Mad Cat Swing and guests are thrilled to bring you 2023’s Swing Showcase. This high energy and thrilling Fringe show brings you the best of dancing from the 1920’s-1940’s and today.
We are a team of dancers, not actors, so we will do what we do best: dance our hearts out! If you want to see a show with incredible high energy numbers, sultry blues dances, people flying through the air, splits, flips and tricks, you are in the right place. We promise to pack every moment full of as much dance energy as we can muster. Every year is a new show with new numbers. Our 50 min long show will show you different styles of vintage dance with framing for the historical context and the people behind these dances. Swing, lindy hop, balboa, blues, tap, and charleston are some of the dances you will see in our show.
This year we are very grateful for our special guests, who will bring you live music and tap dancing. Throughout the show our amazing dancers will leave you on the edge of your seat. We hope you enjoy our show!
Program Details
Style: Lindy Hop
Choreography: Birkley
Group choreography by Frankie Manning
Performers: Mad Cat Swing
Our fast paced introduction to the show was inspired by the greatest Lindy Hop troupe to ever live: Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. Their high energy exciting routines were choreographed by Frankie Manning, packed with air steps, and are what we are hoping to emulate.
Style: Jazz
Choreography: Luke, Reinier
Performers: Luke, Reinier
Jazz dances are very diverse and vary wildly. This solo jazz number features two of our dancers dancing alone, but together! Enjoy this groovy fun number.
Style: Jazz
Choreography: Maggie; contributions from Sydney
Performers: Breanna, Carly, Czarina, Jasmine, Katryna, Krystal, Maggie, Maya, Miriam, Paige, Sam, Sydney
Chorus lines became wildly popular for mostly female dancers in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Chorus lines were a way for young women to earn an independent living in show business. Often times, these were groups of 3-6 women who would be featured in numbers mixed with signers and tap dancers. Big, flashy coordinated numbers with a large cast like the Ziegfield Follies!
Style: Jazz
Performer: Mboya
We dance because the music moves us. Mboya Nicholson is our guest pianist in this special live music number. We are grateful to have such talented musicians in our city to play for us.
Style: Jazz
Choreography: Birkley; contributions from Arta and Tyrel
Performers: Arta, Birkley, Dominic, Luke, Matt, Reinier, Tyrel
We know you haven’t had enough of the piano stylings of our incredible special guest Mboya Nicholson. Now it’s time for our guys to take the stage in this exciting jazz number!
Style: Charleston
Choreography: Breanna and Katryna; contributions from Dominic and Tyrel
Performers: Breanna, Dominic, Katryna, Tyrel
Let’s throw it back to the dances that came before Lindy Hop: Charleston! Born out of the changing times in the 1920’s people were out to have a good time, and the dancing reflected that.
Style: Charleston
Choreography: Maggie and Sydney; contributions from Matt and Reinier
Performers: Maggie, Matt, Reinier, Sydney
The beat starts swinging in the 1930s and the dancing changed to reflect that. It used some of the movements from 1920’s Charleston, but changed them to work to a swingin’ rhythm. 1930’s Charleston was the intermediary before Lindy Hop.
Music: Mboya Nicholson – Take the “A” Train
Style: Tap
Choreography: Birkley
Performers: Arta, Birkley, Janae, Jasmine, Mboya, Paige
Featuring our special guest: Janae Davies. This number is reminiscent of a tap class much like the ones we have in our home of sugar swing ballroom. Welcome back some live music with Mboya!
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On August 19 and 26
Music: Different song every show!
Style: Solo Jazz
Performers: Arta, Birkley, Jasmine, Paige
Improvisation is the essence of jazz music and dance. In this solo dance number, we’ll take turns in the spotlight and cheer each other on as we create something new every show.
Style: Lindy Hop
Performers: Mad Cat Swing
Lindy Hop is an improvised dance where the moves and shapes are created differently every time. We will improvise our way through this steal jam number, where we try to swap partners and steal some of the spotlight as much as possible. We’ll be surprised with a different song every show, to make sure it’s truly improvised.
Style: Solo Jazz
Choreography: Frankie Manning
Performers: Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers (video), Breanna, Dominic, Jasmine, Katryna, Luke, Maggie, Matt, Miriam, Reinier, Sydney, Tyrel
Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers were arguably the most famous Lindy Hop dance troupe out of the 1930’s and 1940’s. This group traveled the world doing their high energy dance. One of the numbers that people still do today is the Big Apple contest. We as a dance troupe take inspiration and try to learn the choreography from some of the surviving clips from that time. Please enjoy our take on the Big Apple Contest.
Style: Balboa
Choreography: Czarina; contributions from Arta
Performers: Arta, Birkley, Czarina, Paige
5,000 people in a single ballroom?? Fast music?? How did they do it? Enter: Balboa. A closer embrace dance, danced to fast music was an option for those on the crowded dance floor.
Style: Slow Drags/Blues
Choreography: Birkley; spotlights choreographed by Birkley, Czarina, Katryna, Luke, Paige, Tyrel
Performers: Arta, Birkley, Czarina, Katryna, Luke, Miriam, Paige, Tyrel
You can’t dance fast all the time. Sometimes you want to keep things slow and groovy. Blues dancing and music as we know it developed alongside jazz and Lindy Hop. Blues dancing is an intimate dance, danced to slower tempo blues music.
Music: Mboya Nicholson – Tea for Two
Style: Tap
Choreography: Janae; contributions from Mboya
Performers: Janae, Mboya
Tap dancing uniquely blurs the boundaries between dance and music, creating both visual and audible rhythms. Our special guests, Janae and Mboya will play together in this Tap/Piano duet to create both a music and dance experience.
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On August 26
Music/Performer: Mboya Nicholson
Style: Jazz
Welcome back Mboya! This is the last we’ll hear from our incredible special guest tonight, so be sure to show him your love!
Style: Tap, Solo, Lindy Hop
Choreography: Birkley; contributions from Arta, Katryna, and Breanna
Performers: All dancers!
All good things must come to an end. We close out our show with a bang, highlighting all the exciting parts of our show in one big finale! Get ready to see some air!
Meet The Team
Mad cat Swing
Birkley Wisniewski
Show Producer & Director
Birkley has been the producer of Swing Showcase since its beginning in 2018. He is the founder and director of Sugar Swing, established in 2005. After honing his skills in Lindy Hop, Jazz dance, Balboa, and tap for over 20 years, he has become recognized as a marquee performer, instructor, choreographer, producer, and deejay. He has travelled extensively across the globe to learn these jazz dances from the best. This also includes swing DJ gigs in places such as Sweden, Montreal, Vancouver, Seattle.
Maggie Wilson
Show Director
For Maggie, the music came before the dance – as a child, she spent lots of time with her grandparents, who listened to great jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee. When she stumbled upon Lindy Hop in 2013, she couldn’t believe that people still danced this style! Maggie loves that there is no ceiling when it comes to Lindy Hop – in fact it’s the opposite. The more you learn and improve, the more the dance and the music open themselves to you. When she’s not dancing, Maggie is raising her two children, Olenna (4) and North (1).
Paige Grant
Production Manager
Paige was propelled into Lindy Hop by accident – when attending her first social dance, it actually turned out to be a big dance event with a live band, competitions, and performances. After having one of the most fun nights ever, she didn’t look back. For this year’s Fringe, Paige is excited to perform the Chorus Line routine, given its unique style and the camaraderie with women on the team and beyond. Aside from performing Lindy Hop, Paige is a staff instructor at Sugar Swing, and loves teaching the dance – it brings her joy to see people learn to connect with the music and others, all while expressing themselves.
Arta Seify
After attending a Lindy Hop social dance in 2013, Arta fell in love with it instantly. He finds inspiration to dance from the endless supply of steps and rhythms to learn and perfect. Arta’s favourite performance was dancing at the Winspear with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra for their Christmas shows. When he’s not dancing, Arta works as an AI Programmer at Inflexion Games, and also enjoys playing video games, bouldering, and volleyball.
Breanna Cherkawski
Breanna has been a dancer for 17 years, picking up Lindy Hop just over 10 years ago. She believes that dancing is joy in physical form. This will be her 4th Fringe performance with Mad Cat Swing. On the dance floor, Breanna’s favourite song is Big Butter and Egg Man! Fun fact – Breanna’s most recent movie credit as a dancer is for “The Dance” for 3Scape Systems.
Czarina Ramos
Czarina first got involved with the swing dance club at MacEwan back in 2013, which combined her love of jazz music and interest in partner dancing. Slow drags is the dance style Czarina enjoys the most; this style allows her to be in the moment and focus on movement. Aside from the dance itself, the lasting friendships and connections with those in the Lindy Hop community are a major motivator to keep dancing.
Dominic Wong
Dominic first was exposed to Lindy Hop when he was invited to a Swing Dance club social dance at university. The rest is history! The dance floor is Dominic’s jam; that’s where he shares unforgettable dance moments with friends, and is inspired by fellow dancers. When the song, Shiny Stockings by Count Basie, is playing, you know he’ll be dancing!
Jasmine Farahbakhsh
Jasmine started dancing back in September 2012, when she joined the University of Alberta student swing dance club. After finishing school in 2015, she dove into dance, taking lessons in solo jazz, balboa, and tap. Jasmine loves the process of working towards a performance with the team, and this year’s Fringe show is no different! When not dancing, you can find Jasmine spending time outside with friends (often on a bike in the summer, or skis/skates in the winter).
Katryna Drouin
Katryna started her dance journey in 2017, when she moved to Edmonton. In search of community, her sister introduced her to the Lindy Hop scene and encouraged her to come out dancing. What started as a way to make friends quickly became her go-to activity. As a part of Mad Cat, Katryna’s favourite gig was a 1950s-themed event where she had the chance to slow dance with puppies to promote their adoption.
Luke Dion
Luke was first introduced to Lindy Hop at a house party, where some friends-of-friends taught him the basic steps, and he was hooked. Within the swing umbrella, his favourite dance style is Blues – the combination of the close connection, playfulness, and grooviness are hard to beat. If he had to choose, Luke’s favourite song to dance to would be Dream a Little Dream of Me.
Matt Lloyd
Matt has been dancing since 2014, and appreciates that Lindy hop combines music, physicality, and style. As an aficionado and lover of jazz music, Matt is a staff DJ at Sugar Swing. He loves finding new and exciting songs to play at dances and watching dancers respond to these songs. His personal favourite songs to dance to are One O’clock Jump by Count Basie, Shiny Stockings by Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie. When he’s not dancing, you can find Matt playing video games, going on bike rides, seeking out more resources around jazz music and dancing.
Miriam Ayles
Miriam started out playing jazz in grade school, so she was delighted to get to dance to jazz at her first Lindy Hop social dance back in summer of 2012. She had such a great time that she started taking lessons right away, and she hasn’t looked back since. Her passion for swing dance is founded on the music, the community, and the artform. Her favourite swing dance style is Lindy Hop, but Blues and Solo Jazz are both close seconds.
Reinier Eubra
Reinier started dancing in 2019, and is excited to be performing as a member of Mad Cat in the Swing Showcase for the first time. Reinier’s favourite songs to dance to are Shoo Fly Pie by Jonathan Stout and His Campus 5 ft. Hilary Alexander (or really any song about food).
Sydney Alessandrini
Sydney started dancing in 2013, and has found Lindy Hop to be quite healing. She had moved to Canada two years prior to starting dancing and was contending with homesickness and culture shock. When Sydney found dancing, she fell in love first with the dance, then with the community. Thinking about her inspiration for swing dance, good swing music is what moves her. Sydney also really loves the way that old timers used to dance; it shows what they went through, and although swing dancing has evolved a lot over time, she believes it’s important to always keep its roots in mind.
Tyrel Brochu
Tyrel is no stranger to dance – after doing Ukrainian dance all through grade school, he started swing dancing in 2008 and has been doing it ever since. Tyrel’s favourite song to dance to is Shiny Stockings by Count Basie. And when he’s not dancing, you can find Tyrel biking around Edmonton.
Guest artists
Mboya Nicholson
Pianist
Mboya currently resides in Edmonton, composing, performing, and teaching at MacEwan University, where he is an instructor in jazz piano, ear training and a course he developed, Jazz History with Cultural Context, exploring the early development of jazz, up to 1939. The course also examines various African musical ingredients that contributed to early North American roots music; and the origins of those ingredients, prior to the transatlantic slave trade, and how they affected western music, afterward. To learn more about Mboya, visit https://mboyanicholson.com
Janae Davies
Tap Dancer
Janae has been tap dancing since age 4, and loves the fact that tap dancers can contribute to the music and play with the rhythms. One tap legend who inspires Janae (via video footage and stories) is Jimmy Slyde, who is known for adding slides in his dancing. For the 2023 Swing Showcase, Janae is looking forward to performing alongside live musicians; from the perspective of a tap dancer, it’s an exciting experience.
Ayla Gandall
Host
Ayla finds it hard to imagine that there was a time in their life before dance! After stumbling on a social dance in 2018, Ayla became enchanted by the art form and has been dancing ever since! Sugar Swing is their happy place. Aside from Emceeing, Ayla is an instructor at Sugar Swing and loves being a part of the learning process. Dance has brought so much joy into their life and it is a pleasure to work along side people exploring and discovering self expression through dance!
Carly Lovegrove
Chorus Line Dancer
Carly fell in love with the Lindy Hop style, music, and community, after seeing dancers for the first time at a social dance. Thinking back to this dance, she remembers that every person dancing was enjoying themselves whether or not they were brand new or experienced. Carly’s favourite songs to dance to are Lavender Coffin by Lionel Hampton and Solid as a Rock by Ella Fitzgerald. She keeps herself busy chasing after her two-year-old son, and when she finds the time, she also enjoys reading and crocheting.
Krystal Moss
Chorus Line Dancer
Krystal Moss spent many years as a dancer, instructor and coach at Sugar Swing, and believes in the transformative power of Jazz to make the world a better place. She has performed for audiences far and wide, but there is no place she’d rather be than on a stage with her friends in her hometown of Edmonton. When Krystal isn’t dancing, you can usually find her snuggled up with her daughter watching a Disney movie.
Maya Daniel
Chorus Line Dancer
Maya loves to dance, and has been dancing most of her life. Every year on her birthday, Maya would plan a party that involved dancing in some form. Back in 2012, a friend suggested swing dancing at the Sugar Swing Ballroom, and from that moment on, she was hooked. Looking back on past swing dance performances, Maya’s favourite was “5 Artists 1 Love” in February 2018 where she showcased Lindy Hop as part of an event dedicated to celebrating Black History.
Sam Micka
Chorus Line Dancer
Sam had an early start to dancing, taking lessons in all styles including ballet, jazz, tap, ballroom, from the age of three. She started dancing Lindy Hop 8 years ago, when a friend brought her to a social dance and she fell in love with the style and community instantly. When she’s not dancing, Sam enjoys going on nature walks with her dog or trying out new coffee shops around Edmonton.
Tech Crew
Adam Ostashek
Audio Tech
Contrary to most of the people in this program, Adam is a musician, not a dancer. His instrument of choice is the tenor sax, and dancers are his favourite audience to play for. Adam doesn’t have a particular favourite song, but anything by Lester Young is his jam.
Adam Pappas
Light Tech
Adam has been a member of the Sugar Swing community for nearly 10 years but his fantasy of being a Lindy Hopper stretches back to his university days where he was first exposed to it in a small community that didn’t have a regular dance scene. During his time with Sugar Swing, he’s worn many hats including DJ, Sound/Lighting Tech and also spent several years on Mad Cat Swing which included dancing in all of their previous Fringe shows! Needing to take a dance break for personal reasons he was more than happy to join this year’s show as a tech which means just as much to him as dancing itself!
Carmen Young
Stage Manager
Carmen has been dancing a number of years, previously enjoying tango and salsa, but now a big fan of swing, with all its fun, creativity and great community. It is a wonderful addition to life and she recommends it to all!
Thank You
Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this production happen.
Costuming: Katryna, Maggie, Tyrel
Marketing and Programs: Paige, Breanna, Czarina, Jasmine, Katryna, Miriam
Sugar Swing
Mad Cat Swing is based out of the Sugar Swing ballroom. At our studio people of all levels, ages and abilities are welcome to come and share in the dance and music that we love. We have social dances every Friday and Saturday night where we tear up the dance floor. We also offer classes in Lindy hop, Charleston, blues, tap, and more! We hope to continue to foster and grow our dance community of kind and devoted dancers.
Lindy Hop History
Lindy Hop was born in the 1920’s and 1930’s in Harlem New York in response to changing music at the time. Lindy Hop is a vernacular social dance created by a largely African American community of people who blended African rhythms with European structured dance styles. This dance is generally high energy, with big kicks and large body movement. Lindy Hop at its purest form is an improvised dance, danced to jazz music with a partner.
One of the biggest places to Lindy Hop was the Savoy ballroom in New York City. The ballroom was so massive that it took up an entire city block and was one of the few integrated ballrooms where both black and white patrons and musicians were welcome. The ballroom could fit over 5,000 people in a single night and was open 5 nights a week. The floor received so much traffic that it needed to be fully replaced every three years. Some of the biggest names in early jazz music played at the Savory for eager dancers. Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Chick Webb, and many more competed in the legendary battle of the bands at the Savoy ballroom. At it’s height, the battle of the bands between Chick Webb and Benny Goodman was so popular that it is estimated that over 25,000 people tried to attend but were turned away from the packed ballroom.
