|
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Please pay attention to the recommended skill requirements.
Blues Connection - Ogden and Amanda
Beginning
Our basic connection class for beginners
Interactive Blues - Ogden and Amanda
Experienced
In this class we'll emphasize listening skills, blending the lead and the follow together, and introduce some techniques for followers to suggest movement, rather than hijacking the lead. We'll focus on the techniques involved in creating improvisational movement between two people so your blues dancing is truly interactive.
More Cool Moves and Leverage (same name, new material) - Ogden and Amanda
Experienced
A staple in our line-up of classes, and even though we've taught it in the past, we've got all new material for it.
Opening Up Your Blues (new class) - Ogden and Amanda
Beginner / Intermediate
Adding or expanding the possibilities of open position dancing in Blues.
Blues Rhythms (new name, refined material) - Ogden and Amanda
Experienced
This class will focus on breaking down the structure of partnered dance and movement as we know it. We will approach dancing using rhythm and experiment with how different patterns influence the creation of our own moves. Sometimes the greatest challenges to our dancing are found in the simplest ideas, so be ready to challenge yourself and spend a lot of time outside your comfort zone.
Move that Ass! (warmup) - Don West
All Level
To warm up and allow blood to flow as well as simple stretching to avoid injury and maximize movement in a fun manner. For those of you who were there last time, I’ll try to make as fun. For those who weren’t there last time, well I could do pretty much anything and you wouldn’t know the difference, would you?
Work that Ass! (movement class) - Don West
Beginner
To focus movement by using classic jazz steps with an emphasis on isolations and hip mobility. Hey, what do you want? I’m a lindy hopper that blues dances once in a while. I can still have you discover muscles you never knew existed before. This will be good for the guy who says he can’t move. I will beg to differ.
Lead/follow that Ass! (technique) - Don and Kathy
Intermediate / Advanced
To show the general mechanics and technique of leading and following in such a way to as to allow minimal effort the fundamentals of moving another person. You WILL have a better knowledge and mastery of this beautiful and necessary technique of communicating with your partner in which YOU, the student will be able to dance with anyone at anytime. In other words: We gonna show ya how ta tawks to ya partner without tawkin’. Dig?
Savoy Ballrooming - Mike and Kelly
Beginning
A very unique type of dancing to blues music developed at the Savoy Ballroom and characterized by large flashy movements, in typical Savoy fashion. It wasn't the type of blues dancing that you would find in Juke Joints, rather the type you would expect to see in a ballroom as classy as the Savoy, in suits and dresses. Mike has learned from both Sugar & George Sullivan (Harvest Moon Ball Champions 1955) who danced this style at the Savoy.
Breaking Away - Mike and Kelly
Experienced
A whole class on how to dance apart . . . together. A major part of dancing done to jazz and blues in the jazz era was knowing how to solo with a partner, that is, how to break completely away from actual 'lead-follow' and improvise visual lead-follow, call and response, and complementary solo movement. This class will also cover good ways for both leads and follows to initiate and return from a break away from their partner. Some solo and partnered jazz dance background recommended.
Solo Blues - Mike and Kelly
All Levels
While many of us have danced to the blues music with partner, dancing to the blues alone is something people don't often do. This class will introduce you to a wide array of movement from jazz-era dances including snake hips, low down, black bottom, shake blues and much more. So come get down with your bad self.
Slow Dancing - Mike and Kelly
Beginner / Experience
Combining Dances in Blues (a class about how to use a variety of jazz dances to interpret blues music)
Partnered Black Bottom - Mike and Kelly
Experienced
This vintage blues dance done with a partner.
Foundations - Jerry and Kathy
Beginner
Jerry and Kathy will get you moving across the floor, both by yourself and with your partner. This class will give you the foundation for connecting with the floor, the music, and your partner using simple steps
MicroBlues II - Jerry and Kathy
All Level
So you've taken the MicroBlues class, but very rarely do the DJ's play 'microblues' songs. What can I do with this pent up desire to exercise my right to MicroBlues? This class will work on putting MicroBlues into all forms of Blues and Swing music. Free up your mind, and don't be afraid to feel the subtlety of the music.
Contemporary Blues - Jerry and Kathy
Experienced
Take the time to listen to the music and play a little. In this class, Kathy and Jerry will work on helping you 'play' with 'blues' music. Use the predictability of the music to your benefit and become a 'musical' god or goddess.
|
