The Galaxie is Currently Registering for Dance and Visual Art Classes, Starting the Week of April 12!

The Galaxie is now accepting enrollments for our upcoming spring term, starting the week of April 12! We have an exciting array of movement and visual art classes lined up, most running for 6 weeks!

Upcoming Dance Classes:

Couples Only/ Wedding Prep

• Mondays 7:00-8:00 PM (Classes beginning April 26th - 4 weeks only)

Beginning Swing

• Mondays 7:00-8:00 PM (Classes beginning April 12th)
• Saturdays 11:30-12:30 PM (Classes beginning April 17th)

Intermediate Swing

• Tuesdays 8:00-9:00PM (Classes beginning April 13th)
• Saturdays 10:30 am -11:30 am (Classes beginning April 17th)

Advanced Swing

• Tuesdays 9:00-10:00PM (Classes beginning April 13th)

Beginning Lindy Hop

• Tuesdays 7:00-8:00 PM (Classes beginning April 13th)

Beginning Blues Dancing

• Wednesdays 7:30-8:30 PM (Classes beginning April 14th)

1920's Charleston - All Skate!

• Saturdays 12:30-1:30 PM (Classes beginning April 17th)

Beginning Adult Tap Class

• Sundays 11:00-12:00PM (Classes beginning April 18th)

Intermediate Adult Tap Class

• Sundays 1:30-2:30PM (Classes beginning April 18th)

Register online or in-house soon - spots are filling up!

Galaxie’s “Battle of the Bands” - their Biggest Annual Swing Dance Event!

CHICAGO, Ill. – Drawing the largest turnout of the year at the Galaxie, the third annual “Battle of the Bands” DJ contest promises to be no different this year on Saturday, March 20. Doors open at 8pm, the battle begins at 8:30pm and the dancing goes until 1am.

Each of several of Chicago’s swing DJs will represent a jazz artist or ensemble from the swing era of the 1930s and ‘40s in the tunes they play, using their best material to keep the dancers on the floor and themselves in first place.

The event averages well over 100 people in attendance, including swing dancers from around Chicago and surrounding cities, Galaxie swing dance students, people interested in trying swing dancing and more. All those interested in swing dancing and the music from the swing era are invited, regardless of experience, and are encouraged to participate in the beginner lesson; no partner or experience is required.

Last year’s event was teeming with energy and excitement as the DJs battled it out, with decked out “ring girls” parading the room, generating wild applause from dancers and onlookers. Dancers of all levels were keeping the nearly 2000 square foot, high-ceilinged room bouncing all night, cheering on the DJs and taking advantage of the exciting social atmosphere created by the space and community of dancers.

The Galaxie’s goal is to bring music, movement, fine art, health and well being to a central place and invite all to participate. They teach swing dance, tap dance and visual art classes, rent studios for various artists and performing groups and host a children’s arts camp.

Artist studio space available @ Galaxie- FIRST MONTH FREE!

The Galaxie has a communal studio space available in a creative and inspiring environment!

Work side by side with other local artists, including painters, sculptors, glassblowers and more.

FIRST MONTH FREE with security deposit

$175 /month gets you:

-15 x 10 wide space in a communal art studio
-complete use of shop area available
-on-site kitchen available for use
-meeting space available
-lounge areas
-easy, plentiful parking
-lockers available for additional storage

Please reply by e-mail if interested in coming by to see the space to Chelsea@galaxiechicago.com.

Security deposit required.

3 month or 6 month contracts available

The Galaxie’s goal includes creating opportunities for working artists to have a creative, legal and safe environment to work, meet with other artists, gain inspiration and continue to create a strong and vital community in the Chicago art scene.

Please visit our web site to learn more: http://www.galaxiechicago.com.

Latin dance makes your swing dancing historically accurate

It has probably happened to you- you’re out on the dance floor, swinging out and rock steppin’ it, and you hear someone yell out “Let’s see some Cha Cha!”

Wha…??

The Galaxie’s Salsa and Tango workshops, as well as the 4 week Cha Cha class, are offered because Latin music and dance historically relate to swing and jazz.

You didn’t think we were turning to ballroom, did you?

You no longer have to leave the floor to wait for your standard swing to come back, or worse yet, just rock step through it- the Galaxie’s upcoming Latin dance workshops and class will give you enough of the basics of Salsa, Tango and Cha Cha to stay in your groove on the floor, even when the congas come in.

Which is exactly what they did in the 1930s and ‘40s. If we’re going to embrace American vintage dancing and music, we might as well embrace the whole spectrum.

By the 1930s, the Cuban music that had migrated north to America had taken a strong hold in New York City, where Latin music spread through not only Spanish Harlem but in clubs and hotel ballrooms throughout the city. Establishments that were more Latin oriented would hire Cuban bands to alternate sets with the swing bands. The Latin rhythms of Cuban bands blended with the sounds of big band and swing, and soon people of all races were dancing together to Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean influenced big bands in large ballrooms like the Palladium, the “Home of the of the Mambo.” “Everyone was equal under one roof because everyone was there to dig the music and to dance,” (in Sonobria and Socolov 1990, 6).

During World War II, Hollywood began to take advantage of this cultural transition, portraying Latin music in the movies and making celebrities out of Latino actors. Latino soldiers became war heroes in Europe and the South Pacific, giving a social boost to Latino culture. With the increased Latin influences in American society, people were soon dancing the mambo and cha cha along with the dances of the swing era.

The Galaxie aims to help continue that today.

Intro to Salsa and Intro to Tango are both one-time “Getting Schooled” workshops offered August 3rd and 5th. Cha Cha for Swing Dancers is a 4 week class beginning August 12. See below for details, and for full class descriptions, visit the web site at http://www.galaxiechicago.com.

Latin and swing music, as you probably know, have many similarities but feel very different- you could Lindy to a cha cha rhythm, but you probably wouldn’t feel it like you would with the steps of the Cha Cha.

So when that Latin groove starts playing, don’t find yourself in confusion on the dance floor- let the Galaxie teach you some basics that will allow you to go from swing to salsa and back again- much like they did in the dance halls of the 1930s and ‘40s.

Because, after all, the Galaxie is here to help you to “dig the music and to dance.”

Workshops:
Intro to Salsa
Monday, August 3
8-10pm
$25

Intro to Tango
Wednesday, August 5
8-10pm
$25

Cha Cha for Swing Dancers
Beginning Wednesday, August 12
4 weeks
$60

See http://www.galaxiechicago.com for details, info on other workshops and classes, and to sign up.

The Galaxie Swing Dance Classes

The Galaxie- your favorite movement, music and fine art venue- is swingin' it again. With 4 week classes and one-time workshops in August, you're sure to find something you (and your friends!) will enjoy learning!

*NO PARTNER REQUIRED FOR MOST CLASSES

The week of August 3 brings social dance workshops in salsa, tango, aerials and Lindy Hop showmanship. Below are the details, and full class descriptions and sign-up can be found on the Galaxie web site at http://www.galaxiechicago.com:

Intro to Salsa
Monday, August 3
8-10pm, $25

Aerials (partner required)
Tuesday, August 4
7-10pm, $25

Intro to Tango
Wednesday, August 5
8-10pm, $25

Showmanship for Lindy Hoppers
Thursday, August 6
8-10pm, $25

Ever go dancing at a club or a wedding and wish you knew some sweet moves? Well, that's why you learn to social dance! The Galaxie offers a short 4 week session in social dancing in forms such as Swing, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Zydeco, Honky Tonk 2-Step, and Cha-Cha. The details are below, and full class descriptions and sign-up can be found on the Galaxie web site at http://www.galaxiechicago.com.

Beginning Swing Dance
Mondays, beginning August 10
7-8:30pm
$90, $70 with valid student ID

OR

Saturdays, beginning August 15
11am-12:30pm
$90, $70 with valid student ID

Honky Tonk 2-Step
Mondays, beginning August 10
8:30-9:30pm
$60, $45 with valid student ID

Intermediate Lindy Hop
Tuesdays, beginning August 11
7-8pm
$60, $45 with valid student ID

Intermediate Swing Dance
Tuesdays, beginning August 11
8-9pm
8-9pm
$60, $45 with valid student ID

Cha-Cha for Swing Dancers
Wednesdays, beginning August 12
7-8pm
$60, $45 with valid student ID

West Coast Swing
Wednesdays, beginning August 12
8-9pm
$60, $45 with valid student ID

Beginning Zydeco Dance
Thursdays, beginning August 13
7-8pm
$60, $45 with valid student ID

(Lindy Hop) Tricks, Splits and Flash
Thursdays, beginning August 13
8-9pm
$60, $45 with valid student ID

Solo Twenties Charleston
Saturdays, beginning August 15
12:30pm
$60, $45 with valid student ID

If you have any questions about schedules, pricing, or dancing in general, please call us at (773) 267-6010 or e-mail chelsea@galaxiechicago.com.

See you on the dance floor!

The Galaxie
2603 W. Barry Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618