About Zazou Swing
A more academic look at dance as well as video overviews from past classes.
What our students and community has to say about Zazouswing. (bragging rights!)
About Us
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Todd and Beth, RI
When people find out that Todd Schmenk and Beth Donahue are swing dance teachers the most common response is, “I’ve always wanted to try that!” Eager to provide that opportunity, Todd and Beth, a husband and wife teaching duo originally from Cleveland, strive to make that statement happen for any and all who would try it.
In 1998, horrified at the thought of doing nothing but the "Chicken Dance" at their wedding, Todd and Beth began what would be the first of many swing dance classes. They became so enthralled with this dance that when they moved to York, PA in 2000, they created a very successful swing dance scene which has continued to thrive even after their move to Providence, RI.
They also discovered a talent for teaching and performing, racking up hundreds of hours of instructing experience as the head instructors for York’s Urban Swing Dance Club between 2002 and 2005 as well as countless performances in the community, some of which are listed below.
Todd and Beth have traveled to various parts of the country looking to expand their knowledge of this amazing dance and as guest instructors, not just teaching dance, but also teaching people how to build a successful dance scene. They had the honor of teaching a scene building class at Swing Out New Hampshire 2006, a renowned dance camp devoted to the preservation and development of swing dance. Besides teaching Todd and Beth do occasionally compete and perform. Most recently Todd earned 3 rd place in the Open Jack and Jill Division of the 2006 American Lindy Hop Championships while both performed this past summer at Waterfire Providence. They are most proud, however, of their young students back in York, PA who captured 1st and 2nd places in the Junior Division of 2005 Virginia State Open Swing Championships, as well as their performance team, HoodleAddle, which placed 2 nd in the same competition.
With endless patience and humor they can take you from your first basic steps to your first performance. Their goal is to make your dancing enjoyable and effortless no matter who your partner is! Whether you’re looking for group classes, private lessons, or simply a fun way to spice up an event, ZazouSwing can provide it all with professionalism and a sense of fun!
Performances
- Cavacade of the Bands, Rhodes on the Putuxet, Warwick, RI 2009
- Waterfire/Providence RI 2009
- Always on Sunday fundraiser, Providence, RI 2009
- Swing Into Ballroom, The Armory, East Greenwich, RI 2009
- Blues Cafe, With the Boston Balboa Underground, Medford, MA 2009
- Dancing With the Stars, Dunkin Donuts Convnetion Center, Providence, RI 2008
- Wickford Harbor Fest. Wickford, RI, 2008
- Waterfire, Providence, RI, 2008
- An Evening at the Roseland, Taunton, MA 2008
- Swing City Special Event Performances, Cambridge, MA 2008
- Shape Up RI, Colt State Park, Bristol, RI, 2007
- Dance in the Parisian Twilight, Portsmouth, RI, 2007
- Waterfire, Providence, RI, Water Fire Performance, 2007
- 4th of July Parade, Bristol, Lindy Hopper's Delight, 2007
- Waterfire/Providence, RI/Swing Fire Big Apple – 2006
- Waterfire/Providence, RI/Water Fire Swing Jam – 2006
- Waterfire/Providence, RI/Diga Diga Do Routine – 2006
- Fourth of July Parade/Bristol RI/Diga Diga Do Routine - 2006
- Fourth of July Parade/Bristol RI/Big Apple Routine - 2006
- Swingin’ 88’s/ Providence, RI - 2006
- “A Swingin’ New Year’s Eve/York, PA - 2005
- “Swing into Literacy” Fundraiser for the York County Literacy Council/York, PA – 2005
- V-J Day Celebration-York Historical Society/2005
- “Taste of York”/ York, PA - 2005
- Grand Re-Opening of the Martin Library/York, PA – 2005
- American Red Cross “Red, White, and Blue Gala”- 2005
- Gettysburg College Jazz Festival/Gettysburg, PA – 2004
Teaching Experience (Major events)
- Swinging New Enlgalnd, Cape Cod, MA (2009)
- Chelsea Studios, New York, NY (2009)
- Vinnie's Jump and Jive, Middletown, CT (2009)
- Charleson Swing Dance Society, Charleston, SC (2009)
- Kansas City Swing, Kansas City, AR (2008)
- Arizona Swing Dance Club, Phoenix, AZ (2008)
- OSU Swing Dance Club, Columbus, OH (2008)
- Its a Swing Thing, Portland, OR (2008)
- New England Workshop Weekend Blowout, Smithfield, MA (2007)
- Common Fence Community Center, Portsomouth, RI (2007)
- Blues Cafe/Boston, MA (2007)
- Vinnie's Jump and Jive, Middletown, CT (2007)
- Lindy Workshops/Boston, MA (April, 2007)
- Providence Swings/Providence, RI (2006- Present)
- It’s All Swing/Boston, MA (September, 2006-Present)
- Swing City/Boston, MA (Once a month, 2006-Present)
- Swing Out New Hampshire (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
- Olive's Restaurant, Weekly Lesson & Dance (2006 )
- Brown Swing Dance Club, Brown University (2006)
- First Step, Bristol, RI (2006, 2007)
- Bristol Total Fitness/Bristol, RI (2006)
- Lindy & Charleston Workshops/Portland, ME (December, 2006)
- Lindy & Charleston Workshops - York, PA (August, 2006)
- Green Door Dance Studio/Carlisle, PA (Various dates in 2005)
- Lindy Workshops/Charleston, SC (2004, 2005)
- York Swing Dance Club/York, PA (2002-2005)
Awards
- Finals, Boston Tea Party, Jack and Jill, Todd, Round 1, Round 2 - 2007
- 3 rd Place Open Jack and Jill/American Lindy Hop Championships (Todd) - 2006
- 4 th Place Open Showcase / Northeast Lindy Hop Championships - 2006
- 2 nd Place Advanced Strictly Lindy/Virginia State Open Swing Dance Championships – 2005
- 2 nd Place Team Division/Virginia State Open Swing Dance Championships – 2005
- 2 nd Place Advanced Jack and Jill/Virginia State Open Swing Dance Championships (Todd) – 2005
- 3 rd Place Lindy Jam/ Virginia State Open Swing Dance Championships (Todd & Janelle Sowers) – 2005
- 2 nd Place Advanced Strictly Lindy/Swing Fling – 2005
- 1 st Place Intermediate Strictly Lindy/Swing Fling – 2004
- 3 rd Place Jack and Jill/Boston Tea Party (Beth)- 2003
More Importantly Our Students
- 1st Place, Intermediate Lindy, Wicked Lindy, Adam Dau, 2008
- 2nd Place, Intermediate Lindy, Wicked Lindy, Diana Karas, 2008
- 1st Place, Novice Lindy J&J, Boston Tea Party, Adam Dau, 2007
- 1st Place, ALHC, Junior Division, Seth Tuten & Janelle Sowers– 2006
- 1st Place, Virginia State Open, Seth Tuten and Janelle Sowers – 2005
- 2nd Place, Virginia State Open, David and Wendy Blair - 2005
Email
todd@zazouswing.org
beth@zazouswing.org
Phone
401-854-6408
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What We Teach
LINDY HOP
This is the grandfather of all swing dances. The only TRUE American folk dance. Originated in the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, NY, when Shorty George Snowden "swung his partner out" this dance supposedly got it name from the front cover of a newspaper that read "Lindy Hops Atlantic".
BALBOA
Many believe this dance has roots from couples 20s Charleston, with small intricate footwork variations, but one of the masters of the dance, Willie Desatoff, claimed that Balboa evolved from the Rhumba. Either way, the dance is fast and footwork furious. Pure Balboa is done solely in a close connection. Bal-Swing has patterns where you break away from your partner.
CHARLESTON
Popular in the 1920s when that New Orleans Ragtime sound was all the rage. Charleston has many movements and patterns and can be done solo or with a group. If you can walk, then you can do this.
JAZZ LINE DANCES
Learn common Jazz and tap steps that not only give you something to join in on at the clubs movements that will improve your dancing in general. Common line dances taught are Shim Sham, Big Apple, the Madison" as well as routines created by Zazouswing.
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Videos and Articles
Lindy Hop Basics
The absolute basics for any lindy class. Be sure to pay close attention to the mechanics since these are the foundation for the dance and increase your ability to connect to another dancer (even in other dance styles/genres) Don't forget to remain relaxed and most of all HAVE FUN!!
Lindy Moves that Build on the Basics
Got the basics down? Looking for a further chalenge? Give these a try!
Charleston Swing
6-Count Swing/Jitterbug
Looking for a place to start? Never tried any form of Swing Dancing? Here is a great place to learn the essential elements of the dance, then expand from there!
Articles:
Testimonials
" Dance in the Parisian Twilight was a smashing success.We’ve had nothing but great reviews… and you and your team are a key part of them. Please extend our sincere appreciation to everyone. Todd and Beth, thank you for your talent, professionalism, and excellent work! It was fun event; good vibes all around. "
Robert Davis, of Minor Swing, Providence
"Thank you for taking the time to help us get ready for our wedding. We very much liked the approach you used. It will make it easy for us and one less arrangement to worry about. Thanks again for getting us into swing dancing! Let us know when you visit the Bay Area!"
Dr. Christie Chung, Oakland Area Dancer
"Thanks for the Bal lessons! You both are excellent teachers. I'm
completely hooked on Bal. I'm taking "Intermediate" Bal lessons from Tony
and Aurelie which is wonderful. However, I think it's essential to learn
from many different instructors, so thanks again."
David Samanen , Boston Area Dancer
"Thank you for the time you spent teaching our girls a piece of their history. Your combination of facts, dance steps, and ability to blend these aspects with what they want had made you the talk of many a troop. These girls are still talking about you a month later and those who skipped wished they had not."
Marty Gifford, Laurel Girl Scout Council
"Thank you for your support of our cultural awareness week. You did a wonderful job considering all the noise and distractions. I cannot believe we had that many students turn out! The performance was well polished and you did a great job. We were all terribly glad you knew how to use the audio equipment and apologize for not having it ready for you on time. Congrats! I saw you made the newspaper today as well!"
Melissa Krebs, Student Life Coordinator, York College
"I was at our home coming ball at the Valencia on Saturday night for your lesson and thought you all did a great job instructing and performing for us! During the instruction I didn't have a partner, but one of your dancers approached and joined me. Thanks for a night full of great fun and dancing. Keep up the awesome work!!"
Laura Bortner (Student )
" Just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed your presentation to our group last week. We have heard so many good things about it and your use of facts and humor made the evening come alive for us. Thanks for taking time to share your gift of dance with us in a way that got us up and moving! Conferences can be so dull. You were just what we needed! Thanks again and we hope to see you again next year!!"
Jessica Deihl, Geisinger Medical Center
"I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation yesterday. Your delivery was so engaging that my class and I lost all track of time. By any measure you are a very effective speaker and educator. I found your comments connecting healthy lifestyles, history, and dance to the students to have been quite clever. Thanks for a presentation and we all hope you will visit us again soon!"
Kathy Skiles, Teacher, York High School
"We wanted you to know how much we appreciate the way you have worked with our members over the past year. It is wonderful that you have found a way to use their past and their music to relate to them and get them up and moving. Several of the participants question me often as to when you will return. Thank you for and excellent job!"
Lisa Krout, Director of Program Development, White Rose Senior Center
"I wanted you to know that those present at our fundraising event last week were very pleased with the performance you provided. I sincerely appreciate your passion for us as an institution, your attentiveness to audiences, and the way you conduct business. I have recommended your services to others because of our satisfaction and look forward to working with you for years to come."
Deb Stock, Director, YWCA
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© 2005 Zazouswing.org