Solid and Swanky Swing! Sunday April 28, 7 - 9 pm, at Sunset Hill Community Association Hall in Ballard

Solid and Swanky Swing!

Let’s dig in and have fun perfecting your swing moves, connecting solidly with your partner while feeling the music in your body. Join Mark and I on Sunday, April 28, 7 - 9 pm, for two hours of happiness, at a great price! Location: Sunset Hill Community Association Upper Hall in beautiful Ballard.

Registration right here:

https://nwdance.net/events/spring-workshops-517/

Pre-register: $30

Drop-in: $35

We’ll start with self expression: how are you hearing the beat? Then add well connected moves, focusing on transitions. And then there’s the swanky swerve and playfulness you and your partner can bring to each tune. This relaxed “playshop” will help you become a more confident, expressive, and happy swing dancer.

Oh yeah, and snacks… there WILL be snacks (outside on the deck - no eating in the hall).

This will be held at Sunset Hill Community Center. They have a brand new, pristine, dance floor! Only soft-soled dance shoes are allowed.

Pre-requisites

If you’ve been introduced to swing dance and want to refine your connection and style, this workshop is for you. Also great for switching roles (Lead / Follow).

Argentine Tango Dance Classes at the Blue Sage !6pm-8pm Every Thursday, January 23^rd through February 27^th

“Tango is a feeling that is danced.”

Velleda C Ceccoli PhD
http://www.psychologytomorrowmagazine.com/tango-a-feeling-that-is-danced/

Here’s a video of a tango: http://goo.gl/gHKrfx
If you are moved, you can pre-purchase class admittance at a reduced rate of $7/class by clicking here.

Classes are $9 at the door ($7 in advance).
Credit Cards are accepted, even at the door.

Bringing a partner with you is not necessary, it’ll all even out in the end.

You can bring your children and Lene Menely will babysit them while you are dancing (no additional cost).

Shoes with good traction are a bad idea.  Slippery-bottom (hard plastic or leather) heels with straps to hold them while walking backwards usually work well.  As do leather bottom dress shoes of any kind.  Nice, thick socks work wonderfullyand are my personal preference.

Class instruction will begin at 6pm and continue for 1 hour.  From 7-8pm the space will be available for practice and socializing and everyone is strongly encouraged to stick around, ask questions, try things out, and have fun.

When you see someone dancing tango, you see steps.  But when you dance tango yourself, you forget all the steps and just let the music move you.  Tango is a language with which to improvise, physically, to music.   The experience of merely watching tango is as foreign to the experience of dancing tango as the experience of watching people talk in an unknown language is to the experience of being in the conversation.

The origins of the tango are unclear because of poor documentation. It is generally thought that the dance developed in the late 19th century in working-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Montevideo, Uruguay, as practiced by Uruguayan and Argentine dancers and musicians, and by immigrant laborers.  Since that time, the dance has undergone several evolutions, including:

• Show (or “Stage”) Tango involving elaborate moves, reminiscent of gymnastics, which are clearly viewed from a distance in a large theater,
• Ballroom Tango (both “American” and “International”) which branched away from its original Argentine roots by allowing European, American, Hollywood, and competitive influences into the style and execution of the dance,
• Tango Neuvo which explores all the possibilities of movement within the framework of Argentine Tango, consequently leading toward a shift in all styles of tango away from teaching what to dance toward teaching how to dance.

These classes at Blue Sage will focus on traditional Argentine Tango styles as well as, out of the 3 off-shoots listed above, Tango Nuevo.  Traditional Argentine Tango styles as well as Tango Nuevo are danced regularly at social dance events worldwide referred to as “Milongas”.

With the basics you will learn at these classes, you will be able to “speak the language” and “join the conversation” of tango all over the world.

About the Instructor

Chris Garre learned to dance tango in 2004 from David Caditz in Bozeman, Montana.  Throughout the years he has learned from dozens of international instructors, danced all over the country, taught in a few places, and lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina several times for months on end.

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 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

Salsa and Swingin' at the Sage Social Dance, July

Next Swingin' at the Sage Social Dance:   Final Friday, July 27th, 8 - 11 p.m.

Beach Party - Salsa and Swing, cold drinks, chips and more salsa!

At the Blue Sage - we'll be inside in the "Lounge", and outside at the beach

out back!  $7 admission  Bring friends and visitors to town, for a sizzling

night of dancing and fun!

Our first Social Dance!

Hey everybody!  Our first Swingin' At the Sage social dance will happen on Saturday evening, November 12th.   
The Blue Sage Center for the Arts is located in the heart of "downtown" Paonia, Colorado.  You don't need to already know how to dance to enjoy it; we'll start at 7:00 with a one hour lesson in basic 6 count Swing, and giving a few tips about making the dance floor friendly for everyone.  Our mentor, Jodi Fleischman, always starts her dances with the request that each dancer ask at least 3 people we don't know to dance.  So yes, ladies can ask gentlemen.  In fact, anyone can ask anyone. 


A few questions and answers:

Does it really only cost $7 per person, for 3 hours of fun, great music, exercise and friendship?

Yes, it's true, only $7!  Mark and I will dj the dance, so you can also make requests.

Will you play a variety of dance music?

Yes, a mix of Swing, Salsa, Waltz, pieces you can Foxtrot to, and even a polka or two.  You might be surprised to discover you can Swing to bands as diverse as Bennie Goodman, Led Zeplin, and Paonia's own Strolling Scones!

Do I need to come with a partner?

No partner needed.  This is a great place to mix and meet new people.  And women can play the Lead, men can play the Follow, if they wish.

What should I wear?

Something you can move comfortably in.  Dancing works up a sweat, so layers are good, and extra shirts to change into are a great idea.  Some women enjoy wearing skirts that swing and move with them.  Shoes that slide a bit and do not mark the floors are excellent.

I want to bring a treat to share with the other dancers.  Suggestions?

Finger foods, fresh fruit, nuts, and desserts are welcome (some folks have a real soft spot for brownies, for example).

Anything else I should bring?

A water bottle, fresh breath, and a ready smile are good ideas!

I want to make sure I make smell inviting to the other dancers.  Any suggestions?

Honestly, since you asked, colognes and perfumes can be overwhelming when dancing close (and sweat activates them), so it's usually best to rely on soap, deodorant and toothpaste for a fresh and inviting demeanor.   

Great!  I'm excited to come!  Will you have more dances like this in the future?

We're hoping the turnout will be strong, so we can hold our social dance every Second Saturday of each month.  Hope to see you on the dance floor!

Swingin' at the Sage is already scheduled for:
December 10th
January 14th      and
February 4th *
       
*  We made an exception for February; this dance will be held on the first Saturday instead.