Cristina Manzanares Rodríguez brings the Madrid Swing Exchange her workshop «Solo Jazz and in Good Company!» For Cristina, dancing in a circle all together —together even when performing what we call «solo» jazz— symbolises union, community and equality. This ancestral form of gathering fosters mutual support and the strength of a cohesive group.
Cristina is a dance instructor at various academies throughout the eastern and northeastern outskirts of Madrid. With extensive experience teaching both Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz, she is known for her enthusiastic communication, her clarity in putting across her ideas to her pupils, her big smile, and her deep passion for the world of Swing.
With this workshop, she wants to get us moving solo while playing with group dynamics in both small and large circles. This way of dancing, which became so popular during the Savoy Ballroom era, was often referred to as «the apple.» It became such a craze that Frankie Manning was asked to create a choreography in this format for the «Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers,» leading to the famous «Big Apple» featured in the 1939 film Keep Punching. «These dance scenes were often placed in films so they wouldn’t affect the main plot, allowing them to be easily edited out depending on a country’s specific regulations at the time.» Cristina says
Schools where Cristina teaches:
Blanco y Negro Swing @blancoynegrostudio
Dancing Boulevard @dancingboulevard
Escuela de Baile Ovat @escueladebaileovat
Caja del Arte @cajadelarte

Ilustración: Berny Art

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