Little Buenos Aires Weekend in Boston

You may not know that there is a pulsing, thriving Lindy Hop scene in Buenos Aires. The source and focal point of that scene is a dance school called “Swing City". Swing City co-founder and co-director Mariel Gastiarena is coming to Boston, and she's bringing her band!

In lindy hop circles, Mariel is well-known as an incredible dancer and dance instructor, but she is in fact also an accomplished jazz singer. She and her partner Lucho Pellegrini and their pianist Lucas Ferrari will be in Boston October 20-23.

“Little Buenos Aires Weekend in Boston” will feature dance workshops arranged by JP Jitterbugs on Saturday and Sunday afternoons taught by Mariel and her bandmates. Mariel and company are offering an innovative format for these workshops, where the musicians are among the instructors!

The weekend will also feature a washboard workshop for beginners with Lucho, and a "washboard summit" led by Lucho where washboard lovers will unite.

Facebook event here

Full workshop schedule

Authentic Jazz & Lindy Hop Workshop with Mariel
Saturday October 21 3pm to 6pm @Spontaneous Celebrations
-Authentic Jazz Musicality: Dance to the Melody
-Lindy Hop: Syncopation
-Lindy Hop: Swing out technique and variations

Lindy hop workshop with Mariel
Sunday October 22 1:30pm to 3.30pm @Spontaneous Celebrations
-Lindy Hop: Breaks and Shapes
-Lindy Hop: How to create your own footwork

Authentic Jazz & Lindy Hop Workshop with Mariel and musicians and live music
Sunday October 22 5-8 @Spontaneous Celebrations
-Authentic Jazz: Comping & Fills
-Lindy Hop: Rhythm Backgrounds
-Lindy Hop: Question & Answer

Washboard workshop with Lucho
Monday October 23 7-8:30 @Liz's place, 45 Holbrook Street
- Learn to play washboard with Lucho!

Buy tickets here!

... But wait, there’s more! Mariel and her band will be performing for us on Friday and Saturday evenings!

On Friday, they will be at Boston Swing Central for the regular dance, and on Saturday, they will perform at our own local "Swing City" (both in Cambridge).

Mariel and her two bandmates (Lucho on drums, Lucas on piano) will be joined by Boston's own Jim Gray on bass, AJ Rubin on trumpet, and Dan Gabel on trombone.

Little Buenos Aires Weekend in Boston will be a taste of the culture of lindy hop in Argentina, where dancing and music are beautifully intertwined by the rhythm :).