Shim, Sham, Shimmy Dance Class at Morley College, Lambeth

London Event Reviews by May B

Morley College is a few minutes’ walk from Waterloo and a moment or two from Lambeth North tube station. We found ourselves there yesterday morning (after a very quiet Sunday morning journey on London Transport) eagerly making our way to our 10am Shim, Sham, Shimmy class.

It was part of the summer jazz festival and while we waited for our tutor (who had accidentally been sent to a different part of the campus) we learned that there were classes for dance forms that came before this style (e.g. the Afro-American Charleston) and after (e.g. jive and rock and roll). We didn’t realise we would receive a basic education in the history of dance as well as how to do the actual steps.

We were worried that we would not have the right shoes – we were told not to bring tap shoes and that trainers would not be slippy enough. We also worried a bit when others in the 18 strong group appeared in work out gear – would we be fit enough? The large dance studio had mirrors both ends and we were more than a little nervous. Others arrived who, like us, were pretty much in ordinary street clothes. We sighed with relief.

We were quickly put at ease when our tutor - Nick Breakspear - arrived. Being very tall, he looked more like a computer geek from California in his chinos than a dance instructor. Without much delay at all he had us standing in line and learning the first part of the routine which was stomp and slide.

We wondered whether we were being lulled into a false sense of security as it seemed pretty straight forward. No Louie Spence flourishes. While I’m a reasonable dancer, my memory for dance steps and routines is pretty rubbish but Nick was extremely patient and ensured we had mastered each part of the routine properly before putting on some relatively slow music so that we could practice a little more.

Then we learnt the break – a step and hop combination. Then there were rocking moves and little turns and kick backs. All with bent knees and swinging arms. We were encouraged to laugh and add whatever personal style elements we wanted. It was all very relaxed and friendly.

The two hours flew by and at the end we were all amazingly proficient at the routine – including those where we waited during breaks and our boogie woogie step backs. The heat was a bit of a challenge – there was no air conditioning in the room – but we were allowed plenty of short rests to escape into the light breeze outside and sip water from our bottles.

At the end of the class we were given an information sheet to remind us of the steps and the routine. It also explained the history of the dance – in 1927 New York’s hopping dance craze was named the Lindy Hop by Shortie George after Charles Lindberg’s successful solo flight across the Atlantic.

Morley College has an amazing range of courses on during the summer – sewing, sculpture (there were fantastic displays in the reception area – loved the scorpion and copper rose), hat making, ceramics, jazz singing and even Japanese drumming. And within the dance category there is everything from ballet and ballroom through to street dance, Bollywood, Jive and Rock n Roll.

http://www.morleycollege.ac.uk/

Posted Date
Jul 15, 2013 in London Event Reviews by May B by May B