Thursday Evening
Beginner-friendly balboa (Thursday 8:30-9:15, Rooted Space – 1803 W Byron #201) – David Aghassi and Desiree Roffers
BEGINNERS WELCOME!
Welcome to the wonderful world of Bal-swing! In this 45-minute class, we’re going to take you on a journey through the basics of this fun and energetic dance style. Whether you’re a complete novice or just looking to brush up on your skills, this class is the perfect place to start. No experience necessary. No partner needed. Free and open to the community. Experienced dancers are encouraged to attend in order to refine fundamentals, meet new dancers, and try role switching.
Friday Evening
(Friday 7:30-8:30pm, Loft) – Steffanie AK Schilling and Javier Johnson
BEGINNERS WELCOME!
Whether you are an experienced dancer looking to try something new or have two left feet, this class will get you ready to dance the night away. Steffanie and Javier create a warm and inclusive class environment for all levels of dancers including absolute beginners. In this class, participants will learn basic balboa rhythm and connection to get you shuffling right from the start. No experience necessary. No partner needed. Experienced dancers are encouraged to attend in order to refine fundamentals, meet new dancers, and try role switching.
Inclusive Rhythms: Cultivating Safety and Inclusivity in Swing Dance Instruction (Friday 7:30-8:30pm, Studio 3) – Desiree Roffers and Harlie Lane
Do you teach balboa? Other swing dances? Do you aspire to teach dance? Do you want to help dance teachers including teachers at Great Lakes foster a safer and more welcoming dance community? This class is for you! Join us as we discuss how the dance scene can be a more inclusive, welcoming, and safe space for all.
Saturday Morning
Familiar Footwork, Rich Rhythms (Tap Dance) (Saturday 10:00am-11:05am, Studio 1) – Lauren Reed
Let’s find new ways to express those delightful rhythms in your head! We will explore musicality and agility with classic tap rudiments, rhythm games, music/dance history, and a short combo. There will be options for everyone from total beginner to high intermediate in this mixed level class.
***Tap shoes welcome if you got ‘em, but hard bottom shoes are just fine.
Diving Into Texas Shuffle (Blues) (Saturday 10:00am-11:05, Studio 2) – Kenneth Shipp
This fun shuffle dance, born out of Texas musicianship, and melded in Oakland, California is typically done in a slot like many black partner dances (Chicago Steppin, DC Hand Dance, etc). We’ll go over how this shuffle differs from the Balboa basic, how the elders would have moved from close embrace to playing in the slot, and compare this dance with other blues contemporaries like ballroom blues.
Movement Dynamics (Saturday 10:00am-11:05, Studio 3) – Dee Daniels Locke
This class recognizes that dance partnerships consist of two individuals, to discover your personal voice through a variety of movements and movement techniques. Let’s explore how dance dynamics can influence your aesthetic.
Balboa Flow and Momentum (Saturday 10:00am-11:05, Ballroom) – Jacob Wigger and Annabel Truesdell Quisao
Practice using and controlling momentum in your Bal Swing. A flowing partner dance can feel like an incredible ride, so jump on this one with us!
AfroGroove Beats: Zambian Dance Class (Saturday 10:00am-11:05, Loft) – Chisomo Selemani
So much of what we do as Swing dancers originates comes from Africa —being grounded in our movements, call and response, the use of circle structure, etc. So why not take a moment to spend some time learning about African style movement? Come move and learn in a new way! Join Chisomo Selemani and explore African and Afropop movement. During this class, we will take a tour of the continent; but settle our movements in neotraditional Zambian movement styles. We will dance to a variety of music, popular on the continent right now. Our exploration will also incorporate call and response singing and dancing. Come ready to sing, dance, learn, and have fun!
Saturday Afternoon
Pedagogy: Scaffolding and Modifying Content to Meet Student Needs (Saturday 1:30-2:30pm, Loft) – Dee Daniels Locke
You’ve written your objective, you’ve sequenced the movements that will support your objective achievement. How can you proactively set up scaffolding (difficulty layers) to support student learning? How can you modify on the fly to meet the level of understanding of the dancers in your class? What questioning and engagement strategies may help in understanding? Come join us to discuss how to make learning thoughtful, accessible, and meaningful.
Saturday Evening
Outs and Ins Fundamentals (Saturday 7:00-8:00pm, Loft) – Kelly Arsenault and Mickey Fortanasce
BEGINNERS WELCOME!
Learn one of the most fun, useful, and versatile bal-swing moves to get you dancing right away. Kelly and Mickey are some of the best balboa dancers in the world and will provide insight and technique for dancers of all levels, Experienced dancers are encouraged to attend in order to refine fundamentals, meet new dancers, and try role switching.
Sunday Morning
Balboa Music Mania (Sunday 10:00am-11:05, Studio 1) – Ann Sychterz, Brennan Bowman, Michael Quisao, Mimi Liu-Leyco, Shelby Johnson
Attend our panel discussion about playing music for Balboa dancers, with commonly asked questions at the beginning and time for your own questions at the end.
Balboa Presence in Spontaneity (Sunday 10:00am-11:05, Studio 2) – Chisomo Selemani and Annabel Truesdell Quisao
Express your unique voice while also embracing the unexpected! Together we will explore ways to thread the needle between individual presence and the necessary spontaneity that improvisational partnered dancing requires.
Balboa Follower Power Hour (Sunday 10:00am-11:05, Ballroom) – Jenn Lee, Kelly Arsenault, and Heather Ballew
Join us to highlight the role and voice of the follower in balboa. Hear from a spectrum of influential followers in the scene and learn drills and exercises to improve your connection and aesthetics.
Slow Balboa Taster (Sunday 10:00am-11:05, Studio 3) – Ruth Evelyn and Jacob Wigger
Step into the timeless elegance of Slow Balboa with this introductory taster class. Discover the art of graceful movement and connection as you learn the foundational steps and techniques that define this captivating partner dance. If you are not in the Slow Balboa track, but want to try it out, this class is for you! (Experienced Slow Balboa dancers are also welcome to come refine their basics or try role switching.)
Balboa Footwork and Finesse for Leaders (Sunday 10:00am-11:05, Loft) – Dominc Hanna, Mickey Fortenasce, and Javier Johnson
Refine your footwork technique and infuse your movement with individualized style and expression. This class offers an exciting opportunity for leaders to elevate their Balboa skills, leaving them with enhanced confidence and creativity on the dance floor.
Sunday Afternoon
Powerful Pedagogy: Empowering Adult Learners (Sunday 1:30-2:30pm, Loft) – Chisomo Selemani
Calling all current and aspiring dance teachers! Whether you teach balboa or another dance form, in this workshop, you will discover teaching techniques that empower your students to take ownership of their learning journey while fostering a sense of community within your classes. Through group discussions, hands-on activities, and real-life scenarios, you’ll practice implementing student-centered strategies that align with Perry’s Learning Stages. Participants will walk away with actionable ideas to immediately enhance their teaching approach.