Blues - Newcomer

Class Description

Blues, both as music and as dance, is deeply rooted in African and African-American history and emerged in the late 19th century in the Mississippi Delta in the United States—against all odds in the face of the prevailing racism of the time. Since then, many different blues idioms have emerged, which have been and continue to be danced to various musical styles. What unites them all is a certain “blues aesthetic,” complex rhythms, improvisation, and a focus on personal expression. Blues is not a show dance; rather, it allows for a deep connection to the music and to your dance partner.

In this course, you’ll learn the first steps, rhythms, and figures so you can move as a dance couple to blues music, and you’ll learn a little about the historical background of the music and dance styles. No prior knowledge of blues is required.

Prerequisites

• Classes taken: none or taster
• I feel comfortable with: no prerequisites

Notes

• To choose the right course, please check out our Notes on the Course System
• Please bring a change of shoes with light-colored soles or socks for dancing to the course