Swing Dance (East Coast Swing & Charleston), Beginning
Come join us to learn the basics that will allow you to dance to some of the best music on the planet. You don’t need any previous dance experience or a partner. We’ll work on basic East Coast Swing and Charleston steps, musicality, style, and lead / follow technique. We’ll work on specific steps as well as building the tools for improvisation.
About Malaika Finkelstein
Malaika fell in love with swing in 1996. She has been dancing, performing, and teaching ever since.
Malaika and Terry emphasize lead / follow technique, connection between partners, and musicality. They especially enjoy working with new dancers. Their favorite moments of teaching are when newer dancers begin to gain confidence.
About Terry Mulrooney
Terry has been swing dancing since 1996, originally because he wanted to be able to dance with his mom. He’s also been a rhythm tap dancer since 2001.
Malaika and Terry emphasize lead / follow technique, connection between partners, and musicality. They especially enjoy working with new dancers. Their favorite moments of teaching are when newer dancers begin to gain confidence.
About Aaron Hendel
Aaron’s experience with bass began in 1986 with private lessons from Sonoma County’s premier bassist, Piki Chappelle. Those lessons focused on technique and theory, but he expanded into jazz theory, improv and composition with Bennett Friedman at the Santa Rosa Junior College. Aaron likes to joke that he also studied indirectly with Mel Graves of Sonoma State University, because Aaron’s best friend (who actually did the studying) spent most nights discussing the notes from the daily lectures with Aaron.
Since 2005, Aaron has been giving private lessons as his day job through Live Music Center, in Vacaville, California. In 2019 – before COVID made it unsafe – he performed over 100 gigs with many groups that include One Eyed Reilly, The High Card Drifters, The Thruppity Uprights (aka the Newcastle Waites, aka The Bruno Band). Aaron is well-versed in jazz, blues, rock, and country music, and over time has added Irish, French, English, Scandinavian, Eastern European, Bluegrass, Big Band, and Swing styles to his repertoire!