June 27-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minneapolis, MN

Come on a fantastical Lindy voyage with us as we explore the depths of the Minneapolis Dance world.

Your 3-day, 2-night OctoPlexy voyage begins with a fabulous dock party, proceeds under the sea to visit the Octopus Garden, and returns a day later to celebrate the visit with a great Yacht Party. Our entertainment will be provided by 3 bands, including the newly discovered Hips Don't Lie -- a great trio consisting of an upright bass, keys, and drums. Beverage and snacks will be available throughout your voyage, just ask one of our stewards for assistance.


The Prairie Lindy Exchange is a rogue lindy hop exchange that sails around the upper plains of the North American Midwest. Setting sail from Saskatoon, SK in March of 2005, the PrairieLX has made 3 port calls in Winnipeg, and one each in Calgary, Edmonton, and Minneapolis. PrairieLX makes its second stop in Minneapolis for PLeX 8, aka, OctoPlexy.

Registration is LIVE already, sign up for your boarding pass today!
http://www.octoplexy.com

Housing is available too!
http://www.octoplexy.com/housing.php

I think I'll have to go to this too? Anyone else?

_________________
I don't do Blues but I'll Shag with anyone.

This sounds awesome, but alas, I will be working.

OctoPlexy Cruise News
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Boarding Passes are available today, however there's a special incentive to those who book early! While the sub will get under way from port and you might be able to purchase the 80$ (US) Boarding Pass there, you have the opportunity to reserve the best seats early at a special reduced rate!

Rate schedule:
Until May 13th: $40
Until June 6th: $45
Until June 23rd: $60
After June 23rd: No more pre-purchase!
June 27th: $80 at the docks

We are pleased to announce our first two DJ Entertainers for the cruise!

DJ Melissa Varriano: DJing is a passion Mel found one day when a popular local San Diego venue, Lindy by the Bay, needed some tunes played. Since then, she has dj'd at many regular SD venues, national venues, and was a regular DJ at LindyGroove in Pasadena. Now residing in Minneapolis, Mel's DJing has been a treat to local ears and always draws a crowd. Recently she has DJ'd for TCSwing's 3rd Friday, Pazaz's 4th Sunday, and a Madison Invasion.

DJ Ginger Brown: Ginger Brown is an emerging DJ and a formative blues scene dancer from Minneapolis, MN. An experienced dancer (5 years Lindy, 2 years Blues) and now an extensive traveller, she has attended swing and blues events across the nation including Southern Belle Swing Bash, SoFlex 2007, ATLX4, ULHS 2007, Sving Du Nord 2006 & 2007, SOLFest 2007 & 2008, Buenos Aires Blues 2007, Austin Blues Party 2007, Blues Boot Camp 2007 and Enter the Blues 2008. Ginger's love of dancing paired with her extensive exposure to a wide variety of music have lead her into DJing. In her short time as a DJ she's already racked up a great local resume that includes regular dances, house parties, workshops, and the Minnesota Lindy's fundraiser primary Blues DJ. Modeling herself after her idol Tina Davis, the artists Ginger plays will surprise you and keep you dancing all night long. Be sure to catch Ginger at the Charleston Lindy Exchange in Charleston, NC!

Location
We are also extremely privileged to announce our port of call (read: primary venue) for the weekend voyage! Social Dance Studio has recently moved to a new location in South Minneapolis! Located at 44.935831 N, 93.239186 W, the new studio provides an amazing atmosphere, storage for your travel gear, and a new galley for our chefs.



We look forward to seeing you June 27th.

Register Today!

OctoPLeXy Voyage Update
Your 3-day, 2-night OctoPlexy voyage is taking shape rapidly. As we introduce you to your full weekend entertainment live music lineup, recall that this awesome weekend already has nearly 10 Canadians registered already! Watch for the full itinerary posting later this week, including details about the Bar-B-Que, Pancake Breakfast, Games, Venues, Food and more.

www.octoplexy.com

Bands
Armadillo Jump (Saturday Night)
Armadillo Jump has taken the music they love --rockin blues-- and cranked it up. The passion, excitement and energy they pour into the music comes across as something that's fresh and crispy. Mix in a little Texas-style rockin' blues attitude, slather it with moppin' sauce and a generous splash of the hot stuff and my friends, you have a recipe for a show that's unmistakably jumpin'. Have You Been Jumped??

Hips Don't Lie (Saturday Late Night)
Co-composing an all original repertoire, Tasha Baron and Liz Draper draw elements from their combined eclectic musical backgrounds. Their music draws elements from the electronically produced precision of a drum machine, to the sounds of quirky lopsided carnival rides. The music is composed for the timeless arrangement of a piano trio yet is written and performed with personalized programmed sounds and effects. The acoustic bass and drum-set are utilized in ways quite characteristic to that of their role in a traditional jazz trio, but extreme attention is given to exploring the sounds, timbres, range, and personality of the instruments.

The Robert Bell Hot Swing Combo with Nancy Harms (Sunday evening)
The Hot Swing Combo will once again present a fresh sound when local vocal phenom Nancy Harms steps to the mic for her debut with the combo. Past performance experience for the hot swing combo includes; Cowtown Jamborama 2007, ULHS 2004-2007, MWLF 2005-2007, TCRJR 2008, TCLX 2005, DCLX 2007 and Hiding in Coral 2006.

Contests
There will be two Contests at OctoPLeXy, the 8th Biannual Prairie Lindy Exchange, one in Blues and one in Lindy. Each of these will use the Jack and Jill format and judging will focus not only on technique, style, and musicality but that special secret ingredient that only the staff knows. (Don't worry, we'll tell the judges a few seconds before the contest.) Winners to receive cash prizes and more.

Registration
Registration for OctoPlexy is simple: fill out [url=http://www.octoplexy.com/registeration.php]the form on this next page[/url and submit. Your registration is complete when payment arrives. Send payment immediately as this will secure any housing requests you may have made. Registering has only the following options remaining:

Boarding Pass (US Dollars)
$45 - General Admission: Until June 6
$60 - Late Comer: Until June 23
$80 - At the Door

The full boarding pass pass includes all dances, electives, late nights, and some meals (ex. Sunday Pancakes). It does not include any contest admissions. These are taken at the door on the night of the contest. Each contest will have a $5 entry, Blues Jack and Jill is Saturday night and the Lindy Jack and Jill is Sunday night. Cash prizes and more to the winners.

In case you forgot where to send payment, you can use paypal or email OctoPlexy staff at "plex@minnesotalindy.com"

REMINDER.....Prices go up on June 6. You can still register for the whole weekend boarding pass at $45 (US) ....after June 6 price will be $60 (US)

OctoPLeXy -- the 8th wonder of the Prairie Lindy Exchange world.

It's coming up fast, less than 2 weeks away! There are still passes available for 60$, but if you don't act fast you'll wind up paying the @ door price of 80$!! I know you kicked yourself when you missed the 40$ Super Early Bird price, I know you were ashamed that you missed the 45$ Early Bird price, but you don't have to cower and hide! Stand tall! There's no reason why you can't still enjoy this awesome exchange!

Register today!

We've got housing. We've got music. We've got Live music. We've got food. We've got drink. We've got personality. We've got contests. We've got games. We've got Winnipeg. We've got Madison. Do we have you?

Let's talk food.
We've got your dinner Friday.
We've got a grill for your lunch Saturday.
We've got your breakfast Sunday.
We've got snacks and beverages all weekend long.
We've got melons.

Let's talk games.
We've got your Lindy Jack and Jill on Sunday.
We've got your Blues Jack and Jill on Saturday.
We've got your party games Saturday afternoon.
We've got your US vs. Canada KickBall game Sunday afternoon.

Let's talk attire.
We've got a red and black theme for Saturday Night.
We've got a mod 60's theme for Saturday's Late Night.
We've got a formal blue, white and gold theme for Sunday night.
We've got a snazzy bunch.

Let's talk Amazing DJs.
We've got your showcase Friday: Krista Haskins, Mel Varriano, Jason Zabinski, Ginger Brown, and Adam Baus.
We've got Terry Gardner to the mix on Saturday.
We've got these DJs all weekend long and they are phenomenal.

Let's talk fantabulous music.
We've got Armadillo Jump.
We've got Hips Don't Lie.
We've even got the Hot Swing Combo -- staples of the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, Midwest LindyFest, Minnesota Lindy Fundraisers, and Rhythm Revival.
We've got DJs that know what you want to dance to. (They're probably psychic.)


We've got so much you probably didn't even read all that!



Do we have you?



http://www.octoplexy.com




(Is money tight? Are you going to Twin Cities Bal Festival and need to save your pennies? Contact us, we'll negotiate. )

((If you've already registered, watch for your boarding pass in your email sometime early next week!))