Profile

Swingland Ltd./Martin Ellis

Established in 1998, Swingland Ltd. is run by Martin Ellis who has been dancing, teaching, and performing Lindy hop ("Jitterbug" or "Jive") and related Swing Era dances since the early 1990s. Swingland currently teaches a number of regular weekly swing dance classes and workshops at various venues in and around London, and can also offer:

• Private Swing Dance tuition – from Wedding first dances to specialist Lindy hop training
• Swing Dance demonstrations – from “freestyle” dancing to choreographed performance pieces.
• Swing Dance choreography/dancing – for video, film and TV
• Specialist Swing DJ – playing music from the 1920s to the present day – Big Band Swing, Hot Jazz, Blues, Rat Pack Lounge and neo-Swing

Swingland is very much dedicated to the original "Savoy" style of Lindy hop, from the ballrooms of 1930s Harlem. We pride ourselves on teaching great technique throughout our classes – whilst keeping them fun and entertaining! – believing this to be the key to becoming an accomplished swing dancer.

Private Swing Dance tuition

We can provide private classes for individuals, couples and small groups. Private classes are particularly useful for :-

Wedding first dances
Private parties
Specialist training in Lindy hop and other dances of the Swing Era
Corporate Functions/Team building excersises

Previous clients include :-

Thomson Gold Holidays (specialist dance training)
MacDonald's
Abbey National

Film, Video & TV

Swingland specialises in the dances of the 1920s through to the 1950s, with particular emphasis on the Lindy hop and Jazz dances of the 1930s and 40s.

We are able to provide high quality specialist dancers for Film, Video and TV work as well as choreography.

Previous work includes :-

Dancing

Video - KT Tunstall - "Hold On" (Virgin Records)
Video - Goldspot - "Rewind" (Flynn Productions/Mercury)
Video - The Noisettes - "Sister Rosetta" (Universal Motown)
Film - "Piccadilly Jim" (Myriad)
Film - "Last of The Blonde Bombshells" (BBC)
TV - "Des O'Connor Tonight" (Thames TV)

Choreography

Student SkillSet Commercial - 1920s (Charleston) & 1950s (Lindy hop) choreography for this London College of Communication project in association with the Government's new SkillSet initiative.

Dance Camps, Workshops & Weekends

Martin is available for dance camps, workshops and weekends - as a teacher (either individually or with one of his regular teaching partners) and swing DJ.

Previous work includes :-

Rock Bottoms (teaching/Cabaret/DJ)
Swing's The Thing (teaching/Cabaret/DJ)
Rock The Block, Bylaugh (teaching/Cabaret/DJ)
The 500 Club (teaching, DJ)
Hellzapoppin' (DJ)
Herräng dance camp (DJ)
Camp Savoy (DJ)
Swing Jam (DJ)

Martin Ellis

Swing Dancer, Teacher & Choreographer

Martin Ellis has been dancing Lindy hop and other swing styles since the early 1990s, and has been teaching regularly since 1998.

Martin began performing in the mid 1990s as a member of London-based Lindy hop performance group the Jitterbug Jammers and then moved on to the Illinois Jackets where he studied under world-renowned Lindy hopper Ryan Francois. Martin was a founding member of the group which later became the Lindy Circle. He has also performed with the Cotton Clubbers, and with Zoots and Spangles.

Since then Martin has choreographed and performed many Lindy hop and Jazz numbers for competitions, cabarets and demonstrations, and now choreographs and performs regularly with Lindy hop performance company, Attic Cats.

Among many TV and stage appearances, Martin has performed with Liza Patoux on Des O'Connor Tonight, dancing with neo-swing group The Cherry Poppin' Daddies, and in 2001: A Tap Oddysey (dancing Lindy hop) at the Bloomsbury theatre. He danced with Marina Glezin in the BBC film Last of the Blonde Bombshells and again with Liza in the pop video What It Is (Freddy Fresh). Martin can also be seen dancing in the film Piccadilly Jim.

In 1998 Martin set up Swingland as a vehicle to promote swing music and dance in London and the UK. Swingland has had a major impact on the current swing dance scene in London and having taught people from many parts of the world Martin's influence stretches far and wide. He has travelled regularly and retains a keen interest in the development of the dance and also its preservation in its original form.

With regular teaching partner Charlie Sammons, Martin recently completed a 35mm film project for Student Skillset – from auditions and casting of the dancers through training and choreography, advice with the music and help on set.

Competition results include :-

2003 UK Lindy hop Championships - Strictly Swing – winner
2002 Swing Jam - Teachers/Performers Invitational 'Jack & Jill' - winner
2002 Herrang Dance Camp - 'Fast Feet' – 2nd place
2001 UK Open Lindy hop Championships - 'Jack & Jill' - winner
1999 British Swing Dance Championships - 'Up Tempo' - winner
1999 Monsters of Swing (Ventura, California) - 'Jack & Jill' - 2nd runner-up

Specialist Swing DJ

Martin has an extensive collection of swing and related music from the 1920s to the present day and is increasingly in demand as a specialist DJ. His aim is to keep the dance floor full with a great mix of standards and plenty of more eclectic selections. 'Swing is a joyful dance - people should be having fun and it should show.'

Martin is resident DJ at current Swingland club nights C Jam, Swing Thing and Swingin' Sundays and previously Swing Central and Party in the Pub.

He has DJ'd extensively at Herräng dance camp, Camp Savoy and also at various Jive Time events.

Other credits include Jitterbugs, Zoot Suit Riot, and Co-operation Ireland's Gala Ball Stompin' At The Savoy.

Martin is available for all dances, private functions, themed events etc. Any type of swing or lounge music to suit your event. From smart modern to allied uniform, demob suit or Black Tie, Martin can dress appropriately. PA equipment can be provided (suitable for a hall with up to 300 people).