Swing in with BENJAMIN 'Ben' RICARD

Suburban Swing is proud to host the return of a good friend and amazing dance instructor, Ben Richard.  

Dance Instructor Assistant - Justine Robinson

Sunday, July 10, 2022, Abbotsford BC

Choose your track level

Only $80 or 3 classes and the dance with a Live Band (TBA).

OR $35 per class

Abbotsford Sunday Classes 1 pm - 6 pm

1 pm -2 pm Lindy Hop Beginner  

It is solid, low, relaxed, and energetic. Lindy Hop evolved from different dances, including jazz, tap, breakaway, and 1920s Charleston. It used elements from African American dances and European partnered dance.

Whether you are brand new to Lindy Hop or want to brush up on your skills, this class will teach the basic footwork and discuss how to connect more effectively.   

215 pm -315 pm Lindy Hop Intermediate/Advanced

This class is for those dancing lindy-hop already.  This will be an amazing class of technicality, connections, and how to lead and follow more effectively.    Put the passion into your lindy!   You must know a lindy circle and a swing-out well at the very least.   Ben's class will be dynamic and motivating!  you will be excited to try out what you learned on the social dance floor that very night!  

330 pm - 430 pm - Boogie Woogie 101 - Good for everyone!  This is an intro to boogie-woogie. 

Boogie-Woogie is a playful and improvised couple dance, often in medium or slightly fast tempi, with significant footwork based on musical interpretation.

445 pm -6 pm Tricks and air steps All Levels.

Not necessarily lindy related but for all who want to add these steps into any form of swing dancing.  Ben will lead you through the dynamic moves you can put into your dancing almost at any time.   Some moves will be for the social dance floor and some will be for jam circles and competitions.    However many of the moves will be socially lead-able as well. 

Ben has traveled the world to convey his passion by teaching and performing in several countries. On top of the various titles earned since 2002 with the Hop Swing & a Jump team from New York City, he won several competitions with his dance partner, Genevieve Kerouac. Among them, the World Swing Dance Championships in 2005 and 2007, making him the first Canadian to get the world champion title in acrobatic swing dance. His Port-O-Swing troupe was also the very first Canadian dance company to win the American Lindy Hop Championship in 2003.

In 2015, Ben became part of Quebec’s show business scene by working as a choreographer for the "Dance ton cinéma Rachid Badouri" , a show performed at the 2015 Just for Laughs Festival and the television show "Les Dieux de la Danse" aired on Radio-Canada.