Blues Union Boston » News

A Class Change is Gonna Come

jmartinez — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:26:09 +0000

In our continuing efforts to improve our dancers and our scene, Blues Union is going to embark on an exciting new class change! Please check out our Upcoming Classes page for all the details.

Thursday, May 17

jmartinez — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:44:39 +0000

We’ve got more awesomeness from guest instructors Mike Legett and Dan Rosenthal:

These are a Few of Our Favorite Things (7:30-8:30)
Two Parts Moves, One Part Musicality, and a Dash of Technique, the Perfect Recipe for Blues. Using a few cool moves as a means of addressing important technique topics, we’ll explore ways to be musical both by acknowledging specific moments (small picture) and throughout a song (big picture) making you fun to dance with from start to finish. Topics may include close embrace or Drag Blues-inspired moves, stretchy-zoomy movement, phrasing, and creativity.

Beginner Crash Course (8:30-9:00)
This will be a weekly feature designed to introduce novices to Blues dancing. It will provide enough vocabulary to have fun on the dance floor. Plus, when students feel comfortable with this material, they’ll be ready for the Series classes.

Julie Brown will be behind the DJ booth to take care of all your Blues needs.

As always, the lesson is $5 and the dance is an additional $5.

Thursday, May 10

jmartinez — Mon, 07 May 2012 03:01:13 +0000

Come join us for more things that make guest instructors Mike Legett and Dan Rosenthal awesome:

Dan Rosenthal and Tim Lewandowski will be behind the DJ booth, ready to whet your Blues appetite.

As always, the lesson is $5 and the dance is an additional $5.

Thursday, May 3

jmartinez — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:11:39 +0000

This month we’re proud to bring in guest instructors: Mike Legett and Dan Rosenthal of Cincinnati!

Mike (the Girl) Legett began dancing in 2001, and has since become one of the most respected dancers and instructors in the swing world. She teaches and performs all over the US, and is one of the few full-time lindy and blues instructors in the country. She loves the freedom of expression of the dances, and works to bring the history of the dance together with innovative creativity. She aims to help leaders create artistic compositions that are clearly led; she wants follows to have the ability to be the completely literal follow, and the inspiration and freedom to be imaginative and dynamic contributors.

Dan Rosenthal is a dynamo of energy, attempting to do all the things, all the time. He strives to excel at all forms of solo and partnered vernacular Jazz dance, from Lindy Hop to Blues, even dabbling in West Coast Swing. Dan loves being the center of attention, whether he’s performing, competing, or just being a goon. His recent wins include 1st Place in the Blues Strictly at Hawkeye Swing Festival, 1st Place in the Slow Groove Competition at Heartland Swing Festival 2012, Collegiate Jitterbug Champion at Heartland Swing Festival 2012, and 2nd Place at the BamBLOOZled 2012 Open Jack & Jill. In addition, Dan has taught at events like Steel City Blues Festival 2012, Dayton Swing Smackdown 2012, and Nevermore Jazz Ball 2012. As much as he loves the stage, Dan’s foremost goal is to be the best social dancer and teacher he can be. As a teacher he focuses on strengthening connection and aesthetic, helping dancers feel as good to dance with as they look.

Devona Cartier and Amy Kucharik will be behind the DJ booth, serving up some damn fine Blues.

As always, the lesson is $5 and the dance is an additional $5.

Thursday, April 26

jmartinez — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 03:36:40 +0000

It’s time once again for our monthly Clinic!

Blues Clinic (7:30-9)
During Blues Clinics we gather as many instructors as we can for personalized instruction. Students dance with instructors and get individual feedback on their dancing. Music plays continuously in the background, and students are encouraged to social dance and give each other feedback while not dancing with instructors.

Amy Kucharik and Steve York will be behind the DJ booth, ready to meet your Blues needs.

As always, the Clinic is $5 and the dance an additional $5.

Thursday, April 19

jmartinez — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 04:40:56 +0000

Come join us for the last week of Joshua Boroff and Devona Cartier bringing us one of the major styles of Blues dance:

Jookin’ (7:30-8:30)
The music is hot. Rhythmic. Guitars and harmonicas are flyin’. What are you gonna do? Get close? Show off? Dig down. Shake it. How do you dance to the music of the Jook Joint, the rent party? Memphis? Beale Street? Chicago? Well, Mooche, Grind, Shake and Bake, Fishtail, and the like. That’s it, move those hips.

Amy Kucharik and Kelsey Ballance will be behind the DJ booth to keep you dancing all night.

As always, the lesson is $5 and the dance is an additional $5.

Thursday, April 12

jmartinez — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:36:36 +0000

Come join us as Joshua Boroff and Devona Cartier bring us one of the major styles of Blues dance:

Julie Brown and Steve York will be behind the DJ booth to satisfy your Blues cravings.

As always, the lesson is $5 and the dance is an additional $5.

Thursday, April 5

jmartinez — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:29:53 +0000

It’s a new month, so it’s time for a new series. This time we have Joshua Boroff and Devona Cartier bringing us one of the major styles of Blues dance:

DJ info coming shortly.

As always, the lesson is $5 and the dance is an additional $5.

Thursday, March 29

jmartinez — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 02:27:09 +0000

It’s time once again for our monthly Clinic and some live music!

For your entertainment, we are delighted to bring back Greg Klyma. He absolutely rocked the house down last time, so you don’t want to miss this! More info on Greg and his music can be found at www.klyma.com. Plus, Amy Kucharik will be DJing the band breaks.

Since we have a band playing, we’ll be going till midnight.

As always, the Clinic is $5, and as with live music nights, the dance will be $10.

Thursday, March 22

jmartinez — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:24:15 +0000

This week we have a special guest instructor!

Kara Fabina, dancer, choreographer, & instructor, spends much of her life in cars, hotels, and strangers’ houses in an undying attempt to spread dance to infinity and beyond. After winning the coveted rising star award at lindy focus, Kara was crushed to find out it wasn’t part of a space program for the arts. Putting her disappointment behind her, she has gone on to teach lindy and blues throughout the country. She competes regularly, placing in events such as Hot Mess, Steel City Blues, Blues Shout, Lindy Focus, and even out dancing a pink flamingo in Baltimore. She enjoys choreographing, and her pieces can be seen in two of the following three places: Enter the Blues, BamBloozled, and the off off Broadway smash hit “Where’s Waldo.” In between lindy events she relaxes by break dancing, knife throwing, cutting and dying her hair, puddle jumping, and giving away free hugs. She currently pays rent in Baltimore.

Time to Funk it Up! (7:30-8:30)
Locking is a funk style of dance that is closely associated with hip hop. Each style of dance has a feeling, or groove, that encompasses the movement. In this class we will go over some of the foundations that are the building blocks of locking. We will combine the techniques of loose hips and leg movements with distinct and precise arm movements. We will also touch on transitions to create context of movement with a short sequence. In short, this is a great way to find your dance groove!

Julie Brown and Devona Cartier will be behind the DJ booth to meet all your Blues needs.

As always, the lesson is $5 and the dance is an additional $5.