What: 6-week swing dance series
When: Tuesdays from 7pm until 8pm, starting Nov 12th
Class dates: Nov 12th, 19th, 26th, Dec 3rd, 10th, 17th
Where: RVA Swing Studio 6114C Lakeside Ave, Henrico VA
Instructors: Erica Vess & Ryan Lemar
Pre-requisites: All students must already have some partner dance experience, but do not need to know any Balboa.
Format: Rotating Partner. Students will change partners throughout class. No partner is needed to sign up.
Cost: Sliding Scale of $30 - $90 per person for the 6 week class (choose your price at registration)
Cost: Sliding Scale of $30 - $90 per person for the 6 week class (choose your price at registration)
All students must register and pre-pay online. (No walk-ins)
What is Balboa? What is Bal Swing?
Balboa is a casual & cozy style of swing dancing that originated in southern California. The story goes that dance halls like the Balboa Pavilion were so crowded that dancers were not able to break away from their partner for large movements, and the original form of Balboa was danced only in close embrace. As it's danced today, Balboa encompasses the close embrace figures of the original dance, but also has plenty of turns, kicks and flash that you dance in open position (what we call "Bal-Swing"). We will be exploring lots of open-position Bal Swing figures in this class.
Balboa is a casual & cozy style of swing dancing that originated in southern California. The story goes that dance halls like the Balboa Pavilion were so crowded that dancers were not able to break away from their partner for large movements, and the original form of Balboa was danced only in close embrace. As it's danced today, Balboa encompasses the close embrace figures of the original dance, but also has plenty of turns, kicks and flash that you dance in open position (what we call "Bal-Swing"). We will be exploring lots of open-position Bal Swing figures in this class.
It's super fun and a great way to dance fast music without breaking a sweat!
About the class:
Done other forms of swing dance, but are new to Balboa/Bal-Swing? This class is for you!
Done other forms of swing dance, but are new to Balboa/Bal-Swing? This class is for you!
Did you just finish our Intro to Balboa unit and want to learn more? This class is for you, too.
Taken a few Balboa classes but still lack confidence on the social floor, would like a review, or want to try the other dance role? This class is for you, friend!
Taken a few Balboa classes but still lack confidence on the social floor, would like a review, or want to try the other dance role? This class is for you, friend!
In this 6-week unit, students will get an introduction to open position Balboa (Bal Swing) and common Bal Swing moves. This unit will focus exclusively on open-position moves like turns, lollies & out&ins.
Please note: even though no Balboa experience is needed to take this unit, it is not a beginner level class and will not be appropriate for students with no partner dance experience. (Are you a total newbie? Don't fret, we'll have TONS of Intro classes starting in January.)
Because each class will build on the material in the previous class, registration is for the whole series only. Students without prior experience in this specific dance style must attend the 1st class in order to participate in subsequent classes.
No partner is required to sign up.
A note on dance partners: we are offering this class in a standard Rotating Partner format. Students will change partners throughout class (even those who come with a partner). This helps everyone learn the art of social dancing and provides all students with equitable access to dance partners. If you want to dance only with your partner, you may wish to look into private lessons.
About your instructors
Register Online:
Registered students: Our registration system sends out an almost instant confirmation email with all your information. Didn't receive one? Please check your spam folder first, then contact us at RVAswing@gmail.com. (You will also get a PayPal receipt once your payment is complete, sent from PayPal).
If you experience any errors being re-directed to PayPal (or if you just derp and navigate away), you can always use the "return to this booking" link in your RVA Swing confirmation email to complete your payment. The more you know! :)
Venmo payments should go to @Erica-Vess within 24 hours of registration. Use 3132 if prompted to verify your payment. :)
You'll also receive an email from us the day before the first class with everything you need to know.
You'll also receive an email from us the day before the first class with everything you need to know.
Refund Policy:
Please make sure to give us 24 hours notice of cancellations in order to receive a full refund.
Registered for a series and can no longer attend? Please let us know ASAP by emailing RVAswing@gmail.com.
We can only issue refunds or class credits to students who notify us directly of cancellations before the class begins.
--Cancellations made at least 24 hours before the 1st class of a series are eligible for a full refund or class credit (please indicate your choice when you notify us of your cancellation).
--Cancellations received on the day of the 1st class are considered “late cancellations” because these spaces can be difficult to fill with short notice. Late cancellations made at least 4 hours before class starts are eligible for a 50% refund or a 50% class-credit towards a future series. Please indicate your choice when you notify us of your cancellation.
--Last-minute cancellations received less than 4 hours before a class begins, as well as no-shows, are not eligible for any refunds or class credits.
-- Did you have an emergency? Email us up to 24 hours past class start and let us know and you can still get your partial class credit or partial refund.
--Once you start a series, no refund or credit is given for class absences.
Please make sure to give us 24 hours notice of cancellations in order to receive a full refund.
Registered for a series and can no longer attend? Please let us know ASAP by emailing RVAswing@gmail.com.
We can only issue refunds or class credits to students who notify us directly of cancellations before the class begins.
--Cancellations made at least 24 hours before the 1st class of a series are eligible for a full refund or class credit (please indicate your choice when you notify us of your cancellation).
--Cancellations received on the day of the 1st class are considered “late cancellations” because these spaces can be difficult to fill with short notice. Late cancellations made at least 4 hours before class starts are eligible for a 50% refund or a 50% class-credit towards a future series. Please indicate your choice when you notify us of your cancellation.
--Last-minute cancellations received less than 4 hours before a class begins, as well as no-shows, are not eligible for any refunds or class credits.
-- Did you have an emergency? Email us up to 24 hours past class start and let us know and you can still get your partial class credit or partial refund.
--Once you start a series, no refund or credit is given for class absences.
Shoe Policy
We spent over a month building our dance floor and we want it to stand the test of time! Help us keep it nice by following these basic guidelines:
--Please remove your street shoes right away (before you come inside, if you can).
-- Please wear suede or leather-soled dance shoes for classes and dances.
-- If you don't own dance shoes, please bring a clean pair of shoes with non-marking soles to change into for classes/dances. This will help us keep grit and dirt off the floor.
The following types of shoes are absolutely prohibited inside the RVA Swing studio:
- NO stilettos or other spiked heels. Not only are these inappropriate and dangerous footwear for swing dancing, they also tend to gouge and dent wood floors.
- No home-made duct tape soles. Yeah these might work great for a bit, but as you dance, you wear through the tape and leave sticky adhesive gunk for everyone else to dance on. No bueno!
- No tap shoes. These shred the floor. Any tap classes will be soft-shoe only. :)
We spent over a month building our dance floor and we want it to stand the test of time! Help us keep it nice by following these basic guidelines:
--Please remove your street shoes right away (before you come inside, if you can).
-- Please wear suede or leather-soled dance shoes for classes and dances.
-- If you don't own dance shoes, please bring a clean pair of shoes with non-marking soles to change into for classes/dances. This will help us keep grit and dirt off the floor.
The following types of shoes are absolutely prohibited inside the RVA Swing studio:
- NO stilettos or other spiked heels. Not only are these inappropriate and dangerous footwear for swing dancing, they also tend to gouge and dent wood floors.
- No home-made duct tape soles. Yeah these might work great for a bit, but as you dance, you wear through the tape and leave sticky adhesive gunk for everyone else to dance on. No bueno!
- No tap shoes. These shred the floor. Any tap classes will be soft-shoe only. :)
How to find us
The RVA Swing studio is located inside the Lakeside Towne Center, at 6114 Lakeside Ave. There is tons of free parking in the lot adjacent to the Farmer's Market pavilion, as well as behind the Towne Center building. Enter through the Towne Shops door under the RVA Swing sign and head down the hallway!
Please note that some GPS systems will send you about 2 blocks away. You want the parking lot by the Farmers Market and the CVS. :)
