Description
Savoy Jazz Jam 2026 - Solo Jazz Weekend
Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Rd, WD17 1JJ
6th-8th November 2026
SPACES REMAINING:
1) Improver - Intermediate: 3 Places left
2) Intermediate/Advanced - Advanced: 2 Places left
3) Social Dance Pass: Not Yet Available
Welcome to our 9th Savoy Jazz Jam, solo Jazz Weekend, right here in the UK.
ABOUT:
Always held on the 1st weekend each November, this cosy weekend explores the history of African American Jazz dance from African dance, plantation dances to today's Solo Jazz, with an array of incredible, inspirational and innovative concepts to expand and improve your vocabulary of jazz movement and help your partnered dance. There will be two days of workshops on Saturday and Sunday, two evenings of social dancing on Friday & Saturday with live music, plus an early Farewell Party on Sunday to practice your solo jazz and incorporate it into your Lindy Hop. There'll also be a solo jazz competition. Numbers are limited to allow space and keep the event small enough to get to know to the teachers and everyone else.
Not everyone had the chance to learn from Frankie Manning or Norma Miller, so this is a great opportunity for every swing dancer to explore history of the dance we love with an original dancer from the Savoy Ballroom.
LEVELS:
1) Improver - Intermediate
2) Intermediate/Advanced - Advanced.
Improver - Intermediate:
You have the basic routines under your belt such as the JiveSwing Stroll, Shim Sham & Charleston Stroll - you have knowledge of the classic basic jazz steps & are ready to push further.
Intermediate/Advanced -Advanced:
You have taken previous Jazz workshops and know lots of the key historic routines such as The Big Apple, Tranky Doo, Trickeration and more. You are ready to work hard on techniques as well as moves, routines, sweat and take your movement to the next level!
International Instructors & Legends:
Sonny Allen (USA)
Sugar Sullivan (USA)
Barbara Billups (USA)
Chester Whitmore (USA)
Joseph Sewell (UK)
Charlotte Middlemiss (UK)
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Sonny Allen is a swing dancer, teacher from the famous Savoy Ballroom, a Mambo dancer at the Palladium Ballroom in Harlem, as well as a singer, musician, choreographer and leader of the dance troupe, Sonny Allen and the Rockets, featuring Sugar Sullivan and Barbara Billups, a Harvest Moon Ball Winner and so much more. With a wide range of dance styles under his belt, he has his own unique dance style. These days Sonny uses his vast technical knowledge of the dance for lectures & history discussions. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from him.
Sugar Sullivan was a dancer at the famous Savoy Ballroom, Harlem. With a mother who was also a dancer, she learnt to dance since she was a mere child, starting out with tap dance. She won the Harvest Moon Ball competition in 1955 with George Sullivan and later worked with Al Minns, followed by Sonny Allen. She’s was later part of the Sonny Allen and the Rockets performance troupe and featured in the famous Spirit Moves documentary.
Barbara Billups is a dancer from the famous Savoy Ballroom, NY, home to Frankie and Norma Miller et al, brought into dancing by the Savoy Ballroom Dancer George Sullivan. She won the Harvest Moon Ball Competition in the 1950’s with her then dance swing dance partner Sonny Allen. She was also a member of the Sonny Allen and the Rockets dance troupe and travelled all over to perform. These days Barbara works with Sugar Sullivan to give classes in Lindy Hop and Jazz dance around the world.
Chester Whitmore is an International Dancer, Orchestra Leader, Choreographer and a global master of Tap and Jazz, having been taught by the famous Nicholas Brothers (stormy weather). He’s choreographed for movies such as “La La Land’, “Boys to Men” and worked with MC Hammer, Michael and Janet Jackson, Jackie Chan, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Miles Davies, Savion Glover and many more greats.
Joseph Sewell has been dancing Jazz funk, Skanking, Blues, Ska etc since he was a child in the 70s and later teaching swing dance for almost 30 years, having taught and performed across Europe, ASIA, USA and Africa. He’s been taught by and worked alongside legendary elders such as Norma Miller, Frankie Manning, Chazz Young, Barbara Billups, Sugar Sullivan, Chester Whitmore etc, which adds an element of history to his classes.
Charlotte Middlemiss started out with Tap, Tango and Contemporary Jazz as a child, then whilst at university she embraced Jive and Swing Dance in 2006. She’s since performed, competed and been teaching internationally for over 15 years, across Europe, ASIA, USA and Africa. She’s worked with and learnt from the likes Norma Miller, Chazz Young, Barbara Billups, Chester Whitmore etc and Choreographed for movies, theatre etc.
DRAFT SCHEDULE:
Friday 6th November
7pm-8pm - Master Class
8pm-Midnight - Evening Welcome Party
Saturday 7th November
11.30am - Registration
12:00pm - Welcome & Pre Workshop Activities
12.30pm- 4.00pm - Workshops
4:00pm - 4:45pm - Swingopedia Discussion
8pm - Midnight - Harlem Nights Band Night & Competition.
Sunday 8th November
12.00pm - 4.00pm - Workshops
4.00pm - later - Swingopedia Discussion & Farewell Tea Party
NB: Times subject to change
COSTS:
£179.99 until 1st May 2026
£199.99 until 30th June 2026
£224.99 until 1st September 2026
£249.99 until 1st October 2026
£299.99 thereafter
NB: Every ticket benefits our elders...
SOCIAL DANCE PASS:
Not Yet Available
TRAINS:
Watford Junction - 5mins Walk
Other Tubes/Trains to Watford.
PARKING:
FREE Parking onsite
Town Centre NCP Carparks - 1min walk
HOTELS NEARBY:
Leonardo Hotels - Opposite the venue
Holiday Inn - Down the road
Plenty of others within walking distance.
Please see our SAFE SPACES policy