Snowmelt 2020 Class Descriptions

Introducing the basic foundational concepts of blues dance including posture, groundedness, pulse, lag, step, and partner connection within the context of blues dance aesthetics. This class will give you what you need to take all the other beginner track classes. Beginner track dancers please don’t miss this class.

If you are new to partnered dancing this class is a must. If you signed up for the beginner track, take this class. Also recommended for those who are brand new or newer to blues dance and want a better understanding of blues basics.

Expand and refine your understanding of blues aesthetics and improve your techniques and skills to amplify those characteristics that make blues dance so unique.

Recommended for dancers who are comfortable with partnered dancing and have basic knowledge of and experience blues dancing, and who want to improve their ability to use blues aesthetics within their dance.

Have you felt compelled to dance Lindyhop or Swing to those fast blues songs? Come figure out why and learn some blues alternatives. This class will give you the tools to recognize the differences and similarities between fast blues and blues with a swung beat versus Lindyhop and Swing tunes. And it will give you ways to dance blues to this style of music as well as to improve your blues dance aesthetics

Recommended for dancers with knowledge of and experience blues dancing. If you have encountered having the urge to dance swing at a blues event, this class is for you.

Explore the connection between the rhythm in the music and the rhythm in your body. Learn to hear and recognize some common ones in blues music, gain a basic vocabulary of blues step patterns and practice using them in partnership.

Recommended for newer blues dancers who have signed up for the beginner track or dancers who feel they could benefit from learning basic rhythms. Taking the ‘Let’s Get Started! Intro to Blues Dance’ class first is required for brand new dancers and strongly recommended for newer dancers.

Rhythm is an important characteristic of blues music and dance, rooted in African cultural traditions. Learn to identify more of those rhythms in a variety of styles of blues music, expand your rhythm vocabulary and improve skills using them in partnered dance.

Recommended for dancers with at least a basic knowledge of and some experience blues dancing. Dancers should be comfortable with partnered dancing and have a working knowledge of some basic blues rhythm step patterns. Taking one of the classes from the previous session is strongly recommended.

Enhance communication skills between the lead and follow to interact and react to each other by playing with matching and contrasting rhythms, rather than always strictly following and matching exact steps and rhythms.

Recommended for those who feel they are accomplished at being able to lead and follow a variety of rhythm patterns and have knowledge of and experience dancing blues.

Clarity of communication between lead and follow is the key to delightful dances. This two-hour session will be an in-depth exploration into leading and following techniques and how to use them to implement some cool moves and turns.

Recommended for dancers who are just learning or have some experience but are working to improve their leading and following skills. If you find your follow sometimes doesn’t do what you thought you led and if you feel like you are sometimes uncertain what is being led, this class is for you. The previous two morning sessions are required for Beginner Track dancers and dancers new to partnered dancing.

Making the dance experience scrumptious is what it’s about! This two-hour session will be an in-depth exploration into refining skills in leading and following and incorporating stretch, compression and lag to make direction changes especially wonderful.

Recommended dancers who have experience leading and/or following, who can implement turns and moves, and have an understanding of blues dance aesthetics. For dancers who are experience in other forms of dance but who are new to blues dance, it is strongly recommended to have attended the morning sessions.

Introduction to blues dancing to get you on the floor tonight! Class will cover posture, groundedness, pulse, lag, step, partner connection, and some basics on moving around the floor with your partner.

If you are completely new to blues dance and/or to partner dancing, and have not taken SnowMELT classes earlier this day, this class is for you.

Included with any weekend pass, social pass, or individual admission to the Saturday night dance.

Explore the Slow Drag, one of the oldest styles of blues dance! Find out how to make close embrace comfortable and cozy. Learn Slow Drag basics and explore how to express yourself and embellish your Slow Drag.

Recommended for dancers who know how to lead or follow. Those who are new to partnered dancing must have taken Beginner Track classes earlier this day.

Included with any weekend pass, social pass, or individual admission to the Saturday night dance.

Delve into lag and make your dance wonderful molasses-y goodness!
Recommended for newer dancers who would like more experience using lag. The previous Beginner Track sessions are required for dancers new to partnered blues dancing.

Expressing rhythms in multiple parts of the body at the same time is an advanced skill that adds to the richness of blues dance. Explore in depth incorporating polyrhythms in your own body. This class is the only class of the weekend that will focus on solo blues dance.

Recommended for dancers with knowledge of and experience dancing blues and/or have taken some of the earlier classes other than the beginner track.

In-depth exploration of using momentum to implement turns.

Recommended for those already are experienced at leading and following, whether intermediate to advanced blues dancers or intermediate to advanced dancers in other dances with a basic familiarity of blues dance and lag.

Recommended for those who are experienced at leading and following, have knowledge of and experience blues dancing, and have basic knowledge of lag, compression, and stretch. Suggested prerequisite: Making Direction Changes Scrumptious class.

Recommended for all levels

Relax, listen and learn about blues music over lunch without having to concentrate on moving your body and learning new steps. Hearing and understanding the music enriches our dance experience. Discover what defines the type of blues music we dance to and how those characteristics and aesthetics are so important for our dance.

Practice what you learned with your classmates or just come and dance.

For beginner track dancers and all levels

Learn the Texas Shuffle foundations and explore technique and cool moves.

Recommended for dancers with good lead and follow skills and some experience in blues dance. Suggested pre-requisite: Moves with Momentum class or Making Direction Changes Scrumptious.

This class will be an in-depth exploration in musicality.

Recommended for dancers with strong lead and follow skills as well as knowledge of and experience in blues dancing. Suggested pre-requisite: Moves with Momentum class and Making Direction Changes Scrumptious.