What: Multi-Level Blues Dance Workshops followed by our Saturday social dance
When: Saturday, July 27th, 2024
Where: RVA Swing, 6114C Lakeside Ave, Henrico VA
Cost: Sliding Scale of $10 - $45
Instructors: Savanna Baltero & Noah Stovall
Format: This is a Rotating Partner format workshop. No partner is needed to sign up.
Pre-requisites: no experience needed for Workshop 1, Workshop 2 assumes prior experience with Blues dancing
Advance registration is strongly encouraged. Registrations must be accompanied by payment to reserve a spot in class.
Schedule
12:30pm - doors open
1pm - Workshop 1: Conversation Starters (2hrs)
3pm - 30 minute break
3:30pm - Workshop 2: Deeper Conversations (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
🎉Back by popular demand: another round of workshops with Noah & Savanna!🎉
Workshop 1: Conversation Starters
Level: Open Level
Pre-requisites: none, but some partnered dance experience of any kind is always helpful.
Cost: Sliding Scale $10 - $25 (choose your price at registration)
The first workshop will focus on getting you ready to dance Blues on the social dance floor by learning foundational techniques and rhythms that serve as 'conversations' between dance partners. You will learn how to initiate and respond to these 'conversations' through movement, exploring partnership and improvisation in Blues dancing.
Spots remaining in Workshop 1
Follows: 8
Leads: 6
Workshop 2: Deeper Conversations
Level: Intermediate
Pre-requisites: must have previous experience with Blues dancing. Is this your first time learning Blues? Then you must take Workshop 1 in order to take Workshop 2.
The second workshop builds upon foundational skills to explore more complex movements, musicality, and partner dynamics. We’ll be refining techniques and exploring exciting moves emphasizing deeper connections and expressions within yourself and your partnership.
Cost: Sliding Scale $10 - $25 (choose your price at registration)
Spots remaining in Workshop 2
Follows: 8
Leads: 9
Meet Your Instructors
Savanna Baltero
My name is Savanna, and I’m a lifelong lover of dance and currently a social dance teacher and community organizer for Tidewater Blues in Norfolk, VA. Hesitating to name any one style of dance as my ‘main dance’, I’m an enthusiastic student of all styles! My training in ballet while growing up in Hawai’i, my professional instruction and competition experience in American Ballroom, Latin and Swing social dances, and my study and over a decade of dance experience of the Black and African-American dances, like Lindy Hop and Blues, have shown me that no matter the style there is beauty in every dance!
As a teacher, I like focusing on slow, grounded movement, and never forgetting the third dance partner: THE MUSIC! Weaving all the musical elements in a playful banter with your partner is something I love to explore in teaching and on the dance floor. I am a forever student who loves to learn and help others learn. No matter the song, style, or place, if there is music playing, grab me for a dance (because I’m probably already dancing).
After seeing the video “Hellzapoppin’(a Lindy Hop Scene in 1941) in history class in high school, I was inspired to dive into the world of dance: Lindy Hop, Blues, Ballroom, Latin, and beyond! My 10yr+ dance journey has taken me to college classes and community dance-a-thons for 2+ years, professional instruction and competitions for 4+ years, to today: helping to build the local dance community by teaching and DJing local dance events and organizing for Tidewater Blues, Norfolk’s Blues dance scene since February of 2023.
As a teacher I enjoy engaging new dancers to any style of dance and tapping into a thoughtful partnership while maintaining individuality. As I continue to learn more about the history and heritage of the African-American dances I hope to rediscover the love, origin, and aesthetics of Blues dancing and Lindy Hop. I’ve made it my mission to give people a place to find connection within oneself, your partner, the community, and the history of Black America using social dancing as the medium.
Register Online
Advance pre-paid registration is strongly encouraged for single-day workshops
Planning to sign up at the door? At-door signups are only available if we still have space left for your dance role!
Check the website before you leave to avoid disappointment and make sure to arrive early to pay.
Cancellations & Refunds:
Cancel your registration by emailing RVAswing@gmail.com no later than 12pm on July 27th in order to receive a full refund. No-shows and late cancellations do not receive refunds
