Balboa Workshops

What: Open Level Balboa Swing Dance Workshops followed by our Saturday social dance

When: Saturday, Sept 14th

Where: RVA Swing, 6114C Lakeside Ave, Henrico VA

Cost: Sliding Scale of $10 - $45

Instructors: Ryan Lemar & Erica Vess

Format: This is a Rotating Partner format workshop. No partner is needed to sign up.

Pre-requisites: no Balboa experience needed for either workshop, previous partner dance experience suggested for workshop 2.

Advance registration is strongly encouraged for one-day workshops. Online registrations must be accompanied by payment to reserve a spot in class.

Schedule

12:30pm - doors open 

1pm - Workshop 1: "Cozy n' Close" - Pure Bal Fundamentals (2hrs)

3pm - 30 minute break

3:30pm - Workshop 2: "Open Up!" - Bal-Swing Explorations (2hrs)

5:30pm - doors close for dinner break

6:30pm - doors re-open for the social dance

7pm - Beginner Swing lesson w/RVA Swing instructors (included with registration)

8pm - Jumpin' at the Lakeside social dance (included with registration)

10pm-ish - dance ends, doors closed

About the Workshops

🎉Finally! Time for some BALBOA here in Richmond!🎉

Workshop 1: Cozy n Close: Pure Bal Fundamentals

Level: Open to anyone, beginner dancers welcome

Pre-requisites:  none, but some partnered dance experience of any kind is always helpful. 

Cost: Sliding Scale $10 - $25 (choose your price at registration)

Availability: Leads: 6 spaces   Follows: 4 spaces

What is "pure bal"?  This is the OG Balboa, as danced in the Balboa Pavilion back in the day and is danced entirely in a close embrace.  In today's modern scene, we call everything danced in close embrace "pure bal" and everything danced in open "bal-swing."

The first workshop will focus on getting students comfortable with the close embrace Balboa connection and get you dancing some common rhythms used in Balboa.

Can you spot Erica in this Pure Bal competition from 2015? 

Workshop 2: Open Up! - Bal-Swing Explorations

Level: Open to anyone with partner dance experience 

Pre-requisites: You don't have to know any Balboa, but you must have some previous experience with partnered dancing (in any style). This workshop should not be your first rodeo! 🤠😆

Cost: Sliding Scale $10 - $25  (choose your price at registration)

Availability: Leads: 8 spaces   Follows: 0 spaces*

*if you can show up WITH a lead who is not already registered, we can add you. Due to a large role imbalance in this class we cannot accept any more solo follows

The second workshop will explore some common open-position ("bal-swing") moves like out&ins, lollies and turns. We'll be utilizing out&ins as our "basics" for this workshop: this means that you do not have to take Workshop 1 in order to take this workshop, but it should not be your first dance class ever. 

Peep a mix of bal-swing and pure bal in this comp from 2017

Meet Your Instructors

Erica Vess & Ryan Lemar own & operate the RVA Swing studio.  They have been teaching Lindy Hop, Balboa & Jazz in Richmond since 2012. Known for their patient, clear instruction and A+ joke skills, their primary goal is creating a safe, fun, & supportive learning environment for all students.

Register Online

online registration is closed

some walk-in availability (arrive early!!)

Workshop 1

Leads: 6 spaces   Follows: 4 spaces

Workshop 2

Leads: 8 spaces   Follows: 0 spaces*

*if you can show up WITH a lead who is not already registered, we can add you. Due to a large role imbalance in this class we cannot accept any more solo follows in Workshop 2

Cancellations & Refunds:

Cancel your registration by emailing RVAswing@gmail.com no later than 12pm on Sept 14th in order to receive a full refund.  No-shows and late cancellations do not receive refunds

Planning to sign up at the door? At-door signups for single-day workshops are only available if we still have space left for your dance role and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.  Make sure to arrive no later than 10 minutes prior to class if you need to pay!