NEWS RELEASE: Tuesday 16th November 2014
Dragons’ Den Swing Dancing Success Offers New Year’s Resolution To Berkshire
- Strictly Come Dancing assistant choreographer to teach hundreds to dance at Reading ball
Berkshire dancers — from professionals to absolute beginners — will swing out at a massive swing dance ball organised by BBC Dragons’ Den swing dance school success Swing Patrol in association with the county’s key swing dance organisations, All Jazzed Up, Reading Swing Jam and Reading University Swing Dance Society. The Reading Swing Dance Ball – sponsored by footwear brand Keds — is at 7pm on 10th January at Reading Town Hall. “Swing”, “jitterbug” and “lindy hop” are all synonyms for the street dance style popularised at Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom in New York City from the late 1920s to late 1940s. Fusing style, energy and fun, the dance was the precursor to jive, rock-and-roll and hip hop. It influences most popular contemporary dance styles.
Judy Murray, Anton Du Beke, Alison Hammond, Aljaz Skorjanec, Scott Mills and Joanne Clifton have all learned routines from Swing Patrol’s founder Scott Cupit who, along with choreographing legend Jenny Thomas, was Strictly Come Dancing’s assistant Charleston choreographer on the latest series of the BBC celebrity dance contest. He will be teaching hundreds of absolute beginners how to Charleston at the Reading Swing Dance Ball, even if they’ve never danced a step in their lives.
Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists The London Gay Big Band provide the live music to keep the crowds in groove as the evening progresses with stylish, energetic fun including games and dance competitions — with Keds footwear as prizes. Swing Patrol’s professional performers bust out some routines to delight the guests with acrobatic lifts, jumps and flips.
Deborah Meaden, Dragons’ Den panellist and investor in Swing Patrol said, “Scott has shown me how successful his big swing dancing events are. Swing Patrol’s event hosts are charismatic; the teachers run lessons which hundreds of people participate in at once; the performances by Swing Patrol’s dancers are exhilarating; the bands are on fire — and everyone dances, even if they’ve just learned the steps. I have brought friends and family of all ages to these events and, like me, they all get caught up with the atmosphere extremely quickly.”
Scott Cupit, Managing Director of Swing Patrol UK said, “Swing dancing lessons tick so many boxes for improving overall wellbeing — enhancing people’s levels of style, energy and fun — so are a great New Year’s resolution. They are active, but so enjoyable they don’t feel like physical exercise. They replace gym memberships for many people. They bring people of all genders together to socialise and make new friends — and often romantic relationships are formed over swing dancing. As well as giving people the confidence to wow friends, family and general onlookers with their dance skills, the swing dance scene also introduces people to vintage inspired fashion — so people often adopt the classy look of the swing era. To anyone in and around Berkshire who are even curious about swing I say strictly, ‘Come dancing!’”
Noah Bernard, Brand Director of Keds, said, “The awareness of the mix of classic and contemporary style of swing dancing has rocketed since Swing Patrol’s success on Dragons’ Den. Strictly Come Dancing has also boosted The Charleston’s popularity in particular, so the UK is getting into the swing vibe. Only two people have now been part of Strictly Come Dancing and Dragons Den. One is Deborah Meaden and the other is Scott Cupit – a feat he’s achieved in just a few months. It’s important that Keds recognises its place within swing culture as lindy hoppers’ shoe of choice by contributing to the community’s success. Swing is about head-to-toe style, authenticity, enthusiasm and a sense of fun — which are core values of the Keds fashion brand. Teaming Swing Patrol’s Keds wearing dancers with other dancers around the UK at the Swing Patrol Balls will spread the joy of this energetic, sociable and stylish pastime.”
The Berkshire Swing Dance Ball is at 7pm, 10th January 2015, Reading Town Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QH.
Tickets are available at http://www.swingpatrol.co.uk/spevents/swing-ball-reading/
Useful Links:
Swing Patrol performers are available for interviews, TV appearances and photoshoots. Expert interviewees are available for interviews on the subject of swing dancing, swing music, Frankie Manning and the UK’s swing scene.
For further editorial information, images, sample lessons or to arrange interviews with Scott Cupit about Frankie Manning, swing music and dance, or The Swing Patrol Balls contact: [email protected] or call 07904 414 889.
For further editorial information, images and samples of Keds please contact Aniqa Ali at [email protected] or call 0207 012 1560.
