Cambridge Lindy Hoppers

Enquiries

Email: info @cambridgelindy.com
Telephone Gemma: 07732 642473
CLH elsewhere on the web: CUSU and Facebook

Teachers

You can find out about our teachers here.

Committee

President: Gemma Barson
I started dancing modern jive seven years ago, after seeing some people doing it in a pub in Ireland. But then I saw some people dancing lindy hop at a dance camp, and I decided I HAD to learn that! I’ve never been able to dance as often as I’d like though, hence my involvement in setting up the Cambridge Lindy Hoppers. When I’m not dancing, I’m generally organising CLH stuff!, but when I have time I also enjoy sports, outdoorsy stuff and photography. Oh, and sometimes I write software, too!

Vice-President: Ros Evans
I started dancing when I was four, but I was never going to be disciplined enough for ballet so I turned to tap – far more fun and a lot more noisy. I continued tap until I was 16 when exams got in the way, but I still do the odd workshop. My first partner dancing experience was at Ceroc in my second year at Cambridge. One of my teachers was Paul Claydon, and having seen him dancing lindy with his wife Fae I immediately signed up for their lessons and have not looked back since. I joined Cambridge Lindy Hoppers because everyone is so nice and there is lots of social dancing and socialising, which is what it’s all about. It also helps keep me fit and gets me away from the sewing machine at least once a week. When I’m not dancing I make clothes and costumes for anyone who will pay me.

Secretary: Mirjana Skrba
I’ve been dancing for years, but not to any known rules. I hear loud music and I dance… When I was at university in Dublin I went to a few ballroom dance classes - with about 60 girls and 5 guys who couldn’t dance (well, maybe one could, but he only came once and I didn’t dance with him). I went there with my sister - she was my lead (because she’s better at dancing and can figure out the girls’ steps faster than me). In Cambridge I decided to once again try and find a dance class to help me express my need to dance in some kind of constructive way. After a stint of belly-dancing (of which my sister is a fan), I found the Lindy Hoppers on the Internet. I went to a class and have tried not to miss a class since. The teaching is excellent and everyone dances with each other so it’s very sociable. And the music is loud, just how I like it.

Vice-Secretary: Maria Andersson
I successfully avoided ceroc, but after ca 10 years of streetdancing I was drawn into lindy after being told that I wasn’t a real Swede unless I did lindy. Not knowing what on earth they were talking about, I threw myself into the world of lindy and went to Herräng. It changed my life. Now my life revolves around lindy and Herräng. I’ve wanted to start since my first year in Cambridge, so it was a dream coming true actually starting CLH. At last I can dance every week!!! I love dancing, love it, love it, love it. It makes me the happiest bunny ever. It makes me fit, happy and I get to meet lovely people. And I get to listen to good music. I dance quite a lot, including when cooking, doing practicals etc. And when I’m actually not dancing I’m longing for next dance. Alternatively I travel (sadly not enough to dance events), study, look at rocks, rock climb, read and see my lovely CLH friends!

Treasurer: Martin Orr
I never danced (well, except occasional ceilidhs) until I started doing lindy a year and a half ago. I first heard of lindy from three American girls I met in Rome and just after that I happened to come across the Cambridge Lindy Hoppers. I gathered all my courage and came to their first class, and have never looked back. I enjoy balboa too, but I’m not very good at that. I spend my days trying to figure out why pure maths is so hard.

Social Secretary: Claire Newham
I started dancing at about five, and continued ballet, tap, modern and jazz classes until a year and a half ago when I started university. I decided this would be a chance to try something new so took up Ballroom and Latin, and then joined Cambridge Lindy Hoppers last October - which is just the best dance style! It’s great exercise, the music is fantastic, and there’s so much time for social dancing which is the really fun bit! When I’m not at dance classes I’m dancing wherever I am, which is usually around college, when I should really be studying…

Social Secretary: Lara Osmotherly
I may be studying for a biochemistry PhD, but I spend as much time as possible dancing. Growing up I took exams in ballet, tap, modern and theatre craft, and classes in a variety of styles from lyrical to maypole. Coming to uni I wanted to dance more socially and took ballroom and salsa classes. But I got bored dancing the patterns we learned in class, and there wasn’t a culture of dancing with people of different levels (in skill or stature - and there hardly any guys taller than me!). I discovered CLH towards the beginning of 2007 and was quickly hooked. I love the music and being able to dance socially with anyone, regardless of level (or height). I love the ‘proper’ lead-and-follow but that there’s room to add follower variations. I enjoy trying the other styles we’ve had tasters of (balboa, blues, lindy hip-hop, 20s charleston, etc) but I LOVE the fun and friendliness of lindy and CLH, and that’s why I’m glad to help out on the committee.

Publicity Officer: Will Sheldrake

I never intended to take up dancing. One fateful day I went to a birthday party where I got my first experience of Lindy Hop and saw what great energetic fun it was. Unfortunately I spent most of that evening sitting down missing out so it didn’t take much after that to persuade me to go to a class. The rest is history, I am hooked! I now try to dance some Lindy wherever and whenever possible. On the occasion that I’m not dancing I work with silicon chips, restore old cars and sometimes get some sleep.

Equipment Officer: Sam Flint
I have been dancing for only 9 months now but with the help of some fantastic teachers and a will to learn I am now more than capable of leading a 3 ½ minute song. Before moving to Cambridge I would never go near a dance floor, probably because I used to dance like a chimp and sometimes I still do. But never the less in June 2007 I started Lindy Hop and never looked back. Now I am more than willing to dance with anybody of any skill. When I am not dancing I make aircraft parts for Cambridge airport.

Communications Officer: Gérald Bianchi