Tango & Swing weekend: dances & workshops

Chris & Holly Owens

Duke Gardens' new Health & Wellness Series continues this weekend, Feb. 8 & 9, with a fun-packed schedule of dances and beginner workshops.

TANGO

On Friday, Feb. 8, we'll host an Argentine tango milonga (dance) in the Doris Duke Center's Kirby Horton Hall (with a gorgeous hardwood floor that's perfect for dancing). Jason Laughlin and Cecilia Pagani, of Tangophilia, will teach a beginner lesson from 7-8 p.m., which is included in the price of admission. You need not show up with a partner. Everyone will rotate partners (except those who prefer not to), so you will get to know others at the event very quickly.

The dance will run from 8-11 p.m. This is Argentine tango, not the choreographed American tango you may have seen on "Dancing with the Stars." Argentine tango is a gorgeous dance to experience or even just to watch. Check out the video below to see the dance style you can expect at Friday's dance. Argentine tango can be danced in close embrace or open embrace. Beginners generally dance in open embrace.

SWING 

On Saturday, Feb. 9, we'll start the day earlier with some dance workshops with Chris Owens & Holly Beeson Owens, of What a Shuffle and the Eastern Balboa Championships. We'll start with a beginner Balboa workshop from 2-3 p.m. Then Chris & Holly will build on that beginner class with a beginner 2 workshop from 3-4 p.m. From 6-7 p.m. they'll offer a beginner Charleston workshop.

Then you can stay for the evening swing dance, which runs from 8-11 p.m., after a 7-8 p.m. beginner East Coast Swing lesson with Chris & Holly that's included with the dance admission. DJs Chris Owens & Ray Crampton will spin tunes through the evening.

TICKET INFO + MORE

Please see our swing dance web page for more info about workshop fees, dance tickets and other details, including a discount on advance tickets for Duke staff & students and members of Duke Gardens, CDC & TSDS. More info on the tango milonga is here. We'd love for you spread the word about these events via our Facebook page, too.

VIDEOS 

Below are some videos to give you an sense of the dances and what to expect. The first is Chris & Holly previewing the Balboa workshops. The second is a demonstration of some Charleston moves. The third is Jason and Cecilia dancing tango. And the last one is an East Coast Swing demo.

Health & Wellness: dancing & yoga at the Gardens

Social dances, dance workshops and yoga are part of a new Health and Wellness Series that Duke Gardens is offering this winter.

DANCES and WORKSHOPS

* Please see our February update with Feb. 8 & 9 tango dance, swing dance and swing workshops. Each dance starts with a 1-hour beginner lesson included with admission.

A swing dance and workshop series on Saturday, Jan. 12, kicks off the dance series. The dance will be at 8 p.m., preceded by a beginner lesson at 7 p.m. that’s included with admission. People age 16 and over may attend, and no partner is required. Richard Badu will teach the lesson and DJs will spin classic swing tunes for the dance.

Duke Gardens will also host four one-hour workshops from 1 to 5 p.m. with Wesley Boz and Debbie Ramsey, of Mad About Dance Academy. The workshops are: slow blues for beginners, 1 p.m.; Charleston kicking patterns, 2 p.m.; slow blues for experienced dancers, 3 p.m.; advanced East Coast swing patterns, 4 p.m. Again, no partner is necessary.

On Friday, Feb. 8, the Gardens will host a tango dance at 8 p.m., preceded by a 7 p.m. beginner lesson with Jason Laughlin, of Tangophilia.

And on Saturday, Feb. 9, there will be a swing dance at 8 p.m., preceded by a 7 p.m. beginner lesson with Chris Owens, of What a Shuffle. Chris and Holly Owens will also teach three workshops preceding the dance: beginner Balboa (2-3 p.m.), beginner Balboa II (3-4 p.m.) and beginner Charleston (6-7 p.m.).

TICKET PRICES: Tickets to the dances are $10 in advance for general admission; $8 for Duke students/staff and members of Duke Gardens, Carolina Dance Club or Triangle Swing Dance Society. Tickets may be bought with a credit card over the phone at 668-1707. Advance sales end at noon the day before each dance. At the door, if tickets remain, they will be $12 for all, with a $5 student rush for students with a valid high school or college i.d. (cash/check only).

Admission to the Jan. 12 workshops is $18; $16 members of Duke Gardens, CDC or TSDS or Duke staff/students. Multi-class discounts: $32/$30 for 2 workshops; $42/$38 for 3 workshops; $48/$44 for all four workshops.


Admission to the Feb. 9 workshops is $18; $16 members of Duke Gardens, CDC or TSDS or Duke staff/students. Multi-class discounts: $32/$30 for 2 workshops; $42/$38 for 3 workshops.

SHARE ON FACEBOOK: We'd love it if you'd help spread the word by RSVPing to these events (even "maybe" is OK) and then inviting your Facebook friends. Please go to https://www.facebook.com/DukeGardens and click the "events" tab for a full list of events.

NEW YOGA SERIES

 Photo by Rick Fisher

The Gardens’ yoga classes for beginners -- titled "Yoga, Stretch & Meditation for Gardeners," but open to non-gardeners also -- will start Thursday, Jan. 10, from 6-7 p.m. and run through Feb. 14. People may attend all classes or simply drop in. The class will include yoga, meditation, therapy ball massage and stretching, and it will be taught by Orla Swift. It will have a special focus on addressing and preventing aches and pains that gardeners get, but anyone can benefit. It’s open to anyone age 16 and older.

TO REGISTER: The drop-in fee is $15 per class. Students who pay for a multi-class pass will pay $10 per class, or $8 for members of Duke Gardens or Duke students/staff. For more information, or to register, please go to gardens.duke.edu or call (919) 668-1707.

Duke employee discount: 2/11 swing dance + lesson

Update: If you missed the dance, stay tuned for our next one on Nov. 10, 2012.

Duke employees, if you love to dance or would like to learn how, we've got a deal for you. If you buy your tickets to our Feb. 11 Swing at the Gardens dance today or Tuesday, you can benefit from our advance ticket member rate (and student rate) of $8. The price for the general public is $10. And tickets at the door, if any are remaining, will be $12, or $5 student rush.

The dance will be from 8-11 p.m. in the beautiful Doris Duke Center. And for those who've never danced swing before (it's one of the easiest dances in terms of the basic steps), there will be a beginner lesson from 7 to 8 p.m. that's free with admission. Even if you only want to try the lesson and dance for a little bit afterward, before doing something different with your Saturday evening, that's still a great deal.

Call 668-1707 to buy tickets by phone (9 a.m.-1 p.m.), or buy them in person at the Doris Duke Center information desk. Please bring your Duke i.d.

Parking is free after 5 p.m. Please see our dance web page for more information.