Dancing the Blues in San Diego

Exploring, celebrating, and growing the blues dance community through musical immersion, classes, social dancing, and competition. All Blue Note hosted events are always 100% FREE for blues musicians, in order to promote a better understanding of the history and culture of the blues amongst dancers.

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Next Lab:

Always 1st Mondays! All ages welcome. Limited in-person. Details in event or link above.

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First Monday Blues Lab

First Monday Blues Lab

Nov 4, 7:30pm - Nov 4, 10:00pm+9Nov 4, 7:30pm - Nov 4, 10:00pmDec 2, 7:30pm - Dec 2, 10:00pmJan 6, 7:30pm - Jan 6, 10:00pmFeb 3, 7:30pm - Feb 3, 10:00pmMar 3, 7:30pm - Mar 3, 10:00pmApr 7, 7:30pm - Apr 7, 10:00pmMay 5, 7:30pm - May 5, 10:00pmJun 2, 7:30pm - Jun 2, 10:00pmJul 7, 7:30pm - Jul 7, 10:00pmAug 4, 7:30pm - Aug 4, 10:00pm

Private residence in La Mesa - please DM

Open by invite or to current students.

❗❗❗Address provided after class registration or by DM.❗❗❗

--
The purpose is to challenge you to analyse your own dancing critically by analysing someone else's and solidify what the values of blues are both in your own bodies and in partnership. Practice is only good if you know what you're practicing!

Since this is a practice space, please try to arrive on time, especially to the lesson, and remember to come with a mindset of learning and practice!

--

The Blues Lab is held monthly on the first Monday of the month.

$5 donation or potluck beverages/snacks.

Please help protect the floors! Any shoes worn must be CLEAN dance shoes or non-marking street shoes with CLEAN soles. You may also wear socks, lyrical sandals, paws, or go barefoot. Thanks!

FORMAT:
- 7:30pm-8:15pm: lesson with practice
- 8:15pm: announcements and introductions
- 8:20pm-10:00pm: open practice. Feel free to continue working on the mini-lesson idea or something else. Rotate or stay with the same partner as you prefer. Decide who will receive feedback first.

WHAT IS IT?
The Blues Lab is an informal practice session and will be run in a way similar to a guided tango practica. Each evening will begin with a lesson (30-45 minutes) that features a breakdown of a movement or concept with practice and rotations (in the case of partnered movements).

The purpose of the Blues Lab is to encourage growth in our dancing and community by deepening and broadening our understanding of blues movement and music and how to connect with one another through exchanging ideas and conscious practice. The music played will be pure blues and blues-adjacent genres (such as New Orleans jazz, blues-gospel, and blues-soul) that inspire blues dancing.

GUIDANCE
You can receive guidance directly from the lesson, the TAs (who will introduce themselves at the beginning as well as during announcements), or from one another. We encourage you to reach out to us and each other for assistance.

GUIDELINES
- Before dancing with each new partner, inform them if you are working on something specific so they can pay attention to it as you dance.
- Only one person should receive feedback at a time. This allows that person to just dance and not have to analyze their partner’s dancing. Switch at the next song if the other person requires feedback as well.
- If you are uncomfortable with feedback from a certain person, inform them before you begin dancing. Please respect your partner’s wishes not to be critiqued by you.
- Respect the purpose of the Blues Lab and the dancers. If you are not here to practice, please do not take up the time and space of those who are.
- Constructive feedback is strongly encouraged. If something feels uncomfortable or hurts, please speak up! By the same token, please be respectful and refrain from speaking negatively of the person.
- Please do not dominate your partner. Even if you consider yourself a more advanced dancer and were asked to provide the majority of the feedback, ask relevant questions to understand where your partner is coming from and help guide them through the movements rather than continually criticizing them.
- Nobody is above improvement! Even if you are an accomplished dancer, you may still have something that needs work, or you may not be as well-versed in blues as you are in other dances. Please take all constructive criticism with an open mind!

BlueNoteSD.com/events/first-monday-blues-lab/

#BluesLab #dance #blues #PartnerDance #PartnerDancing #BluesDance #BluesDancing #SocialDance #SocialDancing #BlackDance
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1 interested

Next Lesson:

Mondays (except First Monday) 7:30–8:30pm. Held online (and limited in-person). All ages welcome.

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Progressive Blues Classes

Progressive Blues Classes

Oct 21, 7:30pm - Oct 21, 8:30pm+33Oct 21, 7:30pm - Oct 21, 8:30pmOct 28, 7:30pm - Oct 28, 8:30pmNov 11, 7:30pm - Nov 11, 8:30pmNov 18, 7:30pm - Nov 18, 8:30pmNov 25, 7:30pm - Nov 25, 8:30pmDec 9, 7:30pm - Dec 9, 8:30pmDec 16, 7:30pm - Dec 16, 8:30pmDec 23, 7:30pm - Dec 23, 8:30pmJan 13, 7:30pm - Jan 13, 8:30pmJan 20, 7:30pm - Jan 20, 8:30pmJan 27, 7:30pm - Jan 27, 8:30pmFeb 10, 7:30pm - Feb 10, 8:30pmFeb 17, 7:30pm - Feb 17, 8:30pmFeb 24, 7:30pm - Feb 24, 8:30pmMar 10, 7:30pm - Mar 10, 8:30pmMar 17, 7:30pm - Mar 17, 8:30pmMar 24, 7:30pm - Mar 24, 8:30pmMar 31, 7:30pm - Mar 31, 8:30pmApr 14, 7:30pm - Apr 14, 8:30pmApr 21, 7:30pm - Apr 21, 8:30pmApr 28, 7:30pm - Apr 28, 8:30pmMay 12, 7:30pm - May 12, 8:30pmMay 19, 7:30pm - May 19, 8:30pmMay 26, 7:30pm - May 26, 8:30pmJun 9, 7:30pm - Jun 9, 8:30pmJun 16, 7:30pm - Jun 16, 8:30pmJun 23, 7:30pm - Jun 23, 8:30pmJun 30, 7:30pm - Jun 30, 8:30pmJul 14, 7:30pm - Jul 14, 8:30pmJul 21, 7:30pm - Jul 21, 8:30pmJul 28, 7:30pm - Jul 28, 8:30pmAug 11, 7:30pm - Aug 11, 8:30pmAug 18, 7:30pm - Aug 18, 8:30pmAug 25, 7:30pm - Aug 25, 8:30pm

Private residence in La Mesa - Register for address

4 interested

Next Community Event:

All ages welcome.

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No upcoming events

Next Workshop:

All ages welcome.

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No upcoming events

Updates:

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1 month ago

Progressive Blues ClassesSep 9, 7:30pmPrivate residence in La Mesa - Register for addressElizabeth will lead you through a series of 1-hour progressive classes to hone in your blues aesthetic and develop your sense of rhythm and style.

Not only will you be prepared to take on the dance floor with ever-growing confidence within a welcoming community, but you will also gain insightful glimpses into the rich history of blues.
Come on, and mooche, walk, shimmy, and shake it with us!

- $12 drop-in, $50 for a package of 5 (please register in advance!)
- Mondays 7:30pm - 8:30pm Pacific, besides the first Mondays of the month, which are an in-person lab (practice session)
- Register at ticketing link
- ❗❗❗Address provided after registration❗❗❗
- ❗IF you are participating online❗ Zoom link provided after payment (please add info@bluenotesd.com to your email whitelist and check your SPAM folder!) Please email info@bluenotesd.com to indicate the date(s) you will be participating online. If you register within an hour of class, and there are no other virtual students, we may not stream that day!

ABOUT: "Blues dancing" is an umbrella term for multiple regional Black American idiom dances that developed alongside the blues as popular music throughout the United States. The blues are an expression of the variety of experiences of Black Americans throughout history, from pain and struggle to spirituality and celebration.

There are many styles that can be danced solo and partnered. In partnership, blues idiom dances are danced primarily in close embrace. Dancers seek connection with one another as an affirmation of their humanity and express themselves in celebratory defiance of their environmental conditions.

The blues celebrates individual expression while affirming communal values. The blues celebrates contrasts - rhythm and athleticism tempered by coolness and lag.

#BluesDance #BluesDancing #SanDiego #BluesClass #DanceClass #DanceLesson
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Progressive Blues Classes
1 month ago

First Monday Blues LabOct 7, 7:30pmPrivate residence in La Mesa - please DMOpen by invite or to current students.

❗❗❗Address provided after class registration or by DM.❗❗❗

--
The purpose is to challenge you to analyse your own dancing critically by analysing someone else's and solidify what the values of blues are both in your own bodies and in partnership. Practice is only good if you know what you're practicing!

Since this is a practice space, please try to arrive on time, especially to the lesson, and remember to come with a mindset of learning and practice!

--

The Blues Lab is held monthly on the first Monday of the month.

$5 donation or potluck beverages/snacks.

Please help protect the floors! Any shoes worn must be CLEAN dance shoes or non-marking street shoes with CLEAN soles. You may also wear socks, lyrical sandals, paws, or go barefoot. Thanks!

FORMAT:
- 7:30pm-8:15pm: lesson with practice
- 8:15pm: announcements and introductions
- 8:20pm-10:00pm: open practice. Feel free to continue working on the mini-lesson idea or something else. Rotate or stay with the same partner as you prefer. Decide who will receive feedback first.

WHAT IS IT?
The Blues Lab is an informal practice session and will be run in a way similar to a guided tango practica. Each evening will begin with a lesson (30-45 minutes) that features a breakdown of a movement or concept with practice and rotations (in the case of partnered movements).

The purpose of the Blues Lab is to encourage growth in our dancing and community by deepening and broadening our understanding of blues movement and music and how to connect with one another through exchanging ideas and conscious practice. The music played will be pure blues and blues-adjacent genres (such as New Orleans jazz, blues-gospel, and blues-soul) that inspire blues dancing.

GUIDANCE
You can receive guidance directly from the lesson, the TAs (who will introduce themselves at the beginning as well as during announcements), or from one another. We encourage you to reach out to us and each other for assistance.

GUIDELINES
- Before dancing with each new partner, inform them if you are working on something specific so they can pay attention to it as you dance.
- Only one person should receive feedback at a time. This allows that person to just dance and not have to analyze their partner’s dancing. Switch at the next song if the other person requires feedback as well.
- If you are uncomfortable with feedback from a certain person, inform them before you begin dancing. Please respect your partner’s wishes not to be critiqued by you.
- Respect the purpose of the Blues Lab and the dancers. If you are not here to practice, please do not take up the time and space of those who are.
- Constructive feedback is strongly encouraged. If something feels uncomfortable or hurts, please speak up! By the same token, please be respectful and refrain from speaking negatively of the person.
- Please do not dominate your partner. Even if you consider yourself a more advanced dancer and were asked to provide the majority of the feedback, ask relevant questions to understand where your partner is coming from and help guide them through the movements rather than continually criticizing them.
- Nobody is above improvement! Even if you are an accomplished dancer, you may still have something that needs work, or you may not be as well-versed in blues as you are in other dances. Please take all constructive criticism with an open mind!

BlueNoteSD.com/events/first-monday-blues-lab/

#BluesLab #dance #blues #PartnerDance #PartnerDancing #BluesDance #BluesDancing #SocialDance #SocialDancing #BlackDance
... See MoreSee Less

First Monday Blues Lab
2 months ago

Reminder that there's no class tonight! See you next week for lab! ... See MoreSee Less

4 months ago

Lab is tonight! Come out and practice!

First Monday Blues Lab - 6/03/2024Jun 3, 7:30pmPrivate residence in La Mesa - please DMOpen by invite or to current students.

❗❗❗Address provided after class registration or by DM.❗❗❗

--
The theme for June's Blues Lab is voice - how to express yourself solo and in partnership within the blues aesthetic.

The purpose is to challenge you to analyse your own dancing critically by analysing someone else's and solidify what the values of blues are both in your own bodies and in partnership. Practice is only good if you know what you're practicing!

Since this is a practice space, please try to arrive on time, especially to the lesson, and remember to come with a mindset of learning and practice!

--

The Blues Lab is held monthly on the first Monday of the month.

$5 donation or potluck beverages/snacks.

Please help protect the floors! Any shoes worn must be CLEAN dance shoes or non-marking street shoes with CLEAN soles. You may also wear socks, lyrical sandals, paws, or go barefoot. Thanks!

FORMAT:
- 7:30pm-8:15pm: lesson with practice
- 8:15pm: announcements and introductions
- 8:20pm-10:00pm: open practice. Feel free to continue working on the mini-lesson idea or something else. Rotate or stay with the same partner as you prefer. Decide who will receive feedback first.

WHAT IS IT?
The Blues Lab is an informal practice session and will be run in a way similar to a guided tango practica. Each evening will begin with a lesson (30-45 minutes) that features a breakdown of a movement or concept with practice and rotations (in the case of partnered movements).

The purpose of the Blues Lab is to encourage growth in our dancing and community by deepening and broadening our understanding of blues movement and music and how to connect with one another through exchanging ideas and conscious practice. The music played will be pure blues and blues-adjacent genres (such as New Orleans jazz, blues-gospel, and blues-soul) that inspire blues dancing.

GUIDANCE
You can receive guidance directly from the lesson, the TAs (who will introduce themselves at the beginning as well as during announcements), or from one another. We encourage you to reach out to us and each other for assistance.

GUIDELINES
- Before dancing with each new partner, inform him/her if you are working on something specific so s/he can pay attention to it as you dance.
- Only one person should receive feedback at a time. This allows that person to just dance and not have to analyze their partner’s dancing. Switch at the next song if the other person requires feedback as well.
- If you are uncomfortable with feedback from a certain person, inform them before you begin dancing. Please respect your partner’s wishes not to be critiqued by you.
- Respect the purpose of the Blues Lab and the dancers. If you are not here to practice, please do not take up the time and space of those who are.
- Constructive feedback is strongly encouraged. If something feels uncomfortable or hurts, please speak up! By the same token, please be respectful and refrain from speaking negatively of the person.
- Please do not dominate your partner. Even if you consider yourself a more advanced dancer and were asked to provide the majority of the feedback, ask relevant questions to understand where your partner is coming from and help guide them through the movements rather than continually criticizing them.
- Nobody is above improvement! Even if you are an accomplished dancer, you may still have something that needs work, or you may not be as well-versed in blues as you are in other dances. Please take all constructive criticism with an open mind!

BlueNoteSD.com/events/first-monday-blues-lab/

#BluesLab #dance #blues #PartnerDance #PartnerDancing #BluesDance #BluesDancing #SocialDance #SocialDancing #BlackDance
... See MoreSee Less

First Monday Blues Lab - 6/03/2024