DA BLUES - Saturday Class Topics

Juke Joint Dances

When we talk about the juke joint, what we consider basic blues moves today originally started as major dances, like the Mooche, Grind, and Fishtail. We'll re-explore these moves and more as fully realized dances and see how that can change our approach to the dance.

Funky Butt Basics and Tricks

Sometimes described as "a chicken stuck in the mud", the Funky Butt has been one of the few blues idioms to survive across different genres of music and is usually what blues artists and future black musicians would refer to as "shaking a tail feather". We work on the basics and then explore where we can use this dance in modern blues music.

Jukin Slow Drag

When couples usually think about the blues partner dance or utilizing close embrace, slow drag is usually the first dance that comes to mind. We'll break down what makes this different from other slow drags that were done across the United States and why understanding this dance will unlock so many other blues dances.

How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going? Talk Topic

The fact that you're dancing to swing and blues dances, decades from their original popularity and communities deserves some retrospection and in doing so, holds the key to understanding issues the scene faces and how to move forward together as a community. 

DA Blues - Sunday Class Topics

 Shuffle Groves

There are so many different types of blues shuffles and grooves across the family of dances that being prepared for them all can be daunting. We'll aim to play and explore as many as we can, giving examples of different steps and tactics to help you hear and dance to them in really fun and engaging ways.

Texas Shuffle Tips and Tricks

We'll give you a refresher on this fun, slotted footwork dance and build on the basics. Then we'll dive into different ways you can move your feet in this style, how to incorporate weight sharing with your partner, and sliding and sweeping in the dance.

Piedmont / Country Blues Basics

Across the US are a series of country blues dances, like Mississippi Hill Country or Piedmont Triple, that share common traits with one another. We'll go over what these dances have in common and where they differ so you can adapt accordingly on the dance floor and expand your country toolkit.

Chicago Triple Tips and Tricks

This fun and small dance style from Chicago blues bars, utilizes triple step forms you may already be familiar with, rooted in Chicago blues piano and barrelhouse blues / jazz tradition. We'll break down the difference between this step and other triple step dances and how to create really cool footwork variations in this dance style.