Gathering

In-Person | Free Event | Live Music | All-Ages

The Big Social

at Union Station

Past Event

Sep 24

7:00 - 7:45 PM - Lindy Hop Workshop (Beginner/Intermediate)
8:00 - 11:00 PM - Social Dancing

A joyful celebration of community and dance.
Bring your dancing shoes, and your best moves to Union for an evening of social dancing!

May we have this dance?

What could be more magical than an evening of dancing to live music under the stars, to celebrate community, coming together and a return to in-person events?

In anticipation of our jazz-themed double-bill Margarita & Family of Jazz, we're bringing back The Big Social, in partnership with our long time presenting partners Union. Join us for a beginner's lindy hop and jazz workshop led by some of Toronto's best practicioners Dina Waluyo & Aleks Valuiskikh, and then try out your new dance moves with a fun social dancing session, with live music by Bertie & The Gents!

Workshop:
Anything can happen in a social dance. You may accidentally lose connection with your partner, or you may want to break away from them and do a little solo dancing. Intentionally or accidentally, breaking away is a classic Lindy Hop shape. We will learn to break away from our partners, then reconnect and recover the partnership in a way that works with the music we're dancing to. We will also be focusing on listening to and connecting with the music and dancing individually, apart from but with our partner.

Prerequisite: Beginner/Intermediate - comfortable with 6 and 8 count basic shapes.

Ps. There will be even more social dancing following the presentation of Margarita & Family of Jazz, so don't forget to grab a ticket for yourself and a friend and keep the dance party going all week long!

This is an in-person event taking place in Union’s TD West Carriageway (lower level, entrance beside Amano restaurant) (65 Front St W Toronto)

FREE, no registeration required

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Event schedule:

Saturday, Sep 24

Beginner/Intermediate Lindy Hop Workshop, 7:00 - 7:45 PM

Social Dancing, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Work Shop Key People

Dina Waluyo

Workshop Leader

Dina started dancing in 2016 in Toronto and began teaching in 2018. She is an advocate of followers actively influencing the direction of the dance.

Aleksandr Valuiskikh

Workshop Leader

Aleks started dancing the Lindy Hop in 2013 in Smolensk, Russia, and started teaching in 2015. After he moved to Canada in 2018 he integrated his European Lindy background with his North American experience.

Bertie and the Gents

Live Band

We love playing for dancers… and dancers return the favour! We’re out and about playing in trio, quartet and quintet format for dance communities in and around, but not limited to, Toronto! Bertie & The Gents thrive on dancer energy! Bertie loves to share her enthusiasm for early jazz and blues with audiences by romping over the keys and belting out a tune. The Gents bring their rock-solid rhythm and swingin’ style to dance friendly tempos.

Roberta Hunt - Vocals & Keyboard
Jacob Gorzhaltsan - Clarinet & Saxophone
Glenn Anderson - Drums
Jack Zorawski - Bass

Photo by Bill Beard.

Anything can happen in a social dance. You may accidentally lose connection with your partner, or you may want to break away from them and do a little solo dancing. Intentionally or accidentally, breaking away is a classic Lindy Hop shape. We will learn to break away from our partners, then reconnect and recover the partnership in a way that works with the music we're dancing to. We will also be focusing on listening to and connecting with the music and dancing individually, apart from but with our partner.

- Workshop leaders, Dina Waluyo & Aleks Valuiskikh

Directions

Toronto's Union Station is easily accessible by car, the TTC, GO Transit and the UP Express. It is located at 65 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5J 1E6, and is bordered by Front. St W to the north, Bay St. to the east, York St. to the West and the Gardiner Express Way to the south. From the Front St. W entrance, head west through the Great Hall to get to the West Wing, where our FREE Programming is located. Click HERE to see a map of the building's main floor.

Driving

From the Queen Elizabeth Way, Lakeshore Boulevard or the Gardiner Expressway, exit at Yonge Street North. Head north along Yonge to Front St. W, then turn left to reach Union Station.

TTC / GO Transit / UP Express

Take either the Yonge or University line south to Union Station. Union Station is the main transit hub for most GO transit routes coming into Toronto and is the end terminal for the UP Express, which runs direct from Union Station to Pearson International Airport.

Parking

Parking is available at Brookfield Place at 181 Bay Street, in 200 Bay St., 22 Yonge St. and Impark Parking at 79 Wellington St. W. Limited metered street parking is available on surrounding streets. There is no parking on site at Union Station.

The Big Social

May we have this dance?

What could be more magical than an evening of dancing to live music under the stars, to celebrate community, coming together and a return to in-person events?

- Workshop leaders, Dina Waluyo & Aleks Valuiskikh

Directions

Driving

TTC / GO Transit / UP Express

Parking

Dining

Bars

Lodgings

The Big Social

May we have this dance?What could be more magical than an evening of dancing to live music under the stars, to celebrate community, coming together and a return to in-person events?

- Workshop leaders, Dina Waluyo & Aleks Valuiskikh

Directions

Driving

TTC / GO Transit / UP Express

Parking

Dining

Bars

Lodgings

May we have this dance?

What could be more magical than an evening of dancing to live music under the stars, to celebrate community, coming together and a return to in-person events?