Our workshop schedule is currently still being formed as we work with our instructors and a few surprise guests. Check back soon or keep an eye on our social media for more updates.
2027’s Theme: Blues Still Travelin’
Last year we took a look at the history and community around the blues umbrella. This year we will be taking a step forward to see how that history has reached modern blues dance across the country and where it may be heading. How has blues dance and music spread and bounced across the country and how is that change continuing?
Workshops take place Saturday and Sunday.
To promote the best learning environment, we ask that you arrive on time to workshops. Latecomers will not be admitted into a workshop any later than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time but can join an ongoing lecture.
Give yourself a few extra minutes to get to classes so that you don’t miss a minute of sweet, juicy knowledge!
If you still need to show proof of COVID negativity, give yourself 20 extra minutes to test here!
As with past years, workshops will be grouped into three categories: Foundations, Technique and Styles, and Make it Sing! You are not restricted to any one theme, and can take any class from each and any theme as you please, which gives you the freedom to work on what you need based on your abilities and interests. All workshops are in a single building, Carnegie Mellon’s University Center.
We believe in fostering a classes for everyone, newer and experienced dancers. In an effort to support both, we have set the following guidelines for ourselves this year, and as a reference for our attendees:
- If you end a class with a thumb at 45° upwards, Perfect! That’s where we want most people to land; with a comfortable knowledge of what they want to do and how to continue forwards, but challenged enough where they will need to continue using that knowledge to refine and improve on what they’ve learned.
- We aim to clearly communicate within the workshop schedule any knowledge prerequisites for a class beyond the fundamental posture and pulse (see our “Blues Fundamentals Intro Lesson” before the evening dance if you want to ensure you know those).
- We aim to clearly communicate what skill levels our instructors will cater to. Unless stated otherwise, our “Foundations” classes will cater more towards the newer and average skill levels within the class, though staying on topic. Our “Technique and Styles” and “Make it Sing!” classes will cater towards more advanced dancers.
- We aim to ensure there are both advanced and new-dancer friendly classes in each timeslot.
- Lastly, aside from classes that state explicit prerequisites, we encourage everyone to try classes they are interested in regardless of perceived skill level. For example, a dancer new to the blues scene may find a talent for musicality in a “Make it Sing!” class, while almost any advanced dancer knows the importance of refining and getting new perspective on their foundations.
| Foundations | Technique and Styles | Make It Sing! |
| Focusing on the core aspects of Blues dance, these classes are for those with a year or less of Blues experience, as well as for more experienced dancers looking to revisit and refine their understanding of essential Blues technique. | These classes are intended for intermediate and advanced dancers with experience in Blues, and focus on building vocabulary and refining skills. This track features classes on the physical aspects of technique and partnership, as well as classes about some of the sub-styles of Blues dance that stem from the diversity of Blues music. | These classes are intended for intermediate and advanced dancers with experience in Blues. These classes are about putting cherries on top of your dance with musicality, play, dynamic partnership, and competition concepts. |
| 1-Day Workshop Pass | Single Workshop or Lecture | Blues Clinic |
|---|---|---|
| $60 | $20 | $10 |