Swing Sesh Showcase: A Night of Swing, Jazz and Tap from Adelaide Dance Students – Cabaret Fringe Review

Nexus Cabaret, Lion Arts Centre, Wed 24 Jun The Swing Sesh is an Adelaide dance school specialising in swing, jazz, and tap, and its performance showcase at the Nexus Cabaret was a delight for audience and performers alike. For the students it was a chance to put their lessons to use before an appreciative full house, while their instructors took the opportunity to show off their skills. Director Luna Godfrey handled the MC duties, kicking things off by introducing some East Coast Swing from Hats and Cats, a group of five lively and mostly student couples dancing to Cole Porter’s Now You Has Jazz followed by tap specialist Lulu Cash and her eight-member class, who lined up in a chevron to tap out a spirited choreography that had the whole room smiling. Later in the first act, instructors Jarryd Reynolds and Andy Jones teamed up for a swingin’ tandem jazz routine, before UK-bound pair Matty and Cam showed off their tight partner work with a light-footed shag. After a brief intermission, we were introduced to The Gutbucket Gurus, another group of mostly student dancers who grooved in their red bandanas to The Coasters’ Down In Mexico, after which Jarryd and Luna returned to deliver an audience-rousing Lindy Hop with kicks and flips that would make Frankie Manning proud. Blues instructors Kyra and Andy joined together for an undulating, finger-snapping number that sadly serves as a swan song for The Blues Underground at Swing Sesh before The Rag Dolls, another student and instructor group, brought it home with nine dancers conga lining to Cats And The Fiddle’s Gangbusters. The students performed laudably through six tightly choreographed pieces and seemed to have a blast, while Swing Sesh’s instructors brought some seasoned show-stopping to the proceedings, with a total of 37 dancers having graced the stage for an enthusiastic crowd. Matt Saunders  If you are interested in learning to swing dance, or just want to brush up on your moves, be sure to peruse the class schedule at The Swing Sesh website at swingsesh.com.