This week at Blues Union

Thursday, June 5

This month we have Julie Brown and Dan Legenthal showing us ways to create equal partnerships in our dancing:

Lead-Follow Conversation (7:30-8:30)
This series will cover topics such as leaders creating space for your follower, followers understanding what is being lead and what can be embellished or styled-up, partner listening for both leaders and followers, and how to have great dances with anyone! The first week will focus on the following questions: What aspects are you leading & which are you leaving open for your follower? What is your leader leading & what can you style or embellish?

Blues Basics + Beginner Clinic (8:30-9:30)
This weekly drop-in class is designed for new-to-blues dancers or anyone wanting to focus on the fundamentals. It will provide enough moves to have fun on the dance floor, as well the opportunity to hone and polish the core techniques behind the dance. Each week, we’ll cover something new, so you can come every week, or just drop in for a class or few. This class includes the beginner clinic, where you can work on your dancing one-on-one with instructors and advanced dancers. This month it will be taught by Julie Brown and Paul Loschak.

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

Thursday, May 29

We’ve wrapped up our musical May sampler, so it’s Clinic time:

Blues Clinic (7:30-9:30)
The Blues Clinic is an opportunity to work one-on-one with our Blues Union instructors and to work with your friends and peers. Music plays in the background as people work together, and the instructors move around the room, working with people one-on-one or in couples. When not working with instructors, people work with peers, dance with each other, try new things they’re working on, or try things the instructors have helped them with. You can work on material from that month’s series class, workshops you took recently, or anything you like! From 8:30-9:00, we have our Blues Basics class as usual, while the clinic continues in the rest of the room.

Jonathan Pechon and Mike Legenthal will be behind the DJ booth to put you in a Blues mood.

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

Thursday, May 22

It’s time for our special guest instructor! Anna Washenko of NYC will be pairing with our own Dan Legenthal to bring you:

Call and Response (7:30-8:30)
One of the hallmarks of blues and jazz music is the principle of call and response. It’s also a great tool for creating expressive, conversational blues and jazz dances. We’ll look at how to incorporate call and response into your partner dancing across different styles of music and different modes of connection.

Blues Basics + Beginner Clinic (8:30-9:30)
This weekly drop-in class is designed for new-to-blues dancers or anyone wanting to focus on the fundamentals. It will provide enough moves to have fun on the dance floor, as well the opportunity to hone and polish the core techniques behind the dance. Each week, we’ll cover something new, so you can come every week, or just drop in for a class or few. This class includes the beginner clinic, where you can work on your dancing one-on-one with instructors and advanced dancers. This month it will be taught by Jan Marie and Rob Donnelly.

Anna Washenko and Steve York will be behind the DJ booth to help you get your Blues groove on.

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

Thursday, May 15

This week we have Dan Legenthal breaking down how we can use our dancing to interact with the music:

Dance Like a Musician (7:30-8:30)
This class teaches you to make the music your 3rd partner. During this class you will build skills that allow you to predict the music and create with the musicians, instead of dancing reactively. Dan will lead you through specific textures, rhythms, footwork, and even borrow from tap dance to make you a part of the band.

Blues Basics + Beginner Clinic (8:30-9:30)
This weekly drop-in class is designed for new-to-blues dancers or anyone wanting to focus on the fundamentals. It will provide enough moves to have fun on the dance floor, as well the opportunity to hone and polish the core techniques behind the dance. Each week, we’ll cover something new, so you can come every week, or just drop in for a class or few. This class includes the beginner clinic, where you can work on your dancing one-on-one with instructors and advanced dancers. This month it will be taught by Jan Marie and Rob Donnelly.

Julie Brown and Sarah Elise will be behind the DJ booth to scratch your Blues itch.

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

Thursday, May 8

This week Jenn Martinez will be bringing out the emotions behind the music:

In a Blues Mood (7:30-8:30)
The range of emotions in Blues music is as diverse as the styles themselves. In this class we’ll examine some classic moods driving the music, and explore how they can influence the way we dance to them.

Blues Basics + Beginner Clinic (8:30-9:30)
This weekly drop-in class is designed for new-to-blues dancers or anyone wanting to focus on the fundamentals. It will provide enough moves to have fun on the dance floor, as well the opportunity to hone and polish the core techniques behind the dance. Each week, we’ll cover something new, so you can come every week, or just drop in for a class or few. This class includes the beginner clinic, where you can work on your dancing one-on-one with instructors and advanced dancers. This month it will be taught by Jan Marie and Rob Donnelly.

Amy Kucharik 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.