) At one point we had everything sorted and then the filming schedule changed and all the dates were altered!
Prior to the filming Joo - Lee rehearsed her dancers (in their own time) with the music we provided, and then the day before the shoot we held an official rehearsal day which involved the Lindy Jazz dancers and also other supporting artistes from the film. Along with our main choreographer, Joo – Lee and the Lindy Jazz dancers rehearsed all the numbers and taught the relevant dance steps to the other supporting artistes.
The filming days were a triumph and the director was very happy with the result of all the hard work and preparation.  I certainly hope to have an opportunity to work again with Joo – Lee Stock and her fantastic dance team. I was very impressed with the professionalism of the service they provided, from the initial meeting through to the day of filming. I can highly recommend Joo – Lee Stock and Lindy Jazz to anyone seeking to recreate the dance styles of that period.  I can’t thank them enough for their huge contribution to our film.

Jude Harrison, 2nd Assistant Director, 'Joe Maddison's War'.

I do ballroom and modern sequence three times a week but my Lindy Jazz is the icing on the cake. Our teacher is wonderdul. I love it, I love it, I love it.

John Waller, retired.

At the start of my Masters I had promised myself not to sign up to lots of exciting sounding societies at the Freshers’ Fair as I was going to be a Serious Student with plenty of Library Based Time.
 
However, I had wanted to learn swing dancing for a while and on an impulse I signed up, not knowing that the activity that I had given the least thought to would completely shape my year to come with all the opportunities offered.
 
On DJam (Durham international swing festival) a group of us got completely hooked on swing dance- now no more was it simply something we enjoyed on a Sunday afternoon- I wanted to learn…and I wanted to learn fast. To put it simply, I was converted.
 
From then on, Joo-Lee threw opportunities our way…workshops, membership to the Durham Lindy Jazz club, dancing at the Durham Brass Festival and the chance to be a film extra on an ITV period drama! The more enthusiastic we were to learn, the more included we became in Lindy Jazz.
 
Lindy Jazz club differs from all the other dance classes I’ve attended.  The sense of community in other dances is often missing with cliques and competitiveness instead.  As Lindy Hop is a social dance the atmosphere differs from dance that is for performance. Everyone dances with everyone else, which removes any self imposed hierarchies and as one of my friends once put it- no one leaves Lindy Jazz feeling all the stresses they came in with- you can’t help but feel good.  Rather than being apologetic or embarrassed about mistakes people burst out laughing- this is most likely the reason I’m such a smiley dancer!
 
My year culminated in being offered an Events Management Internship with the Durham University Graduate scheme. The way this works is that if a student finds a local business (or as in my case vice versa) who would be unable to pay for an intern, Durham University subsidises the cost (£1200 for 4 weeks work). The intern completes 37.5 hours a week on flexi-time, with certain commitments (like Lindy Jazz clubs on a Monday and Tuesday night).
 
As Joo-Lee is one of the artist practioners in the NHS Arts for Wellbeing pilot ( where people at risk of mental illness and depression can get free arts classes on the NHS) which I was doing my dissertation on, working with Joo-Lee every day gave me a unique perspective of the scheme which I would not have been able to access otherwise.
 
In addition to the benefit of my dissertation, as I was working so closely with Joo-Lee I had the chance to observe her running her business on a daily basis. Joo-Lee is very patient and doesn’t mind mistakes (which is good because I made quite a few!) and always takes the time to explain things. I think the aspect that I appreciated the most was being treated not as an intern but as a colleague; I was trusted to arrange appointments with potential venue managers, draw up proposals and actively contribute to new projects. This is definitely not an internship of photocopying, coffee making and data base input!
 
What advice would I give to future applicants? Come prepared to work hard, be punctual, positive and proactive. This is a very stimulating internship where the intern learns not only about the running of a business, but also about human relationships; how to deal with people, how to negotiate and most importantly how to turn obstacles or setbacks into opportunities. I would thoroughly recommend this opportunity to any graduate who is passionate about dance and wants to improve their skills for when they leave university.

Jessica Pountney
Masters (Msc) in Medical Anthropology at Durham University

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