Workshops

Thursday · May 28

20:10 – 22:50Special Workshop
Teacher TrainingVenue: TBD

Each One, Teach One: The Blues Teaching Essentials

Damon & Kelsy

Details

In the Black American tradition, knowledge is not a luxury—it is a lifeline. This workshop is rooted in the "Each One, Teach One" proverb, a philosophy born from the necessity of communal uplift and the sacred responsibility of passing wisdom from one generation to the next. This is not just a dance class; it is a call to stewardship.

Being a Blues instructor requires more than just a mastery of movement. It requires integrity, a deep understanding of lineage, and the courage to uphold high standards in a world that often dilutes cultural essence for comfort. This is a thorough, no-nonsense session designed for those who take the mantle of "teacher" seriously. Expect a direct and uncompromising environment where we peel back the layers of performance to find the truth of the Blues.

Agenda/ Breakdown of Schedule

The Foundation of Integrity

The Burden of the Teacher: Understanding the weight of the "Each One, Teach One" philosophy. We discuss the transition from student to steward and what it means to carry the Blues legacy.

Authenticity vs. Appropriation: How to recognize when teaching begins to stray from the essence of Blues. We will address the risks of "sanitizing" the dance and how to maintain the Black American roots of the movement.

Building Meaningful Content

Beyond the "Step": Learn to construct curriculum that teaches the spirit of the music alongside the mechanics.

Historical Grounding: Strategies for weaving cultural context into technical instruction without losing the flow of the class.

The Litmus Test: Does your content empower the community or just the individual? We critique lesson plans based on their long-term impact on the scene.

Delivery & The Uncompromising Standard

Direct Instruction: Developing a "no-nonsense" presence in the classroom. How to give feedback that is honest, challenging, and rooted in love for the craft.

Recognizing Excellence: Training your eye to see beyond "good enough." Set the bar for what a Blues instructor must embody in their own body and their students' progress.

Closing & The Lineage Circle

Responsibility: A final reflection on the duty to uplift.

Q&A: Unfiltered dialogue with Damon and Kelsy.

NewcomerVenue: TBD

Newcomer Class

Awei & Chloe

Friday · May 29

14:10 – 16:50Special Workshop
DJ TrainingVenue: Hong Turn B1

DJ Training: Shaping the Sound

Julie & Dan

Details

DJs are a vital part of any dance community. What we choose to play - and not to play - directly shapes the dancers' experience and the sound of the art form in our communities from a local to a global scale. This role carries real responsibility and asks individuals to be mindful of the music and the culture every time they play a track. In this training we'll use a combination of movement exercises, observations, and discussion to develop a range of skills. We'll work on reading the floor, making informed choices, and raising our awareness of the music and musicians we're playing.

Special WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B2

Mind, Body & Blues

Catherine

Saturday · May 30

11:10 – 12:40Workshop 1 · 90 min
WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B1

Workshop 1

Catherine

WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B2

The Holy Trinity: Pulse, Rhythm & Groove

Damon & Kelsy

Details

In Blues, we don’t just move to the music; the music is the boss. Come learn the distinct roles of pulse, rhythm, and groove to improve your musicality. In this class, Damon and Kelsy break down these often-confused elements filtered through the Blues aesthetic lens to give you a foundation that is both rock-solid and infinitely adaptable.

WorkshopVenue: White Moon

Workshop 1

Dan & Julie

12:50 – 13:50Workshop 2 · 60 min
WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B1

Workshop 2

Lucas & Penny

WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B2

Workshop 2

Xuan

14:00 – 15:30Workshop 3 · 90 min
WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B1

Workshop 3

Catherine

WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B2

All the Smoke: Competition in African American Culture

Damon & Kelsy

Details

This lecture and dance class will discuss the roots of competition in African American communities, the cultural values that shaped these competitions and we’ll talk about what judges are looking for, and practice how to stand out, and how to be your authentic self while still respecting the dances, the music, and the culture.

WorkshopVenue: White Moon

Workshop 3

Dan & Julie

15:40 – 16:30Workshop 4 · 60 min
WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B1

Workshop 4

Catherine

WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B2

Office Hours

Damon & Kelsy

Details

This class is specifically geared toward tailored instruction for the individual. What is that question you’ve always wanted to ask, that topic you’ve always wanted to explore, a drill that would help you improve your dancing in the area you’ve been focused on, or the unknown improvement that will transform your dancing? We’re here to help!

WorkshopVenue: White Moon

Workshop 4

Dan & Julie

19:00Open Class · 50 min
Open ClassVenue: Hong Turn B1

Open Class

Xuan

Sunday · May 31

11:10 – 12:40Workshop 1 · 90 min
WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B1

Workshop 1

Catherine

WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B2

Workshop 1

Dan & Julie

WorkshopVenue: White Moon

Fine-Tuning the Connection: Advanced Partnership Dynamics

Damon & Kelsy

Details

Great Blues dancing feels effortless, but it requires a high level of active listening, awareness and intentionality. This class strips away patterns and footwork to focus entirely on the mechanics of high-level connection. The sole purpose of this session is to fine-tune how we dance together, transforming leading and following into a continuous, subtle and detailed physical dialogue.

12:50 – 13:50Workshop 2 · 60 min
WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B1

Workshop 2

Yaling & Philo

WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B2

Workshop 2

Lucas & Penny

14:00 – 15:30Workshop 3 · 90 min
WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B1

Workshop 3

Catherine

WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B2

Workshop 3

Dan & Julie

WorkshopVenue: White Moon

The 3 Way Conversation: You, Me + The Blues

Damon & Kelsy

Details

Blues dance is not a monologue—it is a three-way conversation between you, your partner, and the music. In this 90 minute class, Damon and Kelsy break down the mechanics of true collaborative partnering, filtering every interaction through the fundamental Black American cultural concepts of Hotness and Coolness (the dynamic balance of high-energy expression and effortless restraint). Rather than focusing on rigid patterns, this class elevates your musicality by teaching you how to share energy and space on the dance floor. You will learn to treat partnership as a living dialogue where the music sets the stage, and both dancers actively shape and contribute to the conversation.

15:40 – 16:30Workshop 4 · 60 min
WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B1

Workshop 4

Catherine

WorkshopVenue: Hong Turn B2

Workshop 4

Dan & Julie

WorkshopVenue: White Moon

Challenge Accepted

Damon & Kelsy

Details

In this “Challenge Mode” musicality and aesthetics intensive, we will focus on lesser explored elements of the Blues aesthetic. The expectation and evaluation of the African-American cultural values will be rigorous. By holding students to an uncompromising standard of movement, we work on bridging the gap between “doing a dance” and embodying the culture. You will walk away with a deeper, visceral understanding of Blues musicality and the physicality required to truly dance it.

19:00Open Class · 50 min
Open ClassVenue: Hong Turn B1

Open Class

Yaling

Venues

Venue details will be announced soon.