WHAT PEOPLE SAY

Very supportive, professional, imaginative and organised. In a project which included both young and older people the team ensured everyone felt comfortable as well as enthused, giving them confidence to dance to a large audience. The team worked around many constraints to ensure everyone involved gained so much from the experience. Several of our young people, who had never danced before, have decided that they want to continue with dance lessons. Reliability and professionalism was the key to the success of our project, thanks to Joo Lee and Andy

Alison Flanagan Wood , Arts Development Team, Newcastle City Council

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I first met Joo-lee Stock whilst attending secondary school where she was Head of Performing Arts within the school. I was involved in a number of dance shows and workshops with Joo-Lee within the Performing Arts curriculum. On leaving school I had heard from a mutual friend that Joo-Lee had set up Lindy Jazz. Joo- Lee got in touch with me as she heard I was still very much interested in dance and she asked me if I would like to come along.

At my first class I discovered there is a great atmosphere throughout the whole evening. Everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming. Joo- Lee and Andy put lots of hard work into making sure everyone is enjoying their time at Lindy Jazz Club and that the dance is enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised that the classes were aimed towards everyone from beginners to advanced. With Joo-Lee’s fun and relaxed teaching style I picked up a variety of new dance moves without having to think too hard. I just learned them through enjoyment.  I found that Lindy Jazz is different from latin/freestyle dance because it’s not just learning moves, it’s about feeling the movement by being in tone with your partner. Lindy Jazz set’s you up not just to dance with one partner but with anybody, which I found was a great way to socialize. I know from being trained in salsa and freestyle that sometimes Salsa can be confusing with all the different hand and arm movements,  yet Lindy Jazz lets you achieve moves you are comfortable with.  Freestyle can be very daunting as you are dancing on your own so you don’t get the same social side of dancing.

Whilst working with Lindy Jazz I have learnt how people can learn through enjoyment without even realising they are learning. It is important to keep a friendly atmosphere so people can socialize and come to dance away the stresses of the day. Joo–Lee not only puts on classes but gives people the chance to attend Workshops with different people and also events like DJam (a weekend event where dancer attend from all over the UK and abroad).  

Everybody is scared when first learning to dance but with Lindy Jazz you will find that you get to meet new people, ease stress or learn something new each week.
Lois Coulthard, Dance Student

"I invited Joo-Lee from Lindy Jazz to be a Guest Speaker at Newcastle College Performance Academy in March 2010 to speak to first year Foundation Degree students on the Event Management course.  I lecture on two modules, Principals in Event Management and Funding and Income Streams.

 

Having previously worked with Joo-Lee I knew she would be an ideal speaker given her experience in Event Management and delivery and teaching experience.  Lindy Jazz as a SME is an ideal model to illustrate to the students how to set up your own business and make it a success as Joo-Lee has done with her company. 

The students had a really good experience, learning some dance which proved to be a really good ice breaker and a great way to engage the students.  One student who is new to the Group, and particularly shy,  thanked Joo-Lee as the session had helped to introduce her to the Group and as a result of this she was invited to lunch with some of the Group and she is also very keen to do a work placement with Joo-Lee.  It was very beneficial for the students to meet a working professional from the event industry and get an insight into real life business.

 

I would highly recommend Lindy Jazz for to participate in any company events."

Sandra Chapman, Lecturer, Newcastle College Performance Academy

"An absolutely brilliant two days. I was worried about the cost initially, but it's been worth every penny. Great fun for kids and has challenged my top ones too. Thanks so much!".

C. Irwin, Creative Arts Leader, King Edward VI School, Morpeth.

“The experience of working with you was fantastic.  You were always very professional and efficient with organizing the project and as a result the teaching went smoothly.  You and Helen were both very enthusiastic and encouraging with the children at all times and together created a relaxed party atmosphere.

I would recommend Lindy-Jazz to other schools even if it did not fit in with their schemes of work for PE, I would encourage schools to try this activity as a way of consolidating classes, encouraging teamwork, co-operation and providing children with a safe learning environment with which to practice the everyday social skills of having a conversation with or working with someone they don’t know well.  It’s about building their confidence for the future.  I believe you could also use this activity as a team-building exercise between adults in a variety of work environments.”

C. Wynn, Year 6 Teacher, Meadowdale Middle School, Bedlington.

“You’ve given me lots of great opportunities to do fabulous things, which perhaps I wouldn’t normally have done. The different types of dance I have experimented with is really good and I’m pleased I joined St John’s Dance Group. Thanks for opening my eyes to many new things.”

Danielle S, Year 9 pupil

“Miss Stock -  an inspirational teacher whose enthusiasm is infectious”

S Sayers, Parent, Bishop Auckland

“Miss Stock has a lively and energetic teaching style that conveys her enthusiasm for the performing arts”

BM Simpson, Headteacher, St Cuthbert’s Primary School.

“As a colleague, over subsequent years, I have seen the transformation Joo-Lee has brought about due to her love of the subject and her desire to share it, her innovative ideas and her thorough hard work. I have seen so many pupils realising a talent they did not know they possessed and, most significantly, I have seen pupils of all abilities developing the confidence in themselves to perform in front of their peers and in the community”

C MIller, retired teacher, Parkside Comprehensive School.

“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 is just so professional, whilst at the same time, very down to earth – a brilliant coach/teacher! She makes sure we understand what it is we want out of the dance experience.  
 
From a therapeutic point of view as a psychotherapist I can see that she works with the ‘inner child’ creating laughter, introducing new skills and movement.  When feeling low our ‘inner child’ gets forgotten about and often the ‘critical parent’ is at the fore.  Introducing clients to dancing cuts through the ‘critical parent’ and gets to the ‘inner child’.  Dancing [Lindy] is so easy to learn and able to do without a lot of lessons that it can also be quite an achievement for an individual who otherwise lacks self confidence, self esteem and motivation.
 
'Communication’ in dancing is an important thing for life. People sometimes don’t communicate so well and become isolated, depressed and lack trust.  Dancing [Lindy] is a way of building up that communication with each other. "

Janette Johnson, Director of Venture to Think