Balboa Crash Course with David & Chelsea Lee

What: an afternoon of intro-level Balboa & Bal-Swing workshops

When: Saturday Jan 11th, 2025

Instructors: Chelsea & David Lee

Where: RVA Swing, 6114C Lakeside Ave

Level: no Balboa experience needed, beginner-friendly

Cost: Sliding Scale, choose your own price at registration

Pre-payment is required to reserve a spot in class.  Any unsold spots will be available at the door starting at 12pm.

Schedule

12:30pm: Doors open

1pm- Workshop 1: Intro to Pure Bal (all levels, beginners welcome)

(30 min break)

3:30pm - Workshop 2: Intro to Bal-Swing (some partner dance experience recommended)

----- Dinner break (studio closed)  -----

6:30pm: Doors re-open

7pm: Beginner Swing Lesson with RVA Swing (included with any workshop registration) 

8pm: Jumpin' at the Lakeside social dance (included with any workshop registration) 

What is Balboa?

Balboa is a swing-era dance that originated in the Balboa peninsula of southern California and is danced to the same great swing music as Lindy Hop.  The original form of the dance (what we today call "pure bal") was danced entirely in a close embrace, and focused on fun footwork and rhythmical variations. Later, it merged with swing dancing of other styles and opened up into larger movements like kicks and turns (what we today call "bal-swing").

Balboa takes up less space than Lindy Hop and can be done to fast music with less expenditure of energy, so it's a great way to stay cool & relaxed on a crowded dance floor when the songs get fast. (It's also hella fun!)

About the Workshops

Workshop 1: Intro to Pure Bal 

1pm - 3pm

Pre-requisites: None! Beginners welcome

In this 2 hr class, Chelsea & David will cover the basic rhythms, footwork and connection used in close-embrace Balboa (aka Pure Bal).  This workshop will be great for Balboa newbies, as well as current students looking to solidify their pure bal fundamentals. 

Cost: Sliding Scale of $15 - $35 (choose your price at registration)

Workshop 2: Intro to Bal-Swing

3:30pm - 5:30pm

Pre-requisites: previous partner dance experience recommended, no Balboa experience needed

It's time to open up and explore the world of bal-swing. In this 2 hr workshop, David & Chelsea will introduce students to fundamental bal-swing figures like lollies & out&ins, as well as some basic turns. This class will be great for Lindy Hoppers looking to add some bal-swing to their lindy, as well as for current students looking to refine their bal-swing fundamentals. 

Cost: Sliding Scale of $15 - $35 (choose your price at registration)

About Your Instructors

Chelsea has been dancing since college, when she decided it would be a bright idea to begin lessons in seven kinds of ballroom dancing at the same time. Since 2007, she has immersed herself in the world of swing, where she dances and teaches numerous swing dances including Balboa, Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, Charleston, and St. Louis Shag. She is known for her infectious smile and creativity on the dance floor, and in the classroom she brings a knack for breaking down the basics and providing opportunities for both leaders and followers to learn to their maximum potential. She has won awards at events including All Balboa Weekend, the International Lindy Hop Championships, the Eastern Balboa Championships, and Hot Rhythm Holiday and is proud to have earned the distinction of Distinguished Fellow at The Balboa Experiment for her work there as a guest mentor. She has taught at events nationally and internationally, including the Eastern Balboa Championships, Balboa Castle Camp, The Process, and Hot Rhythm Holiday. 

David has been passionate about swing dancing since he first started in 2006 and has yet to meet a dance he doesn’t love. He enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, St. Louis Shag, Charleston, and numerous other swing dances with every person he meets. He is known for his musicality and creativity on the dance floor, and in the classroom he excels at breaking down mechanics in a way that is accessible to dancers of all levels and learning styles. His dance accomplishments include placements at All Balboa Weekend, the International Lindy Hop Championships, Lindy Focus, and Hot Rhythm Holiday, and he has also earned the distinction of Distinguished Fellow at The Balboa Experiment for his work there as a guest mentor. He has taught at events nationally and internationally, including Atlanta Varsity Showdown, Balboa Castle Camp, The Process, the Eastern Balboa Championships, and Hot Rhythm Holiday.

Register Online

click here to register 

Cancellations & Refunds:

Cancel your registration by emailing RVAswing@gmail.com before 12pm on Jan 11th to receive a full refund.