Dusty 45's rockin' at the Blue Sage, January 12th 2014

The Dusty 45's are coming to Paonia, and they're too fun to miss!

Get your tickets now for our favorite Seattle band, swinging through Paonia on Sunday, January 12th
from 5 - 8 pm at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia, Colorado!

Our Seattle dance friends are asking me how we lucked out, when they can barely catch this band in Seattle!  The guys are catching on all over the country, for their genuine talent, swagger and showmanship.  They play Rockabilly, Swing and Jump Blues, and put on a show you'll remember.
Dance 'till you drop, any way you like.  And
it's a birthday party, too!  For anybody born in January, we'll be offering birthday cake (bring one, if you can, if it's your birthday, too!)
4 - 5 pm: birthday party, celebrating all of us born in January!  If this is you, arrange to     bring a cake.

5 pm: starting with an acoustic "Meet and Greet" - your chance to get to know the band

6 - 8 pm:  dance! 

Beverage sales (beer, wine, soda pop) will benefit the Blue Sage.

$15 tickets available now at Paonia Farm + Home,  directly from us, at the door on the day of the show, and online at Brown Paper Tickets 

Check out this recording of the band, and lower on this blog, a video of the band performing:
Little Shack by the Dusty 45's        Jubilation!

Open Partner Dancing KVNF during January 2014

Open Partner Dancing at KVNF's Community Room!

During January, we'll take a break from offering dance lessons and 

host an open dance "practice" at our local community radio station's community room.

Free, and we ask that dancers make a contribution of any size to KVNF.

Wednesdays January 8, 15, 22 and 29

6:30 - 8 pm

Bring dance shoes, a water bottle, and some music you like to dance to, if you like

Swing, Salsa, Blues, Waltz...

New Year's Eve at the Paradise!

Dance to benefit the Paradise Theater! Celebrate New Year's Eve early at this progressive party. Fabulous DJ's Skip and Patty, and refreshments for sale. Dress to impress or come as you are. 7 - 10 pm.  Co-sponsored by the Blue Sage + Delicious Dance.  Requested donation: $7 for our beloved theater.

New dance classes Wednesday nights at the  Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia!

December 4th, 11th, and 18th 

Salsa   6 - 7 pm   New time!

Combine slick new moves with the fundamentals  ¡ Muy divertido !

Waltz   

7 - 8 pm  First class free!

We want you to join us for this wonderful romantic dance SO MUCH that we're giving you this week's class

(Dec. 4th) for free!  We'll learn the basics plus flourishes, dips, and Waltz Rueda for the Christmas dance. 

$7 for each class with a 3 week punchcard (or previous punch card), 

 or $9 drop in.  

special thanks to our friend Theo Stroomer for this wonderful photo!

Winter Dance Parties at the Blue Sage, Paonia !

2 dance parties, coming right up!

First it's Saturday night, December 14th

for the 3rd annual

Delicious Christmas Dance!

 Starts at 6:30 with a short, sweet Swing dance lesson, 

followed by 2 hours of the best holiday dance music - 

Swing, Salsa, Waltz, Two Step and surprises!
Dj'd by us - bring a few of your favorite top notch dance tunes to share, if you like. 

Followed by 2 hours of Blues, from 9 - 11 pm!

$7 donation requested for the Blue Sage, pay what you can - everyone is welcome.  Bring friends, and a goodie to share!

 
Next it's our favorite Seattle band, the 

Dusty 45's  playing Rockabilly, Jump Blues and Swing - 

and it's also a birthday party for all January babies!

$15 buys you a night to remember, Sunday January 12, from 5 - 8 pm.  Tickets on sale now at the Blue Sage, Paonia Farm + Home, Brown Paper Tickets and direct from us.

The Dusty 45's rockin' Paonia Sunday January 12th - tickets on sale now!

Our favorite Seattle band will be playing right here in Paonia!
Get your tickets early; we might just sell out the Blue Sage.  $15 per person
Available at The Blue Sage, Paonia Home + Farm, directly through Mark and I,
and online at Brown Paper Tickets
Dusty 45's from Brown Paper Tickets



It's going to be fabulous.  Come out and dance!

November Dance Classes at the Blue Sage

November Dance classes Wednesday at the Blue Sage in Paonia, CO:

Salsa 6:30 - 7:30  moving to latin music (muévete!), practicing steps and learning new moves - Note start time is 6:30. (P.S. I'm still working on the video demo from last week - hope to post it soon)

Swing-into- Lindy Hop 7:30 - 8:30  All ages welcome! Learn and practice moves taught at Lindy Diversion:  free spins, tuck turn variations, and more!  Combine your Swing moves with Lindy classics for smooth transitions and lots of juicy style.  If you're new to Lindy Hop, we'll split the class in two, so everyone can work at their level. 

Cost:  $7 per class with punchcard, $9 drop in

Dates:  November 6, 13, 20  (no class the night before Thanksgiving!)

 Save the dates!  Christmas + then the Dusty 45's!  

* 3rd Annual Delicious Christmas Dance!  December 14th following the Gingerbread Festival. 7 - 10 pm, $7 donation requested.  Bring friends and goodies to share, dress festive if you wish, and share the joy!

* January 12th, Sunday 4 - 8 pm  Blue Sage hall

The Dusty 45's !  will rock-a-billy your socks off.  Celebrate one of Seattle's finest bands, right here in Paonia!  Mark and I will sell the tickets directly + also through  Brown Paper Tickets.  $15 gets you an evening of music and dancing you'll never forget, plus birthday cake!  Yes, Mark and I are both celebrating another birthday (50 something...), and you can, too!  Let's celebrate all you January babies.  More details soon.  xox Margot

Gunnison Lindy Hop Playshop!

Join us in Gunnison for an extremely fun introduction to Lindy Hop, the original Swing dance!

October dance classes at the Blue Sage 

Starting Wednesday October 2nd, Mark and I are offering the following classes here in Paonia.  Class levels are aimed at dancers with some partner-dance experience.  If you're a beginner or know someone who is, we're happy to give private lessons, or arrange a weekend Playshop to teach the basics, and allow new dancers to get up to speed and join our classes. 

And on Friday evening, October 18th, we'll be teaching a beginning Lindy Hop Playshop in Gunnison - details at the bottom of this message.

Hope to see you on the dance floor!  xox Margot 

PS The Curtis Club dance originally scheduled for this coming Friday has been postponed until November 1st. Many people are pretty worn out from

our big blowout Mountain Harvest Festival weekend, and I know that we are. 

Come to KVNF's Tiki party this Saturday and dance for a great cause!

Salsa 1.5 Building on your basic salsa skills  6 - 7:30 pm

$10 per class w punchcard, $12 drop in (1.5 hour class)

Swing into Lindy:  Building on your 6-count Swing dance skills for most of class (45 minutes), then adding in Lindy Hop for maximum fun and connection    7:30 - 8:30

$7 per class w punchcard, $9 drop in 

Dates:  October 2, 9, 16, 30

Lindy Hop Playshop - learn the original Swing Dance! 

Location:  Gunnison

Date:  Friday October 18th, 6 - 9 pm

If you've seen dancers doing Lindy Hop, you've probably said,

 "Cool!  I want to do that!".  Here's your chance.  Mark and Margot of Delicious Dance take what they learned as members of the Savoy Swing Troupe in Seattle, and distill it into lessons that are fun, friendly, and accessible to everyone.  After this Playshop, you'll know the fundamentals of Lindy Hop - you might even catch the fever that has made this dance wildly popular all over the world.  

Imagine the fun.

Instructors Mark Willson and Margot Richardson are members of the Seattle-based Savoy Swing Troupe, have been teaching social dance in Paonia for 2 years, and love to engage with dancers of all ability levels. 

Lindy Playshop  3 hours , 6 - 9 pm

$21 one person / $40 per couple 

Lindy Hop fundamentals:  8 count Lindy:  Swing Out, Lindy Circle, combining 6 count swing, Charleston basics   

Hola Delicious Dancers!

Remember:  Wednesday nights starting next week - new Swing and Salsa Sampler, 6:30 - 7:30, and Lindy Refresher 7:30 - 8:30. We can't wait!

At the Blue Sage Center for the Arts, on Grand Avenue in Paonia - you can't miss it!

Imagine the fun !

We're excited to return to the Blue Sage in "downtown" Paonia this fall,

offering fun, friendly and dynamic dance classes!  Hope you can join us - imagine the fun!

September dance classes!  

Wednesday evenings at the Blue Sage, Paonia

No partner needed * Leads highly encouraged to come! * Bring non-marking shoes and a water bottle

Sampler class   6:30 - 7:30 pm

4 weeks of intro to Swing and Salsa

Have you always wanted to learn these fun dances?  Dreaming of jumping on the dance floor at the next wedding or social dance with confidence and a big smile on your face (as well as your partner's?) Join us, in an atmosphere of friendliness and ease. We'll teach you the fun-damentals

of Swing and Salsa, and give you the flavor of each dance.  Invite your friends and neighbors to get in on the fun!

Experienced dancers can choose to take the class, switching to learn the "other" role (Lead or Follow), 

or join the class for free to help beginners learn faster.

$7 per class with 4 class punch card ($28), or $9 drop in

Refresher Swing and LIndy Hop: 7:30 - 8:30 pm

 4 weeks of Swing and Lindy Hop fundamentals 

+ vernacular jazz moves, for extra flavor.  

Feeling a bit rusty with your 6 and 8 count dance moves?  Wanting to switch roles?  Ready to elevate your Lindy Hop to the next level?

Join us for fun, exercise, and Lindy Hop, the most enlivening dance we know!

Dates:  September 4,11, 18, 25

Delicious Dance + Western Slope Swing and Social Dance Calendar

This is our new dance calendar!  It should show events added as we go along.  There's also a "Widget" in the sidebar now; you can click on this to go straight to this dance calendar, featuring events in the North Fork Valley, the Western Slope of Colorado, and beyond.   Please send us your events and share the fun of social dance with everyone! 

Cherry Days and Delicious Dancers!

Thanks everybody who came out to dance and play with us at Cherry Days!
The brilliant all-volunteer organizing team provided many opportunities to dance to live music, indoors and out in the park!  Here are a few pictures to enjoy.
Stay tuned for a Fun-D-raising Dance at the Blue Sage Sunday, July 28th - hope to be dancing with you soon!  Happy July, Margot and Mark

Dancers in the park - new to swing, and some "ringers", too!

Thanks, friends, for adding your zest and skills to the lesson.

A classic Lindy Hop pose - so much fun!

Love this classic Cherry dress from ModCloth.  It definitely requires

shorts, underneath that full-fling-swing skirt! 

Waltz + Foxtrot Playshop + Curtis Club with Delicious Dance DJ's!

Hi there, Delicious Dancers!  Here's the scoop for this coming Saturday -  a Playshop and a wonderful Saturday night dance!  Hope to see you there. We'll return in June with lots of ideas for local dancing.  

Affectionately, Mark and Margot 

Waltz Playshop this coming Saturday, May 18 3:30 - 5:30 pm at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts on Grand, in Paonia!

Whether you're brand new to these dances or ready to embellish your basics, we'll have you feeling confident to put a smile on your dance partner's face.

(seriously, just look at this picture from our May 4th Playshop!). 
Have you ever longed to whirl gracefully around the floor at a reception?

Build and extend your skills while having fun, at our Dance Playshops!
Mark and I will teach the fundamentals of Waltz and Foxtrot: musicality, flourishes and dips.

At the Blue Sage   Playshop = $16 per person / $30 per couple
* or use your Delicious Dance punchcard if you have one
Come with or without a partner, but let us know if you're coming on your own so we can do our best to create an even balance of Leads and Follows.

Saturday May 18th 3:30 - 5:30

Delicious Dance is hosting the Curtis Club dance this coming 

Saturday at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia! 
May 18th, 7 - 10 pm
Featuring DJ'd music in Swing, Salsa, Blues, Rock + Roll, and Waltz! Bring a few of your favorite dance tunes to share, if you like.
All ages + abilities
Free admission,
with donation of $5 per person welcomed, to support the wonderful offerings the Blue Sage brings us.
Bring non-scuffing shoes, a water bottle if possible, and
snack food to share if you like.
See you there!     Mark and Margot

Wedding Waltz and Foxtrot Playshops in May!

At the Blue Sage Center in Paonia, Colorado

For everyone who'd like to bring more joy as a gift to your next wedding or
formal event.

Have you ever longed to whirl gracefully around the floor at a reception?
Or maybe you're getting married soon?
Build and extend your skills while having fun, at our Dance Playshops!

Wedding Waltz and Foxtrot will teach the basics of each dance, musicality, flourishes and dips. Whether you're brand new to these dances or ready to embellish your basics, we'll have you feeling confident to put a smile on your dance partner's face.

At the Blue Sage - attend one Playshop = $16 or both = $30*
* use your Delicious Dance punchcard if you have one
Come with or without a partner, but let us know if you're coming on your own so we can do our best to create an even balance of Leads and Follows.
Saturday May 4th 10 am - 12:00
Saturday May 18th 3:30 - 5:30

March Swing and Tango ! Jump in !

All dancing, to me, is a pure joy, a pathway to releasing the best in ourselves and each other.

Spring is on it's way, and it's time for Mark and I to get outside, play, and get our new garden growing.  Bet you've got the same idea!  So we're taking a break from ongoing lessons for now.  We're available for private lessons, special events, and Playshops such as "Wedding Dance 101".  You can reach us at 206 913-3962.  

        Happy dancing!  Margot and Mark 

Social Dancing Opportunities:   Six feet Under playing at the West Elk Inn, March 2nd at 9:00,

right in downtown Hotchkiss!   Country Western  / Swing, and 100% fun!

Blues dancing at the Blue Sage, 6:30 - 8 pm, free!  First Monday of each month - Monday February 4th!

Delicious friends,

    Lots of juicy dancing in February!

    Mark and I will continue Salsa 1.5 Thursday nights, 7 - 8 pm, and Sid Lewis will continue Tango Thursdays 8 -9 , at the Blue Sage in Poania.

 Salsa is drop-in, though we encourage you to come every week, and
Tango is a 3 class session.

February class dates are:  7, 21, and 28.

On Valentine's Day, join us at KVNF's Community Room, 7 - 9 pm, for a short and sweet, absolutely FREE, no-partner-needed variety dance!  Bring a few tunes to share, MP3 format.  Sweetness!

And the Beatles are coming our way!  Our monthly social dance, Swingin' at the Sage, will combine with the Blue Sage for a totally fun evening of all your favorite Beatles songs!  

Dr. Roberts, a Beatles tribute band, will play for us on Saturday, February 23rd.

Tickets:  only $8 in advance, $10 day of show!

And you say, if only I knew how to dance all kinds of cool Swing moves,

I'd be ready to combine it with my free Rock ' n Roll dancing at this event!

Never fear, for early that day we offer you...

Swing 1.5 dance Playshop! 

 Known as "East Coast", or 6 count Swing, we'll give you some new moves and sassy combinations, 

so you are ready to roll!  

Saturday February 23rd, 1 - 3:30, $15 - or 2 punches on your 

Delicious Dance punchcard, such a deal!

Note:  if you're brand new to Swing, let us give you a starter lesson before the Playshop; contact me and we'll make it happen.

Last but not least, visit La Puerta in Grand Junction on Friday 15th, to check out the dance scene there.  These folks have a weekly social dance in a big old dance hall, - join us there and meet them!  Interested?  Let us know.

    Happy dancing!  xox Margot and Mark

Takes Two to Tango

Happy New 2013!
We made it, everybody - no apocalypse, just a new calendar.
Join us for Salsa, Swing, and Tango!
Starting January 10th, Thursday nights at the Blue Sage, in downtown Paonia,
we'll offer:
Salsa 1.5, for those with a bit of partner dance or salsa experience
Time:  7 - 8 pm
Cost:  $7 per class, with a 4 class punch card, or $9 drop in
no partner needed, lots of fun, get your Latin groove on!  Olé!
Shoes:  slidey shoes with no outside grit on them, please.  Cheap tennis shoes are
fine, or glue a piece of leather or suede onto the soles to make cheap dance shoes.

and
Tango!  Beginners series
Time:  8 - 9 pm
Cost:  4 weeks for $32 per dancer
Bring a partner, if possible, or come on your own and we'll work it out.

Women can play the Lead too, if they like; best to stick with your role (Lead or Follow) for the series.

Sid Lewis will be our guest teacher.
Shoes:  slidey shoes, as described above except LOW HEELS are best for this dance.
Watch this video and see how quickly you can set the dance floor on fire with
Argentine Tango!