Menu:
Regular Weekly Classes
Fridays: 8pm fundamentals 9pm intermediates, then practise
Venue: The Entertainments Hall, St James' Hospital, Locksway Road, Milton, Portsmouth, PO4 8LD Streetmap (quick) Google Map (slower)
This venue has a large dance floor, PA system, fans for when it gets really hot! freestyle and ample parking in security patrolled grounds. Entry to the hall is via the main hospital entrance.
For more information, contact Gary Tewkesbury on e-mail: Gary or mobile phone: 07719 382726
Please click the refresh button on your browser to make sure latest version of this page is visible
Latest class news
Weekly classes are running as normal
Exceptions and changesNone classes as usual
More detailed information
Friday 5th March - week 2 of improvers and intermediates drop in. RETURNS TO ST JAMES'
Friday 12th March - week 3 of improvers and intermediates drop in.
Friday 19th March - week 4 of improvers and intermediates drop in.
Friday 25th March - week 5 of improvers and intermediates drop in.
Fundamental courses
8.00pm Fundamentals
Beginners will now be known as Fundamentals and will be run in a six week format with each class building on the previous so by week six you will be proficient in all the basics.
Normal pay as you go pricing structure applies but if you want to pay for the whole six weeks upfront then you can do so by only paying £25 (NHS staff £20) therefore getting one lesson free.
So if you have never been before, you haven't beeen for a while or just want to recap the basics then this is the course for you.
Please let me know if you are interested. It is possible to start on week two but the discount will not apply.
9.00 Intermediates
Those of you who are more experienced then nothing has changed. If you like to join in the beginners (as some of you do) then the normal pricing structure applies and your help and experience with the beginner dancers is always very much appreciated. Intermediates will remain as a drop in session. Dancing till 10.45 as normal.
Teachers
Gary has always been fascinated by swing/jive dancing. As a child he would watch the adults 'jive' at weddings, parties etc trying to work out what they were doing, and would watch old black and white films from the thirties and forties which had a dance scene or two. But it wasn't Fred and Ginger that interested him but those social scenes where people were jitterbugging or lindy hopping.In the house were loads of swing records which he played incessantly. His dad was an accomplished tap and social dancer but would never 'share the secret'
In the early nineties, a friend asked him if he wanted to learn to jive, so they went to a class. It turned out to be modern jive and although easy to pick up, when they tried it out socially to swing and rock n roll music, it just didn't feel right. Then one night, whilst having a particularly bad night trying to modern jive to a rock n roll band, he saw some lindy hoppers! That's what I want to do! He said, so, he approached them, found out they were teachers - Graeme and Ann - and started going to their lessons in Bristol.
After a few years of learning and attending a couple of swing dance camps, he decided to set up a class in Portsmouth. They rest, they say is history, and the class has been running for over 10 years. Anyone who has tried lindy hop in the central southern area of England has been taught, at some point, by Gary and Jackie.
He has attended many swing dancing camps, including Herrang in Sweden, and has also taught in Brighton, Chichester, Fareham, Poole and on the Isle of Wight. He holds the Certificate of Education and his most recent accolade was teaching Collegiate Shag (in which he specializes) with Jackie, at the 2009 Ryan and Jenny weekend, organised by Gary Boon in Gloucestershire. Teaching Beginners is also his passion as today's beginner will be someone's favourite dance partner of tomorrow.
Jackie has always liked dancing. She did ballet for 12 years as a child and ballroom during her teenage years. When she moved to Portsmouth in 2001, she decided to look for a dance class, not only for the enjoyment of dancing and the exercise, but also to meet new people. A chance visit to a 40s do threw her into Gary's path; she came to his lessons the following week and took to the lindyhop like a duck to water. It just felt really natural! From then on it was classes and dances every week!
Jackie started teaching with Gary in 2002. While she now goes to fewer dances than a few years ago, she still loves being whizzed around the floor by a great partner, especially one that is just up for a laugh and makes things up as he goes along! She has a particular passion for teaching beginners, passing on her knowledge of lead and follow to get them off to a good start on the way to dancing happiness.