SAT 2/4 Cross-Body-Lead Intensive Workshop [beg/int] w/ Sarah Riddle

12:00-2:00pm $35 or $25 w/pre-registration

In Salsa, once you get past the basics of dancing in place the CROSS-BODY-LEAD becomes your new basic and most versatile move.  To know the CBL, however, is to love, and hate, the CBL.  Whether you find it vexing or rewarding this workshop will not only get you and the cross-body-lead on a solid first name basis, it will make you fast friends!  After mastering the fundamental CBL, we will venture into the world of CBL turns, switchbacks, traveling, and Tango inspired cross-body-leads.  For every Salsa dancer stuck in a rut, this workshop will prove incredibly useful.  

And here is the good news:  it is free for follows!  This is nothing to shake a stick at!  The leads need you there to aid in perfecting their skills, and simultaneously you will get guidance in cross-body-lead turn technique and possibly even some styling tips ;)  Come to help, come to learn, come to dance, just come!  Leads - this is a must-not-miss workshop, conveniently scheduled right before the Salsa Social!!!

SAT 2/4 WCS Quickstart Workshop [intro] w/ Chris Jones

12:00-4:00pm $55 or $45 w/pre-registration

West Coast Swing is probably the most versitile of the many Swing dances out there.  Unlike the vintage Swing dances Lindy Hop and East Coast Swing, WCS is very smooth, linear, and flirtatious.  Its versatility comes from being able to use WCS with just about any style of music - so if you are a fan of Blues, R&B, country, or even Pop music, then WCS will suit you well.

The WCS Quickstart workshop is designed  to get students familiar, if not comfortable, with the fundamentals of the dance as well as cover a few 'moves' for new dancers to use on the dancefloor immediately!  Students will learn how to listen to music and find 'the beat', the WCS basic steps, how to walk gracefully on a dancefloor, and the concepts of leading and following all while building a vocabulary of basic West Coast Swing moves!  This class is best suited for first time dancers, but more experienced WCS dancers will most certainly benefit from the time spent returning to the fundamentals. This workshop covers all the material (plus some!) covered in the 4 week WCS series, so students can go directly to WCS 2 after completing the WCS Quickstart.  No partner or prior experience required!

SAT 2/11 Argentine Tango Quickstart Workshop [intro/beg] w/Carrie Whipple  

12:00-4:00pm $55 or $45 w/pre-registration

Did you know that Portland is home to one of the largest Argentine Tango festivals in North America?  It is no wonder as this romantic and thoughtful dance has changed the lives of thousands of people around the world!  Come find out why and how in Carrie Whipple’s "Tango Quickstart," - a special four hour workshop designed to get you out on the Tango floor in one afternoon! In this workshop, we will explore Argentine Tango fundamentals (such as frame, timing, and the line of dance) as well as progress to slightly more complicated movements. Students will gain confidence in and connection with their partner and the music given Carrie’s user friendly techniques and tips. Come find out why Tango has taken the world by storm! No prior experience is required. No partner required. Please wear comfortable shoes that do not stick to a wood floor surface(leather bottoms are best).

SAT 2/11 Afro-Brazilian Samba Workshop [all levels] w/Beto Guimaraes

12:00-2:00pm $35 or $25 w/pre-registration

Born and raised in Olinda, Pernambuco (northeastern Brazil),  Beto Guimaraes has dedicate the last 20 years of his life to sharing the richness of his culture through dance!  There are many forms of Brazilian dance, Samba being the most widely known. There is no partnering in this style of Brazilian dancing - just you, the music, and pure joy!  With recognizable African roots, the movements of this dance are aerobic and fun, rhythmic and soul nourishing. This 2 hour workshop will start with fundamentals, the history behind the music and dance.  This is a great opportunity for dancers to learn both intellectually and physically the many joys that this style of Samba has to offer!   The 2 hour workshop format allows students to get enough information for the moves to stick to their bones while getting the heart rate (and spirits) up!  No prior experience required.

SAT 2/11 Salsa Styling Workshop [intro/beg] w/ Sarah Riddle

2:00-4:00pm $25 or $35 w/pre-registration

Salsa stands apart from other dances because of its flair, sass, and flirtatious movements. Salsa dancers, espcially follows, dance not with their feet, but with every part of thier bodies down to the tips of their fingers.  This 2 hr workshop  is designed to improve any dancer's posture, turn technique, and grace.  Students will also learn a mini 'shines' (solos and footwork patterns), how to accentuate the music with musically motivated flourishes, what to do with those darn arms!, proper Salsa posturing and body movement. The class will also incorporate light stretching and strengthening exercises to keep dancers injury-free and more flexible in class and on the dance floor.

TUE 2/14 Valentine's Slow Dance Workshop [all levels] w/ Sarah Riddle

5:30-6:300pm   $14 per person, how romantic!!!

Really, any day is a good day to dance with your sweetie, but this workshop can help you and your better half kick off your Valentine's evening with something to remember!  Forget about your 8th grade social dance lessons, or the ballroom courses you took that only helped you feel like less of a dancer.  This is basic dancing for you and yours - a workshop designed for couples who want to dance TOGETHER, no matter the music.  In the class we will break down the simple rhythms of romantic songs (please bring your favorite and we'll use it is in class!), teach you effective lead and follow techniques that will prevent any toes from being squashed or egos bruised, and a few easy moves that you can pull off in any dance situation.  Your instructor's specialty is Salsa, so watch out, we'll likely add a little spice to a couple of the moves, including the dip!

SAT 2/18 Salsa Quickstart Workshop [intro/beg] w/ Sarah Riddle 

12:00-4:00pm $55 or $45 w/pre-registration

Have you been curious about learning Salsa, but just can't seem to find the time? No problem! This 4 hour intensive workshop is geared to get dancers and NON dancers moving to today's most popular Latin Rhythm - SALSA! The class will cover Salsa rhythm, body movement, Salsa timing, 3 basic step variations, three turn patterns, and more! After finishing the Quickstart course, students will be eligible to take the Salsa 2 weekly series, without taking Salsa 1! Don't miss out on this ever popular, easy to learn dance. Register Now!  No partner required.

SAT TBA Swing Quickstart Workshop [intro/beg] w/Melissa Roane

12:00-4:00pm $45 or $55 w/pre-registration

This monthly workshop is geared to get you from Swing-curios to Swing-furios in just 4 hours!  The class will cover Swing rhythm and timing, basic Swing steps with basic step variations; three turn patterns, and more!  Vintage Swing is an ageless and ever popular dance that has filled dance halls for over 70 years, and it is still as popular as ever!  That said, the Swing Quickstart workshop fills up fast, so sign up ASAP! Don't miss out on this exciting and easy to learn dance. Students will learn the equivalent of the 'Intro to Swing' 4 week series material, plus some bonus material in a non-intimidating, low pressure, fun environment. No partner necessary, no prior experience required!

SAT TBA Cha Cha BootCamp Workshop  w/ Sarah Riddle 

Part 1 [basics and fundamentals] - 12:00-2:00pm $35 or $25 w/pre-registration ($45 for both)

Part 2 [moves, musicality, and  patterns] - 2:00-4:00pm $35 or $25 w/pre-registration ($45 for both)

So many Latin dance lovers state they don't dance Cha Cha because there's never anyone to dance with.  P'sha!  To know Cha Cha is to love Cha Cha, and with a little back ground in the fundamentals and a little understanding of how the music works, you can be cutting a rug Chachero style in no time.  This class is divided into 2 parts.  The first workshop is for first time dancers, or Salsa dancers who really want to get the timing right!  Part 2 is where we learn combos!  Turns, patterns, and playful Cha Cha floor games that you just can't get away with in Salsa!

Now... go tell your DJ you want MORE CHA CHA CHAs!

No partner required.  No experience required for part 1.  Salsa 2+ for Part 2. 

SAT TBA Charleston Workshop [beg/int] w/Melissa Roane

2:00-4:00pm $35 or $25 w/pre-registration

Break out of your 6-count patterns and explore the playful side of Swing! In this workshop we'll delve into side-by-side partnering known as Charleston, musical breaks, and other 'ad-lib' concepts to really spruce up your dancing and make it oh-so versatile! Learning to branch out of 6-count basics and improvise  with your partner really comes in handy when you go out dancing to any of Portland's fabulous old-timey or vintage Swing venues!  Level 2 or equivalent preferred.  No partner required.

SAT TBA Burlesque Cabaret Workshop [all levels] w/ Selena Bekakis

12:00-2:00pm $25 prereg/ $35 day of

 It's September and summer has finally arrived, hooray!  We certainly can't think of a better reason to come indoors and get undressed  In The Art of the Reveal Workshop, you will not only enjoy performing tantalizing choreography, but you will participate first hand in the joys and liberations of taking it all off!  So really, bring tank tops, over-shirts, your weekday button-up and come see just how much fun a girl can have with her clothes on.... well, mostly!  

Recommended attire: Any athletic apparel, tank tops, yoga pants, dance shorts, tights, leggings, barefoot, or in socks, dance slippers, sneakers, etc, NO DRESSES OR JEANS.  Additionally, all are welcome to wear any burlesque inspired attire or accessories, including robs, boas, lingerie and etc, feel free in come in character!  Ballroom/tango heels are recommended to those only with experience.  Keep in mind that we will begin the class with a few layers, and remove items of clothing throughout the duration of the workshop, so please come dressed prepared!   

SAT TBA Hip Hop Choreo Workshop: Musicality & Movement [all levels] w/ Selena Bekakis

2:00-4:00pm $25 prereg/ $35 day of

Dance and music are an age old pairing and in our modern day, with various dance showcases and performance shows, musicians are able to see first hand what choreographers are going with music.  In that, musicians are learning what it is that choreographers look for and are turning that knowledge into more music laced with the beats, intonations and layers that inspire the dance world.  In this workshop, you will learn how to listen to music in a whole new way and connect through choreography, with a song and it's many offerings.  This musicality workshop will focus on locating unpronounced or secondary rhythms in hip hop music and learning how to time dance movement in such a way that it appears you as the dancer, are creating the music.  Hip hop is athletic, intense, fast-paced and a ton of fun, so skip the gym today and come play in the studio!

Recommended attire:  Baggy pants  suchas sweats, baggy athletic pants of any kind, long (knee-covering) shorts, sneakers, tank tops, baggyt-shirts, etc. NO JEANS, NON-ATHLETIC SHOES, DRESSES OR SHORTS, yoga, jazz or leg hugging pants also not recommended.  So much of hip hop movement is the way your clothes make your body look, so keep that in mind: hip hop is not sexy and skinny, it's all about creating an illusion of movement and your clothes a big help!  All levels welcome, no previous dance experience required! 

SAT TBA Bollywood Bootcamp [beg + int] w/Sushmita Modi 

12:00-2:00pm & 2:15-4:15pm  $25 prereg/ $35 day of or $40/$60 for both 

Divided into 2 workshops, this bootcamp can get first time Bollywood dancers warmed up and ready for the dance floor in Bolly-1 (12-2pm)!  Dancers with some prior experience can learn more intermediate moves and expand their repertoire and Bollywood skill set in Bolly-2 (2-4pm).   Die hards looking for a great workout AND the fast track into Bollywood dancing can do both for the full Bootcamp experience. Bring lots of water!