Kim-lin Hooper, Dance Tutor

What classes do you teach?

I teach charleston and 1920s dance to adults, just one class a week on Tuesday nights

What inspired you to become a tutor?

I've always been a bit mad about the 1920s. I'm currently writing a novel, set in London and Berlin in 1926. Most of the action takes place within the chorus line of an all African American Musical Revue on tour. These shows were popular in the 1920s and were what first introduced Europeans to jazz - they had well known musicians in them like Sidney Bechet.

I had a grant from Arts Council England to go to New York and research the kind of dancing that would have been done by the chorus girls - I have so many dance scenes in my novel, so this was really important to me. I researched in the National Jazz museum and performing arts library had lessons with Chad Fasca, a worldwide expert in 1920s dance, who'd looked at all the rare archive footage from collectors. I've been keeping up my moves by learning moves from all the archive footage. I was first asked to lead a class by the Rising Sun Arts Centre in Reading, which is still going on, as they have 1920s tea dances on a regular basis there.

What do students get out of your course?

I hope they'll get plenty of 1920s moves, a feel for jazz dancing and a jazz spirit, including the confidence to improvise and make up their own 20s inspired moves!

Who or what inspires you in your practice?

Josephine Baker is one of the all time greatest improvisational dancers. People who dont' know her should look her up on youtube, especially a great clip of her dancing in 1927. She still looks great even now.

Al Minns and Leon James were also great dancers from the Savoy Ballroom. I'm inspired by modern day solo jazz dancers from the ultimate lindy hop showdown in the US.

Click here to see my website!