Workshop Classes
BluesQuake classes will be taking place at the Metronome Dance Collective from 12:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Note: Lessons are organized by class level. Please only attend classes for the class level you registered for.
Note: Lessons are organized by class level. Please only attend classes for the class level you registered for.
Saturday, April 12th, 2014
Time | Grand Room | Mezzanine | Salon: Privates | Break |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:30-1:30 | INT&ADV, Bluesberry Jammin’, Nicole, Paul | BEG, Blues Fundamentals, Ted, Lessa | Dexter, Heidi | --- |
1:45-2:45 | ADV, Incorporating Releases, Ted, Lessa | BEG, Intro to Jook Joint, Dexter, Heidi | Nicole, Paul | INT |
3:00-4:00 | INT, Turns and Dips, Dexter, Heidi | ADV, Pickpocket the Blues, Nicole, Paul | Ted, Lessa | BEG |
4:15-5:15 | INT, Jedi Mind Tricks, Ted, Lessa | BEG, Intro to Rhythms, Nicole, Paul | Dexter, Heidi | ADV |
Sunday, April 13th, 2014
Time | Grand Room | Mezzanine | Salon: Privates | Break |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:30-1:30 | INT, Sugar in Your Bowl, Dexter, Heidi | BEG, The Art of Navigating, Ted, Lessa | Nicole, Paul | ADV |
1:45-2:45 | ADV, Asymmetry in Blues, Dexter, Heidi | BEG, Blues Up Close, Nicole, Paul | Ted, Lessa | INT |
3:00-4:00 | INT, Kinesthetic Deconstruction, Nicole, Paul | ADV, Goldilocks Connection, Ted, Lessa | Dexter, Heidi | BEG |
4:15-5:15 | ALL, Groovy and Spicy, Dexter, Heidi | ALL, Guided Practica, Nicole, Paul | Ted, Lessa | --- |
Full Class Descriptions
FRIDAY, April 11th, 2014
The BluesQuake Kickoff Class: Rachel
ALL LEVELS, 8:00-9:00pm
SATURDAY, April 12th, 2014
Blues Fundamentals: Ted, Lessa
BEGINNER
Topics covered will include connection, musicality, body flight and swing, drive, body alignments (natural, counter, and contra), pivots, turn technique, embrace, frame changes, and blues vocabulary, for open or close embrace.
Bluesberry Jammin': Nicole, Paul
INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED
Ticktocks, mooches, riffing, oh my! What takes brains, courage and heart? Solo blues. Join us in learning some sweet vernacular movements and using them to dance with each other without touching. Look ma, no hands!
Introduction to Jook Joint Style Blues: Dexter, Heidi
BEGINNER
This class is perfect for those learning Blues dancing for the first time as well those familiar to Blues dancing but are looking to increase their vocabulary and improve their technique. We'll start with the fundamentals of Blues dancing as done today which is based on the oldest known Blues dance, the Slow Drag. Then we'll continue on to cover other dances such as the Funky Butt, the Shake N' Bake, and the Mooche.
Turns and Dips in Blues Dancing - Building Better Leads and Follows: Dexter, Heidi
INTERMEDIATE
This class aims to build better leads and follows by increasing awareness through your connection and improving the lead and follow dynamic. In this class, we'll examine how the lead can properly "suggest" different types of turns (through body leads), how follows can have a choice on how they do a turn based on the lead's lead (or lack thereof), and then add "call & response" to make your turns more exciting and fun. We'll also examine dips: how to do it properly (from the simplest to the fanciest) through your connection, posture, and balance.
Letting Go and Coming Home - Incorporating Releases Into Dance: Ted, Lessa
ADVANCED
Follows focus on knowing the direction, speed and rotation the leader is asking for and being exactly where he wants you when he needs you there. Leaders focus on developing a smooth style for releasing your partner and re-establishing connection while giving her space and the flexibility to dance her dance.
Intro to Rhythms: Nicole, Paul
BEGINNER
Welcome to the wonderful world of rhythms. In this class we’ll explore a number of standard blues rhythms and footwork patterns, then learn how to string them together create our own, unique rhythms.
Jedi Mind Tricks, or How to Predict Other Couples Movement: Ted, Lessa
INTERMEDIATE
There's no need to rely on evasive maneuvers when your force is strong. Use your skill and knowledge of dance to predict where other couples are going and finding room to dance in the holes they leave behind them. Break out of the box of protecting one spot on the dance floor, and learn how to share the whole floor and move smoothly in and out of other couples dance space.
Pickpocket the Blues: Nicole, Paul
ADVANCED
It’s said that blues is the dance that rifles through other dance’s pockets and steals moves while they’re not looking. In this class, we are going to make you masters of move pickpocketing. We’ll teach you how to deconstruct even the most complicated looking move so that you can steal it after only one viewing.
SUNDAY, April 13th, 2014
The Art of Navigating a Crowded Dancefloor: Ted, Lessa
BEGINNER
So you're tired of getting stepped on / letting your partner get stepped on / stepping on people. This is the class for you. Learn how to grow/shrink/rotate moves to fit in the space you have. Think of it like Tetris for the dance floor. Also, you'll learn how balance can keep you out of some of the stickiest situations.
Sugar In Your Bowl: Dexter, Heidi
INTERMEDIATE
Just like the lead, the follow hears the music and forms ideas on how to express that in their dance. But because of the lead/follow dynamic, the follows have to listen to the leads’ interpretation of the music first. What’s a poor follow to do? In this class, we will be encouraging the follows to add to the conversation by allowing them to express their creativity and even provide inspiration to their leads. Leads will learn techniques that will allow them to open up space for the follow, giving them a chance to shine. This class is designed to build conversation in a dance and encourage better leads and follows!
Asymmetry in Blues: Dexter, Heidi
ADVANCED
Change the look of your dance with asymmetry! Part of the aesthetic of Blues dancing is its asymmetry, giving the dance a dynamic and complex look and feel. Dexter and Heidi will help you apply segmentation of your body parts and angularity while examining how we balance asymmetry in our movement. They'll have you using "quadrants" to create your movements and push the dynamic quality of your solo and partnered dancing!
Blues Up Close: Nicole, Paul
BEGINNER
Let's get up close and personal by working on our close embrace. In this class we’ll delve into the mechanics of the embrace, hug a lot of people, descend a melty staircase and learn how to make our embrace feel safe and comfortable.
A Kinesthetic Deconstruction of Silliness in Blues Dancing: Nicole, Paul
INTERMEDIATE
It’s a well known idea amongst improv actors and kindergarten teachers that silliness and laughter breed creativity. In this class we’ll play some games, dance to silly music, and let the creativity flow.
Goldilocks Connection: Ted, Lessa
ADVANCED
Develop a baseline connection that’s juuust right, one that travels through your dance without holes or spikes. Anything more is a lead, anything less is background noise. Learn how varying your baseline will allow you to dance with absolutely anyone. Once you’ve got the underlying level, you can intentionally switch it up to have quiet or intense connection when the time is right.
The Groovy and Spicy Solo Blues Routine: Dexter, Heidi
ALL LEVELS
Dexter and Heidi show you their favorite solo blues moves as choreographed to a blues song that will make the guys look groovy and the gals look spicy. You might not recognize yourself in the mirror after taking this class with all the new moves you've learned. Dexter's routine for the guys and Heidi's routine for the gals are different and everyone is welcome to choose whichever routine they want to learn. There will be a showdown/performance at the end of this class. This all-levels class is challenging as it is fun.
Guided Practica: Nicole, Paul
ALL LEVELS
Practice makes perfect! Nicole and Paul are constantly practicing and working hard to improve their dancing, and wanted to share some of that with you. They will be rotating through helping everybody in the room, and everybody will get individual attention. We strongly recommend you come to the practica with a very specific problem or skill you want to work on. If you're looking for a more general diagnosis+feedback session, Nicole and Paul have four private lesson slots available, or you can take a private with one of our other fabulous instructors. Participation in this special class is only $10.00. REGISTER HERE