Workshop Descriptions

1. Sensing, Feeling, and Reacting

What is connection? After a while, the words we use to describe something so inherent to our dance as "connection" simply become buzz words without much meaning. In this class we will set out to refresh our definitions of "connection" by giving attention to the subtleties of this invisible and inaudible communication between partners. By focusing on energy rather than shape, and felt sensations as opposed to thoughts or visual observations, we will play with the nuances of intention in order to develop our physical "listening power" as dancers.

2. Integral Body Movement for Fusion

In this class, instructors will lead you through body movement exercises and isolations, emphasizing the underlying movement patterns which make up Blues, Argentine Tango, or both - laying the foundation for Fusion work. Movements will focus on balance and complete weight transfers, grounding, freeing the joints, isolation and stability, pivoting, contrabody movement, and utilization of the core muscles to support all action.

3. Argentine Tango as a Second Language

For most Blues & Swing dancers, Argentine Tango is a second language (movement vocabulary)...and perhaps a third (Spanish verbal language). This class will serve as introduction to the Argentine Tango movements and terms which are foreign to Blues dance and begin to build a common vocabulary from which to create Fusion. Experienced Tango dancers will begin to discover movements which cross over into Blues, as we will also compare and contrast some of the similar steps. Specifically, by the end of class students will be familiar with the abrazo (embrace), pasadas (passing), the 6- and 8-count basics, pivoting, contrabody rotation, ochos (figure 8's), and some of the "rules" of Tango dance and styling.

4. Blues, Tango, Body & Soul

Blues and Argentine Tango are fundamentally reflective of the music they are danced to. For this reason, the most inspiring dances - from a dancer's or a viewer's perspective - are the ones in which the dancers embody the music. This class will focus on musicality and the more emotive aspects of dancing Blues or Tango, as the quality of the movement comes from a dancer's ability to empathize with their partner and the music. Through guided movement patterns, we will explore some specific options for connecting a dance to the music.

5. Hitchhiker's Guide to Argentine Tango (Fusion)

Building on the Argentine Tango material covered in Argentine Tango as a Second Language, this class will offer more advanced Tango steps and concepts which will lend style and sabor (flavor), expanding the Fusion dancer's movement vocabulary opportunities. This class will introduce paradas (stops), sacadas (displacements), ganchos (hooks), and molinetes (grapevines).

6. Connection & Direction: Use It or Lose It

In Sensing, Feeling, and Reacting, students will learn to develop "listening power", the sensitivity to listen with the body and what to listen for in the connection. This class builds upon those skills to explore what to do with the connection once it is found. We have options for how to interact with the energy present. We will explore them and practice interacting with our partners with clarity of intention and integrity of movement. With connection, if it's not used, it's lost; if we dance counter to the connection type, we lose the connection. Students will learn to discern different types of connection and their components, such as compression, leverage, weight, timing, tension, direction, and subtlety.

7. What Is Fusion, Anyway?

What defines Fusion dance? Is it the music? The styling? The steps? We will discuss these aspects, share with you our own definition(s), and offer specific examples for some different methods for fusing your own dance. Additionally, because Fusion dancers are also Fusion ambassadors, we will collaborate to decide how best to represent Fusion dance while respecting the roots of the component dances (Blues and Argentine Tango).

Class content, schedule, instructors, venues, and all other aspects of the Burning River Blues event are subject to change at the discretion of the BRB Team in an effort to ensure a high quality and professional experience. Thank you for your understanding.