Class Descriptions

Some of the classes we teach. (copyright 2020-2023)

Class / EventDescription
BluesLife gives you the blues, so let the blues give you life! Dance to creative, emotional blues music – diverse emotions.
Dance solo / in pairs / in groups. Changing partners every song recommended, not required. Be you. Be real. Feel what you feel. Connect with all of yourself, and others. From “ballroomin’ blues” to dirty dancing (as you wish). Dancing in socks might be right. No outdoor shoes on the floor.
Breakin’ / BreakdancePhysical magic. Beginner and intermediate uprock, downrock, legwork and freezes. Rooted in hip hop history. (Wanted: intermediate/advanced teacher.)
Cha Cha“Voulez-vous couchez avec moi, ce soir?” “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” “Forget You” “RESPECT”. These are songs great for cha cha! “Havana”, “September”, “I Need to Know”, “Bailamos!”
Circle DanceParty folk dances from around the world. Folk dances can be performed in costume, but in this class we’re going informal – social – like at a wedding.
Contact ImprovA dance where both / all people are following. Following what? The moving point of balance; momentum. And impulse – anyone can inject moments of leading. Can be slow or fast, simple or athletic, like gentle collaborative tai chi or like acro yoga but with a moving base and roles continuously fluidly switching. Duos, trios, and more. A somatic practice; a movement meditation. No partner required.
Country Two-StepWalking 2.0. Walking variations. Turning into and out of cuddle/wrap, shadow, skaters, sweetheart, hand-in-hand, windmill & weave. Partnered dance; no partner required.
Creative Partnered WalkingTaking inspiration from dances where people travel with a partner around a room, but simplified, this class grows our ability to walk together playfully – perhaps just in class, or perhaps through a park, down the lane, at a parade, and around a track. Fun / beautiful music will play most of the time, with no requirement of moving to the music.
Creative WorkoutGrow skills and imagination as you grow fit. All welcome. A blend of precise technique, guided imagination, and free play. Fitness for living with finesse. Getting up from the floor, for example – who knew you could have so much fun just living your life? Creative cardio, optionally athletic dance.
Dance WorkoutA fitness class where you learn real dance technique:
Brazilian Samba, Ballroom, Latin, Swing, Salsa, Contemporary, Animal, Breakdance (basics) + Non-contact martial arts.
Ecstatic DanceFree-form dance. Let movements arise. Breathe, shake, feel what you feel, express what bubbles up. A chance to explore yourself thru dance in a supportive community.
We begin with a guided warmup growing connections within ourselves and between each other. Then surf a DJ’d wave, slowly building to a peak or two before gradually coming to an elevated relaxation. Some nights may include layers of live music.
No phones, no photos, no talking. An alcohol and drug-free zone. Barefoot recommended; accommodations welcome. Kids age 7+ welcome if they can follow our no-talking commitment. Running late? Feel free to come. For the best experience arrive ready to start at 8:30. Doors open at 8:15. The main entrance is at the back of the building, but for this event first-timers can choose to enter from Broadway if shoes come off before stepping inside.
Family CircusPhysical Play for Parents & Kids age 5+. Rediscover childhood. Rolling, spiraling, bouncing, playful dance variations of animal movement and character play – and singing / percussion games. Price is for 1 child and 1 or 2 adults. Additional children in same family half price.
Follow Your Bliss – Dance Night OutPractice official moves or experiment / play / explore dancing to a great variety of music. All welcome. Solo / partners / group. Change partners or stay with one. Tango, Waltz, Blues, Swing, Two-Step, Salsa, Cha Cha, Contact Improv, Freestyle, Contemporary, Club, Pop, Line Dance, and perhaps more. All welcome. 30 minute class then 1 hour open.
For Advanced Solo Dancers – Partner DancingPartner dancing – Freestyle / Salsa / Swing / Tango / Waltz – for trained contemporary / ballet / modern / jazz dancers
Freestyle Partner DancingBallroom not for you? Discover freestyle – no specified steps and no lead-follow roles. No need to learn rules of where or when to move. Attune to the present connection between you and your dance partner(s). Play skillfully. Adapt to any music. Partner not required!
Holiday BluesLife gives you the blues, so let the blues give you life! Dance to creative, emotional blues music – diverse emotions.
Dance solo / in pairs / in groups. Changing partners every song recommended, not required. Be you. Be real. Feel what you feel. Connect with all of yourself, and others. From “ballroomin’ blues” to dirty dancing (as you wish). Dancing in socks might be right. No outdoor shoes on the floor.
Latin Dance FitnessGrow skills while growing fit. Learn moves from Merengue, Samba Batucada, Salsa, Cha Cha. Not a partnered class.
Line DanceCountry / Latin / Soul / Vintage Jazz line dances – students’ choice
Romance DanceA gliding dance perfect for love songs – simple yet sophisticated – where the sky’s the limit. Versatile skills for all music. No partner required.
SalsaReal salsa – starting easy. Salsa can be over-simplified. We’ll start simple, but grow towards the richness of real salsa.
Salsa RuedaDancers are arranged like a wheel (“rueda”), passing partners and dancing moves called out by the teacher.
Social BallroomBallroom but better? All the artistry, none of the artifice. Learn skills for dancing to a variety of music. Tailored to you.
Square DanceSquare Dance will blow your mind. Whether you’re jonesin’ for geometry or just hungry for a hoedown, come warp your world.
SwingYou can’t dance swing without smiling. With a spring in your step, rhythm in your soul, snazzy syncopations, spontaneity and serendipity, it is the ultimate in play.
TangoArgentine Tango – the natural, authentic, emotional, social tango – and a bit of the ballroom version.
Valentine’s DanceRomantic Classics and Hot New Hits
WaltzIs it elegant or scandalous? You decide! (In the 1800s it caused outrage: too much fun!)
West Coast SwingA smooth, elastic, hand-to-hand dance that suits most music (most genres). Relaxed, fun, and stylish.
Athletic Dancing – FloorworkFloors – not just for feet! Fantastic falling (safe!), polyrhythms, recycling energy, harnessing gravity, falling up. Breakdance meets flow yoga, flying across the floor. Yin and yang.
Organic AthleticsLike partner gymnastics, but where “lifts” and “flips” happen organically (after careful training). Together you can do moves you never imagined doing alone. Training for spontaneity and serendipity.