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Registration is no longer possible and we have closed the waiting list.
Thanks for your interest!
Big City Blues offers partnered and solo tracks with 6 hours of workshops and 2 talks. You can add 1, 2 or 3 workshop(s) on top.
Partnered Track
In the partnered track you have 8 hours of input:
- 3 workshops of 1,5 hours partnered dance, organized within your level.
- 1 pick ‘n’ mix workshop of 1,5 hours. You choose an inspirer / topic, these workshops are open level.
- 2 talks of 1 hour.
In the partnered track we’ll focus on the earlier and more vernacular styles of social blues dancing and music. These styles mainly, but not exclusively, originated in two different types of dance venues: the juke joint and the ballroom or dance hall. We’ll work with both ends of the spectrum.
Musically we only work within the scope of black blues and Black American Music (BAM). The focus will be on expression, rhythm, partner communication, ‘blues’ philosophy and movement. Because your solo movement and the relationship to the music, culture and its history are the foundation of any dancing, the inspirers may spend a considerable time on this.
Within the partnered track, we offer workshops for 4 levels. Check here to see which level is a match for you.
If you want more input, you can add an optional workshops on Saturday and/or Sunday.
Solo Track
In the solo track you have 8 hours of input:
- 3 workshops of 1,5 hours solo dance, organized within your level.
- 1 pick ‘n’ mix workshop of 1,5 hours. You choose an inspirer / topic, these workshops are open level.
- 2 talks of 1 hour.
In the solo track we’ll offer a wide variety of social blues dancing input. You’ll be guided through different types of blues dancing that can be both raw and sensual forms of expression.
Just like the music can vary from slow jazz ballads to, texas shuffles, piedmont to uptempo funky chicago blues. The inspirers will make sure you feel relaxed and confident while exploring how to express yourself to blues music.
You will have workshops with two or three different top notch international inspirers: Els, Jamica (only groovers) and Sep. All with different approaches and topics. In your track you also have a Pick ‘n’ mix workshop that includes options for solo dancing with Kenneth, Jamica, Els, Sep and more TBA.
Within the solo track, we offer workshops for 2 levels. Check here to see which level is a match for you.
If you want more input, you can add an optional workshops on Saturday and/or Sunday.
Talks & Storytelling
Big City Blues believes that if we want to grow as dancers and community members, we can also grow in understanding the context, culture and black African American roots of blues music and dance.
Therefore we invite a professional team of artists that are capable of guiding you in this process. These people are of African American descent or are guests in the culture with a humble attitude, working towards cultural competence.
During these sessions we create a space for oral tradition and storytelling by Charlley, a black elder, and other African American and black folks to share their stories.
We organize these moments as part of your program at Big City Blues, not just as ‘an extra’.
Optional Workshops
For everybody who wants more input, or for solo dancers who want to take a partnered workshop and vice versa, we offer 5 optional workshops. Time-wise, you will be able to add 1, 2 or 3 workshops to your schedule. Register for these separately in your account.
We will release more information about the content of the workshops in the next weeks here. Optional workshops will only take place if there are sufficient people registered.