We’ll be inspired by the style of dancing made popular in the jook joints in the American south and in the rent parties and saloons in the big cities where Black dances developed and thrived. In this class, we’ll explore how to dance to slow Blues (and even Jazz) music by covering a few Blues dances such as the Slow Drag and the Grind. We’ll also learn how we can adjust our movements to fit into the Blues aesthetic, how to allow improvisation, and how we can enjoy a simpler but deeper and connected dance.

Starting with strong foundations, emphasizing partnership mechanics, and communication. We’ll make our personal expression rooted in the Groove and Aesthetic of Blues Dances. Connecting the body, the music, and the partner.

​

“I have an idea” – not yet. “I have an idea” – not yet. “I have an idea” - YES! Let’s focus on how we respond to an idea. We often explore creativity through repetition and reaction. What if we focus less on changing how we dance, and focus more on how we react.

​

Step into the sweat-soaked roots of the jook joint with a dance where you'll get low down and funky. In this class, you’ll explore the hip-driven, grounded movement of the Funky Butt dance. Get ready to focus on individual expression, and call-and-response — and create variations that will allow you to develop your own groove in the form.

​

An Artist Statement is an expression of the “what” and “why” in their work. We will cover how to have an Artist Statement in your Social Dance, or Competition, and how to share it with your partner to have a successful conversation or winning spotlight in a competition.

Step back into the crowded dance halls of New Orleans — thick with sweat, rhythm, and bodies moving together. This was the birthplace of the Funky Butt. We’ll spend part of the class exploring dancing the Funky Butt to the musical style it was originally danced to, and the other half of the class exploring a broader range of music for this dance. We’ll dive deeper into polyrhythms, polycentrism, asymmetry, creating more layers and movement possibilities for this dance.

Practica-style format, finding creative expression in our partnerships. Exploring Call and Response and creating a ‘Box to think outside of” – this opens the door to playful improvisation and experimentation.

Explore the dynamic range of your solo Blues movement! This class dives into what movement looks like and what it feels like—contrasting sharp angles, tone, and intensity with curves, softness, and flow. We’ll experiment with changing the quality of movement using various Blues dances and discover how shifting where you direct your energy can transform and add depth your dancing.

​

This class focuses on a Memphis blues dance popular from the 40's through the early 60's. It is one of the more rare traveling juke joint style dances and is great for being able to dance at both medium to very fast tempos without breaking a sweat. We'll cover the fundamentals and get into some of the lesser known but incredibly fun footwork patterns and improvisations.

​

Get the body mechanics for a good comfortable close embrace in our groovy jams. When that R&B song comes on, you’ll know why Close Embrace has always been a comfort dance position.

Now that you know your Struttin’ basics and are comfortable dancing to this style of Blues, we’ll delve more into this dance by exploring alternate connections, more floor movement ideas, and more fun stylings. Additionally, we’ll cover how to manage the repetitive nature of the dance through musicality and where to relax in your body.

​

Traveling close embrace detail intensive. Using body alignment, forward intention, and hip swing in a box shape and then moving across the floor with expressions along the way. Get connected and glide.

Self Natural Posture Excercise for Dancers w/SNPE Level 1 Instructor, Yanny

This is a focused training class for dancers ready to step into the competition spotlight! Dive into how blues contests are judged—from musicality and partnership to creativity and performance quality—while sharpening your ability to truly dance to the Blues idiom. Learn how to showcase your partnership, movement quality, and Blues aesthetics under pressure in competitions. Whether you’re a newcomer or an experienced dancer, this class will challenge you to innovate, inspire, and compete as your most authentic self.

The Conversation between the DJ & the Dancer (how the DJ & Dancer can inspire each other).