Balboa Workshops with Sara-Sofia Rentas & Dee Mathews


What: an afternoon of workshops for dancers w/prior Balboa dance experience

When: Saturday June 20th

Instructors: Sara-Sofia Rentas & Dee Mathews

Where: RVA Swing, 6114C Lakeside Ave

Level: specific Balboa experience is required, see class descriptions below

Cost: Sliding Scale $15 - $70 depending on number of workshops, choose your own price at registration

Pre-payment is required to reserve a spot in class.    


Schedule

12:30pm: Doors open

1pm- Workshop 1: Pure Bal Focus (all students must have solid Pure Bal experience)

(30 min break)

3:30pm - Workshop 2: Bal-Swing Focus (all students must have solid Bal-Swing experience)


----- 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) 



About the Workshops

Workshop 1: Play & Conversation in Pure Balboa

1pm - 3pm

Pre-requisites: All students must be able to demonstrate both downhold & uphold Balboa basics, must be comfortable with Balboa close embrace connection, and be able to socially dance common ad-lib steps like scoots, progressives, paddles & come-arounds. 

Cost: Sliding Scale of $15 - $40 (choose your price at registration)

In this 2 hour workshop, Sara & Dee will explore rhythms and styling in pure bal. Students will practice using them to be musical as well as feeling and being affected by your partner's choices. This class will make you a more conversational dancer and better able to have playful pure balboa with any song or partner.


Workshop 2: Grooving & Sharing Energy in Bal-Swing


3:30pm - 5:30pm

Pre-requisites: All students must be able to socially dance the following Bal-Swing moves: lollies, out & ins & toss-outs.

Cost: Sliding Scale of $15 - $40 (choose your price at registration)

This workshop willl explore Out and Ins and Lollies, using alternate footwork options and dynamic play throughout. We'll focus on feeling our partner's choices and building a dance that feels uniquely ours together. Learn to find a groove and make your dances fun, playful, and relaxed.


About Your Instructors


Sara-Sofia Rentas (she/her)

Sara-Sofia Rentas first discovered swing dancing in Orlando, FL in 2015 and is now proud to be NYC-based, sharing Balboa in the studio and anywhere jazz happens to be playing. With limited resources for learning Balboa early in her dance journey, she adopted social dancing as her first classroom where she would experiment with mechanics, musicality, and the relationship between leader and follower. This early learning process ultimately shaped her approach to teaching. In her classes you’ll find a blend of excitement for technique and playful improvisation, honoring the greatness of swing music and each student’s personal expression.











Dee Mathews  (they/them)

Dee Mathews is a balboa and lindy hop instructor based in Greensboro, NC. They learned balboa in 2010 both as a lead and a follow working with Randy Maestretti and Kara Britt, who taught them a love of pure balboa and the original dancers. 

Since then they have danced, taught, and competed all over the world. They have won balboa contests at California Balboa Classic, All Balboa Weekend, and the International Lindy Hop Championships, as well as been a mentor at The Balboa Experiment.

 Dee is invested in balboa as a dance of connection, playfulness, and dynamism. They are excited to explore the fundamental mechanics of the dance and help students find new ways to be musical, listen to their partner, and find new ways to enjoy balboa.







Register Online


online registration will close at 11:59pm on Friday June 19th




Cancellations & Refunds:

Cancel your registration by emailing RVAswing@gmail.com before 12pm on June 20th to receive a full refund.  












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