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Choreographing a Couple of Swells
When Theatre Company ‘Lemon Squeeze’ contacted us about working on the choreography for the latest performance ‘A Couple of Swells’ MyCharleston were delighted to take part. The show is about the lives of two music hall rivals Vesta Tilley & Hetty King who became global superstars as male impersonators in the early 1900s. Vesta was in her day England’s highest earning women, whilst Hetty was reputedly the highest-paid music hall star in the world.
When Theatre Company ‘Lemon Squeeze’ contacted us about working on the choreography for the latest performance ‘A Couple of Swells’ MyCharleston were delighted to take part. The show is about the lives of two music hall rivals Vesta Tilley & Hetty King who became global superstars as male impersonators in the early 1900s. Vesta was in her day England’s highest earning women, whilst Hetty was reputedly the highest-paid music hall star in the world.
Vesta Tilley & Hetty King - Male Impersonators.
Whilst some archive can be found of these two legends the main inspiration came from July Andrews performance of ‘Burlington Bertie from Bow’ but what appears to be a fairly simple dance routine was in fact a big challenge.
“The time signature is in 3/4 which is a waltz” says Fiona “So at first just locking into that rhythm was a challenge, the next was finding movements which reflected the words of the song but wasn’t relentlessly acting like interpretive dance. I have to say compared to choreographing a Charleston dance, this piece took a lot longer to create which is surprising when you see it as it looks so simple. As a choreographer simplicity is the Holy Grail, my greatest inspiration is Bob Fosse because he keeps the movements so crisp and stark. So throughout the creative process my mantra was pair it down and don’t be too literal”
In this performance of Burlington Bertie, Vesta and Hetty have been thrown together as performers, so the piece needed to show them working collaboratively whilst suggesting the sense of rivalry that existed between them.
Emma and Sarah in rehearsals
“I really enjoyed working with Emma and Sarah on the rivalry factor withing this piece” Says Fiona “As performers they were quite intimidated by the taking on the challenge of a ‘dance piece’ but as we worked together we were able to be playful with the situation between them, using their difference in height to add to the comedy. The fact that Emma and Sarah had an established relationship as performers really helped in the creative process. They were willing to take risks and play with giving their weight to one another and we even created a comedy fall at the end of the piece”
As creating Burlington Bertie was taking so long, Emma and Sarah signed up for our regular Charleston class in Worthing and were able to use that to create moves for the other musical numbers in the show including “Following in Father’s Footsteps. We then looked at these in rehearsal but very little needed to be tweaked as they had done a fantastic job.
“I’ve not read the script so I am really looking forward to seeing them perform it in the festival to see how the musical numbers link together. I think the performance will be a fascinating insight into the world of male impersonators” said Fiona.
If you would like to see the show there are two performances happening in May see below for full details. If you would like choreograph for your next show, MyCharleston have worked with Theatre companies and on films creating movement and dance in a full range of styles.
Full Details:
The Walrus, (Basement), 10 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AD
5th and 12th May 2023, duration 55 minutes (no interval)
Pay what you can tickets, from £5
Ticket Link - https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/a-couple-of-swells/
For a extra giggle, here is an outtake of me and Elena in rehearsals, practising Burlington Bertie:
Videos: Watch our Jazz and Musical Routines
Watch the videos from our latest Jazz and Musicals Routines taught in Brighton and Hove and Online.
Watch the videos from our latest Jazz and Musicals Routines taught in Brighton and Hove and Online.
Thrift Shop ROUTINE
Intermediate Level
Musicals - Rich Man’s Frug, Hove Group
Musicals - Rich Man’s Frug, ONLINE Group
LADY MARMALADE - JAZZ GROUP
Videos: Watch our 'Be My Guest' Charleston Routine
Watch the videos from our Be My Guest course. These routines have been taught across Brighton & Hove, Lewes, Eastbourne, Portsmouth, Worthing and Online. See if you can spot yourself or a friend!
Watch the videos from our latest Open Level Charleston Course 'Be My Guest'. This routine was taught across Brighton & Hove, Lewes, Eastbourne, Portsmouth, Worthing and Online. Our teaching team have also been busy in Darlington, Devon, Cleethorpes, Italy and Holland! See if you can spot yourself or a friend!
We are just finishing off the edits of Intermediate, Musicals and Street which will be live asap so stay tuned for the remaining videos for last term.
CHARLESTON - Be My Guest ROUTINE
BRIGHTON GROUP
hOVE moRNING GROUP
hOVE Evening GROUP
Lewes gROUP
EASTBOURNE gROUP
PORTSMOUTH gROUP
Worthing gROUP
Online gROUP
Videos: What's on this Spring
Dance with us this spring and take a look at all the routines we will be teaching next term. Charleston to 'Take the Maxwell’ or dance to 'One, Singular Sensation' in our Chorus Line musicals course.
You can also learn our 'Do your Thing’ Street Jazz routine or ‘The Charleston' dance in our Intermediate Charleston course. Secure your spot here.
Dance with us this spring and take a look at all the routines we will be teaching next term. Charleston to 'Take the Maxwell’ or dance to 'One, Singular Sensation' in our Chorus Line musicals course.
You can also learn our 'Do your Thing’ Street Jazz routine or ‘The Charleston' dance in our Intermediate Charleston course. Secure your spot here.
CHARLESTON COURSE - Take the Maxwell
we are happy to confirm this is a brand new routine and choreography to the 1920s tune ‘Take the Maxwell‘
BRIGHTON & HOVE LEWES WORTHING PORTSMOUTH ONLINE Eastbourne
Course Dates:
Hove: Charleston Course. Tuesday 18 April - 23 May, 6-7pm
Brighton: Charleston Course. Wednesday 19 April-24 May, 7-8pm
Hove: Charleston Course. Thursday 20 April - 25 May, 10.30 - 11.30am
Lewes: Tuesday 18 April- 23 May, 6.30-7.30pm, The Body Workshop
Portsmouth: Tuesday 18 April- 23 May, 7.30-8.30pm, CourtX
Eastbourne: Wednesday 19 April- 24 May 6:30-7:30pm, Leaf Hall
Worthing: Wednesday 19 April- 24 May 7-8pm, Dance House
Online: via Zoom. Tuesday 18 April- 23 May, 6pm, BST
Online: via Zoom. Monday 18 April- 23 May, 7pm, BST
Hove: Charleston Course. Tuesday 18 April - 23 May, 7-8pm
INTERMEDIATE CHARLESTON - The CHARLESTON
On our next Intermediate Charleston course will focus solely on all the classic 1920s steps which make up this genre. We will be focusing on Charleston variations, swivel and how to make your moves look effortless.
Hove: Thursday 20 April- 25 May 7-8pm Open Space Studio
BOOK NOW
STREET JAZZ - Do your thing
A brand new track set to the tune ‘Do your Thing‘ by Basement Jaxx will be available this spring and taught by Fiona at Open Space studios from 21 April.
BOOK NOW
Hove: Thursday 20 April- 25 May 6-7pm Open Space Studio
Meet Natalie from MyCharleston Netherlands
Meet Natalie our teacher from MyCharleston Netherlands. Natalie runs weekly Adult Charleston classes in Alkmaar and shared her dancing story with us.
A dancing mushroom, a dancing teddy bear, a dancing rabbit, a dancing farmer, a dancing cow on roller skates (!) and (less in keeping with my character) a dancing princess! These were all personas adopted by me before I found MyCharleston. Hmmm, maybe I should explain myself…
I have danced as long as I remember, I took the formal route of ballet, tap and later Jazz dancing and just loved performing! My love of dance was quickly side stepped by my love of acting (I created my own drama club at primary school at the tender age of 8 years old. We had 4 members. We created such stonking smashes as “Mum goes to the cinema” and “Sisters playing” - I went to an all girls’ school so it was limited casting, quite possibly why I went on to enjoy a career of playing many male roles!
My theatrical abilities did mature (slightly) and I went to the BRIT school in Croydon for 2 years, studying musical theatre. (Please no one ask me to sing!) It was a fantastic way of meshing dancing and acting together and I knew that I was hooked. I longed to be Victoria the white cat in Cats!! (Still do). I ended up as Milky White the white cow in Into the Woods, performing on roller skates! (By the way, anyone considering the BRIT school….it is utterly fantastic, I had the time of my life.)
By now, I was certain what I wanted to do in life and I was accepted to Italia Conti School for Dramatic Art, in London, on a scholarship. This time, I paused dancing and studied straight acting. (This,, in itself is hilarious as there has been nothing straight about my acting career, as the first line of this blog will attest!)
Fast forward 3 years and I was out in the big, not very wide, professional acting world! I felt like I had left dancing behind with (thank the lord) my singing. I was wrong, most of my acting career, I have literally sung and danced my way through, to today!
Most of my acting work has led me along the theatrical boards, but you can find me in TV adverts selling blenders and fluffy towels, not to mention gatecrashing Emmerdale and Footballers’ Wives amongst other film/TV credits.
I found MyCharleston about 6 years ago now. I joined the Brighton Marina class with Fiona and I was immediately hooked. It was perfect. I scratched my dancing itch and all those faces I learned to pull during years of classical acting training, were put to fantastic over-use during any dance I ever performed with them! After joining the performance troupe The Ragtime Rascals, I soon gained the nickname of Dance Gurner as whenever in doubt, there was another face pulled with my extremely malleable visage!
During this time I was also part of another dance troupe called Copperdollar. We performed at various events, dressed as skeletons, and immersively getting people dancing at festivals, weddings and cabaret events. Everyday a coconut! It was through one event, Voodoo Vaudeville, that I got the idea of creating my own solo act ‘L’homme adores la voiture’. I got the chance to debut this for my friend, Phoxy Qurvy’s, fantastic burlesque cabaret event and later for Voodoo Vaudeville itself.
These days, I have landed in the Netherlands. The land of chocolate sprinkles, clogs, speed skating and orange! Lots and lots of orange!!! (Where to find an orange flapper dress?). I joined the MyCharleston teaching team during lockdown and I am now bringing all the moves to the people of Alkmaar and beyond, and having a smashing time doing so. Last year, me and my class members hit the streets of Alkmaar town centre to perform and we were literally ‘stopping traffic’ (lets face it, mainly bikes!) with our swivels! I am also one half of our Alkmaar based theatre company VosFox Theatre, bringing Santa’s Grottos, Theatrical events and workshops, Murder Mystery events and kids parties to Noord Holland and beyond! (Contact us on the link above for more details).
The thing I love most about the Charleston, is the people it attracts. What a smashing bunch we all are! All of us full of fun, playfulness, cheekiness and happy to steer off that beaten track of normal life! (I’ve been beating that track my whole life). We are all squeezing our huge senses of humour into some fantastically snazzy and cheeky moves and it’s a delight to do so alongside the fabulous Elena and Fiona.
To see me in action, here are many versions of me Charlestoning:
Classes begin again Monday 6th March at the Wijkcentrum Daalmeer, 20:15 and run for 6 weeks until 17th April (with 1 week break on 10th April for Easter Monday). Link to book the Daalmeer class is here
Classes begin Tuesday 7th March at the Wijkcentrum De Oever, 19:00 and run for 6 weeks until 11th April. Link to book the De Oever class is here
Or if you’d just like to come along to the first class to try it and see if it’s for you, please contact Natalie at mycharlestonnl@hotmail.com for details on how to book.
Videos: Watch our latest dance routines
We’ve been busy editing away all the routines from our new 2023 term which are now live. These routines has been taught to a 13 different groups across the UK, Holland, Italy plus our students across the globe on Zoom. You can view the Charleston Musicals & Street groups below.
Watch all the videos from our latest term! These routines have been taught to a 13 different groups and include our Charleston 'Minor Swing' routine, Musicals 'Singin in the Rain' course along side of our Jazz Routine 'Uptown Funk' and the 'Wham Re-Bop Boom Bam' number.
CHARLESTON - Minor Swing ROUTINE
BRIGHTON GROUP
HOVE GROUP - TUESDAY GROUP
HOVE - THURSDAY MORNING GROUP
EASTBOURNE gROUP
PORTSMOUTH GROUP
ONLINE GROUP VIA ZOOM
Lewes gROUP
WORTHING GROUP
iNTERMEDIATE GROUP
ALL I Do Is DREAM OF YOU - MUSICALS GROUP
Street Jazz Group ‘Uptown funk‘
Videos: What's on this February
If you fancy dancing with us this January you can take a peek at all the routines we will be teaching next term. Charleston to 'Be My Guest' or dance to 'Rich Man’s Frug' in our Sweet Charity musicals course. Learn our 'Lady Marmalade 'Street Jazz routine or 'Thrift Shop' Intermediate Charleston course.
Dance with us this February and take a look at all the routines we will be teaching next term. Charleston to 'Be My Guest' or dance to 'Rich Man’s Frug' in our Sweet Charity musicals course.
You can also learn our 'Lady Marmalade' Street Jazz routine or the 'Thrift Shop' dance in our Intermediate Charleston course. Secure your spot here.
CHARLESTON COURSE - Be MY GUEST
we are happy to confirm this is a brand new routine and choreography to the Jazz classic ‘Minor Swing‘.
BRIGHTON & HOVE LEWES WORTHING PORTSMOUTH ONLINE Eastbourne
Course Dates:
Brighton: Monday 20 Feb-27 March, 7.30 - 8.30pm, The Dance Space
Hove: Tuesday 21 Feb-28 March, 6-7pm, Open Space Studio
Hove: Thursday 23 Feb-30 March, 10.30 - 11.30am, Open Space Studio
Lewes: Tuesday 21 Feb-28 March, 6.30-7.30pm, The Body Workshop
Portsmouth: Tuesday 21 Feb-28 March, 7.30-8.30pm, CourtX
Eastbourne: Wednesday 22 Feb-29 March 6:30-7:30pm, Leaf Hall
Worthing: Wednesday 22 Feb-29 March 7-8pm, Dance House
Online: via Zoom. Monday 20 Feb-27 March, 6pm GMT
MUSICALS COURSE - Sweet Charity ‘Rich Man’s FRUG’
Fiona and Elena talk us through what's happening on our upcoming Musicals Course: Sweet Charity. On the course, the team will be teaching the iconic moves from Rich Man's Frug created by Bob Fosse.
HOVE ONLINE Portsmouth
Online: via Zoom. Monday 20 Feb-27 March, 7pm GMT
Hove: Tuesday 21 Feb-28 March, 7-8pm, Open Space Studio
Portsmouth: Tuesday 21 Feb-28 March, 6.30-7.30pm, CourtX
INTERMEDIATE CHARLESTON - Thrift Shop
On our next Intermediate Charleston course we'll be teaching a solo jazz classic - Thrift Shop- fun and a real joy to dance.
Hove: Thursday 23 Feb-30 March, 7-8pm Open Space Studio
BOOK NOW
STREET JAZZ - LADY MARMALADE
A brand new track set to the tune ‘Lady Marmalade‘ will be available this February and taught by Fiona at Open Space studios from 23 Feb at 6pm.
BOOK NOW
Hove: Thursday 23 Feb-30 March, 6-7pm Open Space Studio
Meet: Lindsey from MyCharleston Winchester
We are delighted to Welcome Lindsey our new teacher in Winchester! Her classes start tomorrow and you can read everything you need to know about Lindsey, what inspires her and new course.
We are delighted to Welcome Lindsey our new teacher in Winchester! Her classes start 5th Jan and you can read everything you need to know about Lindsey, what inspires her and new course.
“Beauty is something one feels rather than something one sees.” Mary Bagot-Stack
Mary’s innovation of group exercise to music was visionary in the 1920s when she founded the first classes available to people from all walks of life. The social change that happened as a result may be long forgotten as we now have access to a mind-boggling array of exercise classes, but this remains a favourite quote.
Lindsey - Our New Winchester Teacher
As a social dancer, I know that no photo or video can capture how I experience the dance, the atmosphere, the people, the music or the sheer joy of being in that moment where life is just movement and energy. Vivid, internal impressions are essential to lift us and sustain us in day-to-day living. What you looked like at the time is rarely representative because “Beauty is something one feels” and beauty is about being at your unfettered best.
Dance has always been a vehicle for transcending ordinary life and effecting change. For flappers in the 1920s the Charleston was an expression of rebellion; used to flout dress codes and re-write social rules, but dance brings about a shift in the life of each individual who experiments with it. Group exercise and dance classes allow anyone to step into a simple and happy state, and be around others who are energised.
Those who watch it will know the irresistible appeal of Strictly Come Dancing is that is shows us how amazing people can be given the right conditions, and our imagination goes along with them. The Charleston has become part of the show, not because it is familiar to the professional dancers, but because of the instantaneous recognition and delight that it brings to the audience. Very few dances are as much fun to watch as they are to do!
I love to teach adult dance classes and group exercise classes because there is an ageless part in every person that never changes and it is this part that responds. The inner dancer can only stagnate if it is not given an outlet, but it doesn’t alter from childhood to old age, and can be tapped into at any time with life-enhancing results.
It has been transformative for me to move into teaching group exercise and dance classes for adults, not only because of the physical benefits but because the effects are so much more than just movement when the mind and heart of everyone involved are alive.
I am genuinely delighted to be bringing Charleston classes to Winchester and it is my hope that the exuberance, humour and energy of this fabulous dance will provide some joy to both complete beginners and more experienced dancers in the local area.
Winter Term Dance Routines
We’ve been busy editing away all the routines from our Winter term classes which are now live . These routines has been taught to a 13 different groups across the UK, Holland, Italy plus our students across the globe on Zoom. You can view the Charleston Musicals & Street groups below.
We’ve been busy editing away all the routines from our Winter term classes which are now live. These routines has been taught to a 13 different groups across the UK, Holland, Italy plus our students across the globe on Zoom. You can view the Charleston Musicals & Street groups below.
CHARLESTON - Five Foot Two ROUTINE
BRIGHTON GROUP
HOVE - THURSDAY MORNING GROUP
PORTSMOUTH GROUP
ONLINE GROUP VIA ZOOM
WORTHING GROUP
EASTBOURNE gROUP
Lewes gROUP
HOVE GROUP - TUESDAY GROUP
iNTERMEDIATE GROUP
STREET JAZZ - WEAPON OF CHOICE
ALL THAT JAZZ - MUSICALS GROUP
Strictly The Best Charleston 2023
With the Strictly Final resulting in the recent crowning of Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal as winners of the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing Competition last weekend, what better time to look back on all of the iconic Charleston routines that have made this series great and discover the judges highest scoring routine. Can you guess who it is?
With the Strictly Final resulting in the recent crowning of Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal as winners of the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing Competition last weekend, what better time to look back on all of the iconic Charleston routines that have made this series great and discover the judges highest scoring routine. Can you guess who it is?
First up was Football Manager Tony Adams with his professional partner, Katya Jones who were the lowest scoring couple of the night after dancing their Charleston to ‘My Old Man’s a Dustman’ by Foster & Allen.
Tony Adams and Katya Jones:
Judges Scores: 4+6+6+6= 22
Our Score: 5
Kaye Adams and Kai Widdrington
Next up, we have Loose Women presenter Kaye Adams and her partner, Kai Widdrington who danced the second Charleston of the night to the Jazzy tune, ‘Music! Music! Music! By Dorothy Provine.
Judges Scores: 4+6+6+6= 22
Our Score: 6
Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima
The following week was Movie Week, and we were treated to not one, but two Charlestons. Actress Kym Marsh and her professional partner Graziano Di Prima danced a Sweet Charity themed routine set to the tune, ‘If My Friends Could See me Now.’ Partners Tyler West and Dianne Buswell danced the second Charleston of the evening to ‘Flash, Bang, Wallop!’ by Tommy Steele from the 1963 Musical Comedy; Half a Sixpence.
Judges Scores: 9+10+10+9= 38
Our Score: 8
Blue Peter Presenter, Helen Skelton and Comedian Jayde Adams celebrated 100 years of the BBC with their professional partners with TV Show inspired Charleston routines. Up first, with their performance set in a replica of the Blue Peter Creation Station, we had Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez who danced to the Blue Peter Theme Tune. Following on from this, we then had Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer who paid tribute to the late icon Victoria Wood with their Charleston set to the tune, ‘The Ballad of Barry and Freda.’
Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez
Judges Scores: 6+7+7+8= 28
Our Score: 6
James Bye and Amy Dowden
Strictly Come Dancing’s spook-tacular Halloween Week featured a Bee-themed Charleston danced by Eastenders Actor James Bye and professional partner Amy Dowden to the song, ‘Bumble Bee’ by Lavern Baker. However, this routine was the last dance that the pair performed on the show as they were voted off in the dance-off.
Judges Scores: 6+7+7+7=27
Our Score: 6
Ellie Simmonds and Nikita Kuzmin
We are now half-way through the competition, and it was Para-Olympic Swimmer Ellie Simmonds and Professional Partner Nikita Kuzmin’s turn to dance the Charleston. However, despite their routine set to the jazzy tune, ‘Too Darn Hot’ from the Musical Kiss Me Kate, being their highest scoring dance of the series, it was not enough to save them. As a result, Ellie and Nikita were the next couple to leave the competition.
Judges Scores: 7+9+8+9= 33
Our Score: 7
Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe
In the week before Blackpool, the competition standards were beginning to skyrocket as everyone wanted a chance to dance in the famous Ballroom. In a bid to earn their place, Comedian Ellie Taylor, and Professional Partner Johannes Radebe, opened the show with a Charleston set to the tune, ‘Friendship’ by Elaine Paige and Bernard Cribbins.
Judges Scores: 7+8+8+8= 31
Our Score: 8
Will Mellor and Nancy Xu
Next up, we had, Actor, Will Mellor and Professional Partner Nancy Xu take to the stage with their unconventional, yet innovative Charleston to, ‘Hush’ by Kula Shaker.
Judges Scores: 9+10+10+9= 38
Our Score: 9
Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu
Following on from this, Musical’s week then blessed our TV Screens, and we were treated to a jam-packed evening featuring some of the nation’s favourite musicals. In amongst all the pizazz, CBBC Star Molly Rainford and professional partner Carlos Gu opened the show with an awe-inspiring Charleston number to, ‘Hot Honey Rag’ from Chicago.
Judges Scores: 9+10+10+9= 38
Our Score: 10
Watch our Hot Honey Rag Charleston Routine here
Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal
The final Charleston dances of the competition were danced by Wildlife Cameraman and Strictly Come Dancing 2022 Champion Hamza Yassin, and BBC Radio Star Fleur East. Up first, with their Scottish inspired performance, we had Hamza Yassin and professional Partner Jowita Przystal who danced to the iconic tune, ‘Pencil Full of Lead’ by Paolo Nutini. (Check out our Pencil Full of Lead Inspired Routines here). Following on from this, we then had Fleur East and Vito Coppola’s transport us to Naples with an unconventional, yet traditional Charleston set to the tune, ‘Tu Vuo’ Fa L’Americano’ by Fiorella.
Judges Scores: 9+10+10+10=39
Our Score: 10
There have been many wonderful Charleston routines throughout the 2022 series of Strictly Come Dancing, however, the Top Three Charlestons, in reference to the Judges scores, are the following:
1. Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal, Fleur East and Vito Coppola= 39
2. Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, Will Mellor and Nancy Xu, Tyler West, and Dianne Buswell= 38
3. Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima= 35
Which Charleston routine was your favourite, and do you agree with the overall winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2022? We would love to hear your thoughts.
By: Eleanor O’Donnell