BsB Deep Dives w/ Grey Armstrong (Fall 2024) [Oakland]

For Who: Intermediate and beyond, minimum of 2 years of social dancing experience in any dance style

Cost: $50-70 sliding scale pre-registered, $80 cash at the door. If cost is an issue, please reach out at info@bayshoreblues.com (No one turned away for lack of funds!)

Summary: Join us for a 4 hour dive deep into partnership dynamics, connection, and consent while exploring personal style and creativity. This Quarter's topics are:

- Blues Aesthetics Primer

- Level Up You Close Embrace

- Gotta Go Fast (But Keep It Cool)

- Finding Your Foundations within Contemporary Blues 

Check out the Facebook Event Page for more details and updates! 

Workshop does not include a social dance. Want to get some dancing in? Check out the bonus hang outs below.

Topic Descriptions 

Blues Aesthetics Primer 

Blues isn’t freestyling, so, what makes a dance blues? How do you know if you are doing it “right”? We will break down the anatomy of blues dances and their relationship to the music, combining to create a unique style. Whether you do other styles, simply want a refresher or, are new to the dance this class will give you the confidence to dance blues without needing to rely on movements and ideas from outside of it! 

Levelling up your Close embrace 

A good close embrace is like the best hug. But how to we take it to the next level? Learn to modify your close embrace for comfort and to personalise your experience with every new partner, developing dynamic partnerships in addition to cozy ones. Join us in exploring ways to take this basic skill to new and exciting heights.  

Gotta Go Fast (But Keep It Cool) 

Ever heard a fast song come on at a blues night and be lost as to what to do? Or, default to swinging out. So, How do you dance fast and still have the qualities we love in blues? We will explore a few musical stylisations of blues, give you tools to be grounded yet light on your feet, and most importantly, how to look cool dancing to faster blues without leaning on a single specific dance style.  

Finding your foundations in Contemporary Blues. 

Ever heard Japanese Blues? How about African blues? What about contemporary Blues from non blues artists from other areas of the Black musical landscape? Why *Does* blues by white artists feel different and why do some have soul?  Explore how to find and embody the foundations of blues dancing even as the music genre innovates.

About Grey Armstrong

Grey found blues dancing long ago when dancing with his grandfather as a child. At university he found others doing a dance similar to what he knew, and clung to the familiar music. Grey is internationally known for innovative classes, deep cultural context, and an intuitive learning style. Leaving students with a lingering feeling they have been changed beyond just dance. He loves to challenge students physically but also intellectually and emotionally, with his experience based teaching.

Check out his blog, Obsidian Tea, discussing Blackness and Blues. 

Bonus Hang Outs [Make a weekend of it!]:

Friday 9/13 (The day before)

     - Live Blues Music and Dancing at The Starry Plough in Berkeley. Cover $10, Drop-in partnered dance lesson with Grey Armstrong @7pm, free w/cover.

Saturday 9/14

     - Social hang outs at Cato's Ale House a few blocks from the workshop. Join us after class for food, drinks, and conversation (Vegan options also available).  No cover, no official dancing.

     - DJ's Social dancing at the Blue Light Lounge. All-levels lesson at 7pm, Dancing 8PM-Close, cover $15 in advance,  $20 at the door. 

Covid Precautions:

N95 or better mask required for duration of the class. We will not be checking vaccination record, but we highly encourage you have your booster shots. We also encourage you to take a test prior to showing up to class, but tests are not required as efficacy is not as high of a spread prevention method as masking up.