OUR CLASSES
DISCOVER THE SOUL OF BLUES DANCE
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DISCOVER THE SOUL OF BLUES DANCE 〰️
LESSON DESCRIPTIONS
Individualized lessons for single or couples. A private lesson provides the student the most effective way to learn blues dance with personal attention from the instructors. Lessons are booked for one time or a package of one-hour sessions.
RATE: $75 per hour (in Ft Collins)
PRIVATE LESSONS:
SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS:
For larger groups of 8+ students. Perfect for larger events, socials, Meetups, open public lessons. Less individualized student attention due to size of group. Lessons may be booked for 4 progressive 1.25 hour lessons.
RATE: $10 to $15 per student/lesson
GROUP LESSONS & WORKSHOPS:
Small group lessons for groups of 4-8 students. More specialized attention provided to each student. Superior over the "group" lesson plan. Instructors also provide semi-privates for social or business parties or events. Lessons are booked for one time or 4 progressive 1.25 hour lessons.
RATE: (4-8 students) - $75 per hour or $12 to $15 per student
COMMUNITY EVENTS, FESTIVALS, MEETUPS, CORPORATE EVENTS, PRIVATE PARTIES, PUBLIC DANCES:
Please call for rates, scheduling, lesson plans.
ADDITIONAL: Travel and housing expense may be added to the lesson rates.
NOTE: Rates and terms are subject to change.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
IN THE BEGINNING: PROGRESSIVE 1 (P1)
The Confident Blues Dance instruction format is designed to help the beginning social dancer rapidly learn basic blues dance and blues-fusion dance in very simple and methodical (but not boring!) lessons. The lessons are designed to help dancers attain the confidence, competence, and enjoyment associated and required for social dance scenarios.
The “Progressive 1,” basic level student will learn simple blues dance theory, body movements, rhythm techniques, lead-follow embrace connections, basic turns, adornments & figures, easy dips, floor-craft, etiquette, & musical adaptation. Also expect a limited amount of discussion on blues dance and blues music history.
ADVANCED BEGINNING: PROGRESSIVE 2 (P2)
The “Progressive 2" series is for advanced-beginner blues dancers who must have completed the P1 lessons or show proficiency to meet next level requirements.
The advanced beginning blues dancer will pick up where the P1 classes finished with more emphasis on learning blues rhythm, fun turns and adornments, dance interpretation, and fundamentals that will increase the dancer’s confidence in the social dance environment.
The P2 lessons include:
Sharpening and fine-tuning the dancer’s body control and rhythm.
Adapting to music rhythm changes, syncopations, and beat.
Learning more fun and dynamic individual and lead-follow turn patterns.
Gaining more understanding of the “give-receive” or “lead-follow” presence in social dance
Understanding the social dance atmosphere and floor-craft insights to improve the dancer’s overall lead-follow experience.
Developing the dancer's own interpretive social dance style.
ADVANCED BEGINNING: BLUES ALTERNATIVE-FUSION DANCE
This series is for the dancer that loves to play and be creative with their dance style. With the advanced beginner blues alternative classes (P2 proficiency), the dancer will now be ready to learn and integrate various forms of social dance styles in a blend of blues alternative & fusion. This includes learning new blues footwork, lead-follow patterns, as well as an informal introduction to tango, swing, salsa & other dance technique add-ins. The dancer will learn simple alternative forms and begin to freely interpret and incorporate more variety into a unique, but contemporary, lead-follow social dance expression. Completion of this series will prepare the dancer for most any social dance scenario (including weddings and meetup socials).
Simply put, we teach lead-follow, social dance. We teach beginning, advanced beginning and alternative blues dance to the baby-boomer and millennial generations in northern Colorado (Denver, Boulder & Ft. Collins). Our group, semi-private, and private lessons are designed to be easy, social, fun, affordable, low-impact, and interpretive...not a lot of dance rules but a whole lotta fun.
The lessons are designed to get the new dancer onto the social dance floor within a very short period of time with confidence and competence, equipped with necessary skills for socials, meetups, live music and dance events . After completion of two to three series of our blues dance lessons, the newer dancer will be prepared to lead and/or follow to not only blues music, but to a wide variety of music styles.
Here's what the newer dancer will learn in beginning through alternative blues dance lessons:
The blues "pulse" rhythms & steps movements
·Safely lead and/or follow connections
·Fun lead-follow turn techniques
·Adornments, embellishments, stylized dips
·Developing your own interpretive dance style
Etiquette and floor-craft
Blues music and blues dance history
Blues music theory and interpretation
Adding playfulness to your dance
WE TEACH SOCIAL BLUES DANCE
“YOU are a gift to me and our blues and dancing community…”
- Patty P.
I have known Kevin Kim for almost ten years now . He is a live Roots music supporter and is much appreciated by musicians and music venues across the Front Range. Kevin organizes dance lessons , meet-up groups ,and supports the music and arts community across the north metro Denver area. By bringing people together, he also generates income for venues which reflects well on live music. Kevin is doing his best to keep live music alive and musicians love him for it.
- Al Chesis
The Delta Sonics ( winner of Best Blues Band in Denver - 6yrs in a row. Westword Magazine)
EVENTS
Join Us To Experience The Blues!
Discover good music, new friendships, and dancing at Amaro Winery. Our community is growing, and we invite you to participate:
- Lesson: 6-7 (Progressive lesson, "turns and connections")
- Dance: 7-9
- Where: Amaro Winery, 402 S. Melendres Las Cruces, New Mexico.
- Dates: May 2nd and May 16th
- Fee: Purchase a beverage to participate. On this evening you'll hear an "alternative" playlist of 75% Blues and 25% crossover contemporary music.
Our dance is low-impact, social, beginner friendly and a whole lotta fun. No prior dance experience or partner needed! Dress casually and wear hard-soled shoes or sneakers. Please refrain from wearing chemical fragrances..
Intro to Blues Dance Lesson and Practice Dance
Hey music lovers and dance enthusiasts,
If you've got a rhythm in your soul and a love for blues, rock, and contemporary tunes, we've got something special for you! Join us this summer for an exciting limited-time opportunity to delve into the art of Blues Dancing.
Saturday June 15th, 2024
Intro Lesson: 6:00-7:00
Practice Dance: 7:00-9:00
$10.00 pp for lesson & dance
($5.00 for the dance only)
Boulder Tango Studio (in the Avalon Ballroom)
6185 Arapahoe Blvd
Boulder, CO
This is a limited-time event, as we will be returning to Colorado for the summer to share their passion for Blues Dancing. Don't miss the chance to step into the local community of Blues Dancing with us. This is a one-hour lesson and practice session to work on your new moves. No experience required, a partner is not necessary to participate. Grab your shoes and join us for an evening of rhythm, connection, and pure joy!
Boulder Beginning Blues Dance Lessons
LEARN TO SOCIAL DANCE QUICKLY WITH BLUES DANCE
Did you know that Colorado is considered to be one of the best states in which to socially blues and fusion dance in the entire country?
Since 2015, Grace and I have been teach beginning, advanced-beginning and blues-fusion social dance lessons to the millennial & baby boomer demographic from Denver, Boulder, Ft Collins and into Wyoming.
The progressive blues dance series is social, affordable, low-impact and interpretive (not a lot of rules but quite fun). The lessons are designed to get the new dancer onto the social dance floor with confidence and competence with the necessary skills for Meetups or social music events in a very short period of time.
You will be dancing to the music of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, John Lee Hooker, Aretha, Nina Simone, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joe Bonamassa, Howlin Wolf and dance-able selections of blues, rock, soul and contemporary tunes.
Here's what you will learn in beginning blues dance lessons:
The blues "pulse" rhythms
Lead-follow connections
Etiquette and floor-craft
Developing your own style
How to play with your partner during the dance
Music theory and interpretation
Adornments and embellishments
Basic turns
Blues dips (low-impact)
No experience required. A partner is not necessary. $40 per person for the 2- two week lesson series (payable at the lesson & non-refundable). We meet at Boulder Tango Studio (in The Avalon Ballroom). 6185 Arapahoe Rd. Boulder
Dates: Sundays, Oct. 21st & 28th 2018, 4:00-6:00 PM.
• Important to know
A partner is not necessary. If you are unable initially to get into this class please join the waiting list as I make it a priority to have an equal lead to follow balance. If you have a partner for the series be sure to "+1" on your RSVP.
Follows: More and more women are learning and enjoying leading in social dance. If you would like to learn to lead please RSVP.
Questions? Message me or call 970-310-7111
What is Blues Dancing?
Blues dancing has existed for almost as long as there has been Blues music, though it most likely looked different from what we see on the dance floor today. Blues dancing is a term used to describe a family of dances that have developed throughout the history of Blues music and the contemporary dances that are danced in a similar aesthetic.
In the 1990’s, when the Lindy Hop revival started, there began to be Lindy exchanges throughout the United States, at which there were often “Blues Rooms” where dancers could dance slowly to Blues and other mellow music. Blues soon started to become a scene in itself, with communities all over the United States and elsewhere in the world.
Blues offers a unique kind of partner dance. It allows for improvised steps within a set of standard techniques, including a strong connection, tension and compression, turns, and traveling, among others. While Blues dancing can be a slow, intimate affair, it can also be a fast paced rush around the floor.
It can be danced to Blues music and can also be danced to many other kinds of music (often referred to as “alternative Blues”).
It also lends itself to be fused with almost any other kind of partner dance.
~Crossroads Blues Fusion