fiona ring | mycharleston

MyCharleston first brought Charleston classes to Brighton & Hove four years ago and has been delighting beginners and seasoned dancers alike with its fun and flirty moves ever since. As the company expands into other areas, we caught up with co-founder Fiona Ring to find out some more.

Where do you live in Brighton & Hove and what do you like best about the area?

I live in a little-known area called Tarnerland – I love the fact that I can walk to The Lanes in around five minutes. For me, they’re the heart of Brighton: their quirky independent shops, colourful characters and street life really sum up this city.

Tell us a bit about MyCharleston and how and why it all got started? What have you got coming up this year?

Elena [Collins, co-founder of MyCharleston] and I became instant fans of the Charleston when we performed in a Charleston troupe for a one-off show. We decided we wanted to continue with it and, whilst looking for a project, we discovered ‘I Charleston the World’. These charming films on YouTube showcased dancers doing the Charleston in iconic locations around their city. So we decided to put Brighton on the map! At that time, no one was running regular Charleston classes in Brighton, so we brushed up our moves, made some flyers and MyCharleston began.

Four years later, our dance classes have expanded into five cities and we’re about so much more than just Charleston courses. We have a performance troupe – Savoy Kicks – and we run workshops, hen parties and events, such as speakeasys [their fun-filled Fringe event is on 5 May] and 1920s-themed afternoon teas.

fiona-ring-mycharleston

Vintage dancing seems to grow in popularity every year, why do you think that is? 

Vintage dance is popular because the dance becomes a porthole to the past. People can style their clothes and hair to match the era, then when the music plays, they are transported back in time. With the 1920s, it’s all about fun, frivolity and liberalism, so the Charleston invites you to take on a character which releases your inhibitions, leaving you free to just dance.

What would be your perfect day in Brighton?

It’s a sunny weekend and everyone’s out and about. I wander into the North Laine looking for a gift, enjoying the people-watching as I go. I haven’t had breakfast so a bowl of açai at the Guarana Bar gives me the energy boost I need. Having found the perfect present, I join a group of friends for a picnic on Hove Lawns. This offers more voyeuristic opportunism as people work on their acroyoga, hula hoop and juggling skills. Inspired by their practice, we create a jam circle and have a little Charleston.

Feeling very hot, I go for a quick (very quick!) dip in the sea, but I feel better for it and my appetite is back, so a sunset drink and oysters at Riddle & Finns fills the gap perfectly. I then join my husband and head to the Duke of York’s to watch the latest film by Wes Anderson. What a perfect day!

You can follow what MyCharleston are up to here.

Photo credits: MyCharleston

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