What the Jazz Festival: Workshops and Masterclass

5 May 2024 (Sun), 1-5pm, The Jazz Loft

As part of the What the Jazz Festival, Jazz Inc and Amanda Lee Swingtet will be presenting a dance movement workshop, a Lindy Hop taster, and a social dance party. Both workshops and social dance party are open to everyone - musicians, singers, jazz aficionados and curious listeners who want to learn more about jazz.

Note: A separate ticket is required for the workshop and the party. If you are attending both the workshop and the party, please purchase two tickets. The Lindy Hop partner taster is payable at the door ($10). Email us at [email protected] if you have questions.

Dance Workshop (1-230pm): Jazz as Movement by Jazz Inc

When jazz started out at the turn of the century, much of it was dance music. In this workshop, let founder of Jazz Inc Sinclair Ang share with you ways to move to the rhythms and groove of jazz music. Learn to free yourself from preconceived notions of authentic jazz dancing and express yourself as you learn to hear patterns and form in the music. The workshop is suitable for participants with no dance experience, dancers as well as observers.

Partner Lindy Hop Taster Class (230-3pm)

If you want to learn how to partner dance, there will be a Lindy Hop taster class for absolute beginners before the band comes on! Learn how to move and groove to the infectious rhythms of swing music, and how you can communicate with your partner without words. No experience needed!

Social Dance Party (3-5pm): Live Band Social with Amanda Lee Swingtet

The inaugural What the Jazz Festival wraps up with a swing dance party bringing together the dance and music in a celebration of jazz! Feast in the aural delight that is the Amanda Lee Swingtet who will get your feet tappin’ and swingin’! The Wijnands will also be hanging out with us, so it’s a great opportunity to get to know them a little better up close and personal! You don’t need to be a dancer to enjoy the party - all are welcome!

Band line-up:
Leo Jeoh (trombone), EJ Hughes (tenor saxophone), Chane Lu (double bass), Raf Soundwalker (drums), Amanda Lee (piano, vocals)

About Sinclair Ang (Jazz Inc)

International jazz artist and educator Sinclair Ang founded Jazz Inc 17 years ago as a collective championing authentic jazz dancing and music. Since then he has taught the dance internationally across 20 countries around the world and helped many Asian scenes in their early days to develop and grow.

As a singer, he also leads his band The Rhythmakers, and his research into jazz has not only brought him to understand the relationship and history of jazz music and dance, but also to explore the local jazz scene with a series of articles commissioned by Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay (Singapore).

About Amanda Lee

Known for her unbridled joy and relentless swing, Singaporean jazz pianist Amanda Lee has been making her mark as a torchbearer of the swing and stride piano styles of 1930/40s classic jazz. Amanda trained in Kansas City under master stride pianist Bram Wijnands and was awarded the New York Hot Jazz Camp Scholarship (2020).

Her band, the Amanda Lee Swingtet, is a regular on the local jazz scene and also perform overseas, most recently at Ubud Village Jazz Festival and in Taipei. She is a member of the Traveling Janes, an international all-female early jazz band. As a holistic jazz artist, she also teaches and performs various jazz dances with Jazz Inc.

What The Jazz Festival

What the Jazz Festival is a celebration of jazz music and dance, comprising performances by international musicians, music and dance workshops, and a swing dance party. The festival is all about spreading the joy of jazz to everyone through music and dance. Join us as we celebrate and learn about the amazing art form of jazz with our line-up of world-class performers and educators.

For details of the full programme, check out:

http://instagram.com/what.the.jazz.sg http://facebook.com/whatthejazzsg Or email [email protected]

Host or Publisher The Jazz Loft @ Blu Jaz