Class Descriptions
Subject to change
Classes at Muse will mainly be leveled one hour long classes with three blocks of all level electives. The leveled classes have been chosen to help you get back in your groove and rebuild your basics. The electives will allow you to explore broad topics and learn with participants of all levels, a core value of Muse.
Our class descriptions are below. We encourage you to look through them and self-select your desired classes in advance, the class lists will be posted at the front desk and on the classroom doors but we will not be printing copies for attendees to save paper. A reminder that if you wish to take classes at level 4 or 5 you must attend auditions first thing on Saturday morning in order to be placed in those levels and attend those classes. If you self-identify with levels 1 to 3, you do not have to audition to take classes in your level and can always choose to take classes leveled below your chosen level. See our leveling page for more details.
Classes by Schedule
Saturday
Library, German Society
Supportive Solo Dancing!
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Welcome back! Feeling a little rusty? Shy or uneasy? I’ll let you in on a secret, we all are. Set your weekend up right with a gentle toe dip into solo dancing and jams. Join Grey as he demystifies and supports you in showing up as your best self, celebrating our community and learning a little dancing along the way!
Grey Armstrong
All Levels
Ballroom, German Society
Auditions
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Auditions for Level 4 and 5
Miscellaneous Teachers
Level 4 + 5
Library, German Society
The Battle
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Battle is a choreographed dance that you learn in class and then perform at midnight on Saturday! Learn the choreo in this class so you can strut your stuff on the floor.
Mike Legenthal
All Levels
Ballroom, German Society
The Battle
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Battle is a choreographed dance that you learn in class and then perform at midnight on Saturday! Learn the choreo in this class so you can strut your stuff on the floor.
Dan Legenthal
All Levels
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Breaking the Fourth Wall
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
From playing an instrument in your living room with friends to a large amphitheater - Musicians are living and feeling people. In a small Juke Joint, that fact is even more apparent when you are dancing just a few feet away from them. In this class, we are going to focus on ways to build and explore that relationship and bring your musician into your dance.
Kenneth Shipp and Krystal Wilkerson
All Levels
Library, German Society
The Coziest Close Embrace
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Lots of dancers think that flash is what impresses partners. Ironically flash only impresses the audience. What most folks really want? A VERY cozy close embrace. Let’s take your close embrace to the next level. Learn to accommodate different body types, adjust your intimacy levels and ask for and say no to close embrace.
Grey Armstrong
Level 1 + 2
Ballroom, German Society
Compositions and Variations in Close Embrace
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Close embrace is more than a hug. In this class, we'll work on texture variation, position changes, and partnership independence in close embrace to help you find your voice with your partner!
Adam and Krystal Wilkerson
Level 3 + 4
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Advanced Partnering Tools for Your Kit
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Ok, let’s say that your dancing toolkit includes the basics (hammer, screwdriver), and the not-so-basics (tile saw, grinder). But what about the cabbing arbor and the duplex rabbet plane of your dancing? Come try out some of Mike and Dan’s favorite niche tools for that extra touch of partnership magic!
*This class might break you a little.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
Level 4 + 5
Library, German Society
Master Class: Freedom in the Blues
3:45 pm - 4:45pm
Explore what your body can do! Highs and lows, different shapes, cool and creative movements. Feel less limited within yourself, explore the possibilities, and create some cool shit!
Kenneth Shipp and Julie Brown
Level 5
Ballroom, German Society
Take Your Jukin' to the Next Level
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
You know fishtails, mooches and grinds. Now what? How do we make moves we learned in Blues 101 exciting again? It’s time to make some art! This class will challenge your creativity and help you explore even deeper connection with your partners!
Grey Armstrong
Level 3 + 4
Rathskellar, German Society
Jukin' Idioms: Blending Rhythms in Partnership
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Jukin' idioms provide us with a wide variety of foot rhythms! In this class, we'll talk finding a shared baseline with our partner, then finding variation and independent expression of rhythms within the partnership. Intended for Beginner thru Advanced dancers!
Adam and Krystal Wilkerson
Level 1 + 2
Sunday
Library, German Society
Love the One You're With
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Having a great dance often comes down to the right mindset and the right tools for the job. There are all sorts of reasons that we have sub-par dances, but so many of them are fixable: getting stuck in your own head, struggling with disparate skill levels, having different dance backgrounds, and more. In this class, we’ll explore how to find the joyous things about the person you’re dancing with, and how to give them the best version of yourself as well.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
Level 1 + 2
Ballroom, German Society
Composition and Flow in Line of Dance Ballroomin'
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
How do you transition from one figure to another? How do you string them together to tell a cohesive story with the music? That's what composition is all about, and we want to help you find your flow in Line-of-Dance ballroomin'!
Adam and Krystal Wilkerson
Level 4 + 5
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Rhythms, Rhy-thms, Rhy-thy-thmss
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Dig into some different rhythms you can hear and use in blues. We’ll start with more foundational rhythms and how we can use and jam on them, and end with a few more cool & complex rhythms—all with plenty of time to explore and apply these in your dancing
Kenneth Shipp and Julie Brown
Level 3
Library, German Society
Grounded in the Blues: An Aesthetics Refresher
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
In blues, we move & dance in certain ways because blues is grounded in African and African-American dance & movement traditions. Take time during the weekend to get (re)grounded in these ways of moving and of relating to each other as we dance.
Julie Brown and Kenneth Shipp
Level 1 + 2
Ballroom, German Society
Expand Your Blues
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
Ever heard Japanese Blues? How about African blues? What about contemporary Blues from non blues artists from other areas of the Black musical landscape? Why *Does* blues by white artists feel different and why do some have soul? Explore the edges of blues outside of the highly traditional and expected sounds with Grey and expand your blues dancing.
Grey Armstrong
Level 4 + 5
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Voice: The Link Between Body and Brain
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
There’s a hard-to-describe magic that comes when someone is able to imagine movement with more richness and texture than the human body can really show. Somewhere between “just feeling it” and “just doing moves,” there lies a sweet spot of embodied, present dancing. This class might push you out of your comfort zone, but the hope is that it also provides you with a better ability to harness your personal authenticity without sacrificing your blues aesthetic.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
Level 3
Terrace, German Society
What Does It Mean to Be Part of the Blues Tradition
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Today blues is a worldwide phenomenon, both in dance and music. In both communities, conversations about "authenticity" and ownership run rampant, yet it always seems like there is a disconnect between the sides of the argument. What is the blues tradition, and what does it mean to fit into it? Come explore your musical ear, your relationship to the blues and discover what you may have been missing!
Grey Armstrong
Lunchtime Lecture
Library, German Society
Circles and Ciphers
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
Whether it’s a jam circle or cypher, social floor or competition space, communities come to circles to celebrate and/or battle it out. Learn how we all participate in these circles, how the line between audience and performer blurs, and how we lift each other up through support and challenge in these contexts.
Kenneth Shipp and Julie Brown
Level 1 + 2
Ballroom, German Society
Want to Look Cool? Make it Look Easy
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
Why is blues so easy to pick up and hard to master? We are going to break down the common pitfalls and go over some tips and tricks to keep your cool when trying to do hard things. Be that flawlessly recovering from a mistake, turning an accident into a moment or just doing something complex with a grace, this class can help!
Grey Armstrong
Level 3 + 4
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Master Class: Being Creative and Stuff
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
If your own muse has been a little shy, learn how to draw them out! We’ll find ways to get you inspired and get the ideas flowing no matter the circumstances.
The Legenthals and The Wilkersons
Level 5
Library, German Society
Developing Your Style
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Work on developing or refining your personal style in solo and partnered contexts, exploring who you are, what you enjoy, and what you want to project in blues contexts. Your personal style and individual voice are not only valued in blues, but are an essential and defining element when dancing blues and other African-American-created forms.
Kenneth Shipp and Julie Brown
All Levels
Ballroom, German Society
Dance With Any Body
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Let’s talk bodies and demystify some assumptions around roles, and bodies. Grey will go over some tools and modifications so anybody can confidently dance with any body. Be that yours, or someone else’s. We will work on techniques for expression in non-traditional roles, being a good base, floor work, trust, confidence and modifications for ability and various body differences.
Grey Armstrong
All Levels
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Practice Teaching Dance
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
If you're new to teaching blues dance and want to get your feet wet, this is the class for you! Targeted at newer teachers, we'll help you focus your lesson planning and movement development, and give you in-class hands-on time teaching a small group, complete with feedback on your methods!
Adam and Krystal Wilkerson
All Levels
Rathskeller or Terrace, German Society
Lecture: Finally Hearing the Rhythm Section
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
You’ve heard these phrases before- “the pocket”, “in front of the beat”, “lag”. But what you are actually supposed to hear- and how do you know when you’re hearing? We’re going to make use of technology and let you actually hear how the rhythm section works and how some of the commonly used jargon sounds like. This class will be approachable for all levels, whether you’re just learning about musicality or whether you’ve relied on “you’ll know it when you hear it” for far too long.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
All Levels
Classes by Level
Level 1 + 2
Library, German Society
Supportive Solo Dancing!
Saturday
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Welcome back! Feeling a little rusty? Shy or uneasy? I’ll let you in on a secret, we all are. Set your weekend up right with a gentle toe dip into solo dancing and jams. Join Grey as he demystifies and supports you in showing up as your best self, celebrating our community and learning a little dancing along the way!
Grey Armstrong
All Levels
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Breaking the Fourth Wall
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
From playing an instrument in your living room with friends to a large amphitheater - Musicians are living and feeling people. In a small Juke Joint, that fact is even more apparent when you are dancing just a few feet away from them. In this class, we are going to focus on ways to build and explore that relationship and bring your musician into your dance.
Kenneth Shipp and Krystal Wilkerson
All Levels
Library, German Society
Love The One You're With
Sunday
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Having a great dance often comes down to the right mindset and the right tools for the job. There are all sorts of reasons that we have sub-par dances, but so many of them are fixable: getting stuck in your own head, struggling with disparate skill levels, having different dance backgrounds, and more. In this class, we’ll explore how to find the joyous things about the person you’re dancing with, and how to give them the best version of yourself as well.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
Level 1 + 2
The Library, German Society
Developing Your Style
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Work on developing or refining your personal style in solo and partnered contexts, exploring who you are, what you enjoy, and what you want to project in blues contexts. Your personal style and individual voice are not only valued in blues, but are an essential and defining element when dancing blues and other African-American-created forms.
Julie Brown and Kenneth Shipp
All Levels
Rathskeller or Terrace, German Society
Lecture: Finally Hearing the Rhythm Section
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
You’ve heard these phrases before- “the pocket”, “in front of the beat”, “lag”. But what you are actually supposed to hear- and how do you know when you’re hearing? We’re going to make use of technology and let you actually hear how the rhythm section works and how some of the commonly used jargon sounds like. This class will be approachable for all levels, whether you’re just learning about musicality or whether you’ve relied on “you’ll know it when you hear it” for far too long.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
All Levels
Library, German Society
The Battle
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Battle is a choreographed dance that you learn in class and then perform at midnight on Saturday! Learn the choreo in this class so you can strut your stuff on the floor.
Mike Legenthal
All Levels
Library, German Society
The Coziest Close Embrace
Saturday
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Lots of dancers think that flash is what impresses partners. Ironically flash only impresses the audience. What most folks really want? A VERY cozy close embrace. Let’s take your close embrace to the next level. Learn to accommodate different body types, adjust your intimacy levels and ask for and say no to close embrace.
Grey Armstrong
Level 1 + 2
Library, German Society
Grounded in the Blues: An Aesthetics Refresher
Sunday
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
In blues, we move & dance in certain ways because blues is grounded in African and African-American dance & movement traditions. Take time during the weekend to get (re)grounded in these ways of moving and of relating to each other as we dance.
Kenneth Shipp and Julie Brown
Level 1 + 2
Ballroom, German Society
Dance With Any Body
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Let’s talk bodies and demystify some assumptions around roles, and bodies. Grey will go over some tools and modifications so anybody can confidently dance with any body. Be that yours, or someone else’s. We will work on techniques for expression in non-traditional roles, being a good base, floor work, trust, confidence and modifications for ability and various body differences.
Grey Armstrong
All Levels
Ballroom, German Society
The Battle
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Battle is a choreographed dance that you learn in class and then perform at midnight on Saturday! Learn the choreo in this class so you can strut your stuff on the floor.
Dan Legenthal
All Levels
Rathskeller, German Society
Jukin' Idioms: Blending Rhythms in Partnership
Saturday
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Jukin' idioms provide us with a wide variety of foot rhythms! In this class, we'll talk finding a shared baseline with our partner, then finding variation and independent expression of rhythms within the partnership.
Krystal and Adam Wilkerson
Level 1 + 2
Library, German Society
Circles and Ciphers
Sunday
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
Whether it’s a jam circle or cypher, social floor or competition space, communities come to circles to celebrate and/or battle it out. Learn how we all participate in these circles, how the line between audience and performer blurs, and how we lift each other up through support and challenge in these contexts.
Kenneth Shipp and Julie Brown
Level 1 + 2
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Practice Teaching Dance
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
If you're new to teaching blues dance and want to get your feet wet, this is the class for you! Targeted at newer teachers, we'll help you focus your lesson planning and movement development, and give you in-class hands-on time teaching a small group, complete with feedback on your methods!
Krystal and Adam Wilkerson
All Levels
Level 3
Library, German Society
Supportive Solo Dancing!
Saturday
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Welcome back! Feeling a little rusty? Shy or uneasy? I’ll let you in on a secret, we all are. Set your weekend up right with a gentle toe dip into solo dancing and jams. Join Grey as he demystifies and supports you in showing up as your best self, celebrating our community and learning a little dancing along the way!
Grey Armstrong
All Levels
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Breaking the Fourth Wall
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
From playing an instrument in your living room with friends to a large amphitheater - Musicians are living and feeling people. In a small Juke Joint, that fact is even more apparent when you are dancing just a few feet away from them. In this class, we are going to focus on ways to build and explore that relationship and bring your musician into your dance.
Kenneth Shipp and Krystal Wilkerson
All Levels
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Rhythms, Rhy-thms, Rhy-thy-thmss
Sunday
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Dig into some different rhythms you can hear and use in blues. We’ll start with more foundational rhythms and how we can use and jam on them, and end with a few more cool & complex rhythms—all with plenty of time to explore and apply these in your dancing.
Kenneth Shipp and Julie Brown
Level 3
The Library, German Society
Developing Your Style
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Work on developing or refining your personal style in solo and partnered contexts, exploring who you are, what you enjoy, and what you want to project in blues contexts. Your personal style and individual voice are not only valued in blues, but are an essential and defining element when dancing blues and other African-American-created forms.
Julie Brown and Kenneth Shipp
All Levels
Rathskeller or Terrace, German Society
Lecture: Finally Hearing the Rhythm Section
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
You’ve heard these phrases before- “the pocket”, “in front of the beat”, “lag”. But what you are actually supposed to hear- and how do you know when you’re hearing? We’re going to make use of technology and let you actually hear how the rhythm section works and how some of the commonly used jargon sounds like. This class will be approachable for all levels, whether you’re just learning about musicality or whether you’ve relied on “you’ll know it when you hear it” for far too long.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
All Levels
Library, German Society
The Battle
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Battle is a choreographed dance that you learn in class and then perform at midnight on Saturday! Learn the choreo in this class so you can strut your stuff on the floor.
Mike Legenthal
All Levels
Ballroom, German Society
Composition and Variations in Close Embrace
Saturday
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Close embrace is more than a hug. In this class, we'll work on texture variation, position changes, and partnership independence in close embrace to help you find your voice with your partner!
Krystal and Adam Wilkerson
Level 3 + 4
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Voice: The Link Between Body and Brain
Sunday
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
There’s a hard-to-describe magic that comes when someone is able to imagine movement with more richness and texture than the human body can really show. Somewhere between “just feeling it” and “just doing moves,” there lies a sweet spot of embodied, present dancing. This class might push you out of your comfort zone, but the hope is that it also provides you with a better ability to harness your personal authenticity without sacrificing your blues aesthetic.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
Level 3
Ballroom, German Society
Dance With Any Body
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Let’s talk bodies and demystify some assumptions around roles, and bodies. Grey will go over some tools and modifications so anybody can confidently dance with any body. Be that yours, or someone else’s. We will work on techniques for expression in non-traditional roles, being a good base, floor work, trust, confidence and modifications for ability and various body differences.
Grey Armstrong
All Levels
Ballroom, German Society
The Battle
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Battle is a choreographed dance that you learn in class and then perform at midnight on Saturday! Learn the choreo in this class so you can strut your stuff on the floor.
Dan Legenthal
All Levels
Ballroom, German Society
Take Your Jukin' To The Next Level
Saturday
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
You know fishtails, mooches and grinds. Now what? How do we make moves we learned in Blues 101 exciting again? It’s time to make some art! This class will challenge your creativity and help you explore even deeper connection with your partners!
Grey Armstrong
Level 3 + 4
Ballroom, German Society
Want to Look Cool? Make It Look Easy
Sunday
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
Why is blues so easy to pick up and hard to master? We are going to break down the common pitfalls and go over some tips and tricks to keep your cool when trying to do hard things. Be that flawlessly recovering from a mistake, turning an accident into a moment or just doing something complex with a grace, this class can help!
Grey Armstrong
Level 3 + 4
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Practice Teaching Dance
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
If you're new to teaching blues dance and want to get your feet wet, this is the class for you! Targeted at newer teachers, we'll help you focus your lesson planning and movement development, and give you in-class hands-on time teaching a small group, complete with feedback on your methods!
Krystal and Adam Wilkerson
All Levels
Level 4
Ballroom, German Society
Auditions
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Auditions for Level 4 and 5.
Miscellaneous Instructors
Level 4 + 5
Ballroom, German Society
The Battle
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Battle is a choreographed dance that you learn in class and then perform at midnight on Saturday! Learn the choreo in this class so you can strut your stuff on the floor.
Dan Legenthal
All Levels
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Advanced Partnering Tools For Your Tool Kit
Saturday
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Ok, let’s say that your dancing toolkit includes the basics (hammer, screwdriver), and the not-so-basics (tile saw, grinder). But what about the cabbing arbor and the duplex rabbet plane of your dancing? Come try out some of Mike and Dan’s favorite niche tools for that extra touch of partnership magic!
*This class might break you a little.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
Level 4 + 5
Ballroom, German Society
Expand Your Blues
Sunday
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
Ever heard Japanese Blues? How about African blues? What about contemporary Blues from non blues artists from other areas of the Black musical landscape? Why *Does* blues by white artists feel different and why do some have soul? Explore the edges of blues outside of the highly traditional and expected sounds with Grey and expand your blues dancing.
Grey Armstrong
Level 4 + 5
Ballroom, German Society
Dance With Any Body
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Let’s talk bodies and demystify some assumptions around roles, and bodies. Grey will go over some tools and modifications so anybody can confidently dance with any body. Be that yours, or someone else’s. We will work on techniques for expression in non-traditional roles, being a good base, floor work, trust, confidence and modifications for ability and various body differences.
Grey Armstrong
All Levels
Library, German Society
Supportive Solo Dancing!
Saturday
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Welcome back! Feeling a little rusty? Shy or uneasy? I’ll let you in on a secret, we all are. Set your weekend up right with a gentle toe dip into solo dancing and jams. Join Grey as he demystifies and supports you in showing up as your best self, celebrating our community and learning a little dancing along the way!
Grey Armstrong
All Levels
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Breaking the Fourth Wall
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
From playing an instrument in your living room with friends to a large amphitheater - Musicians are living and feeling people. In a small Juke Joint, that fact is even more apparent when you are dancing just a few feet away from them. In this class, we are going to focus on ways to build and explore that relationship and bring your musician into your dance.
Kenneth Shipp and Krystal Wilkerson
All Levels
Ballroom, German Society
Take Your Jukin' To The Next Level
Saturday
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
You know fishtails, mooches and grinds. Now what? How do we make moves we learned in Blues 101 exciting again? It’s time to make some art! This class will challenge your creativity and help you explore even deeper connection with your partners!
Grey Armstrong
Level 3 + 4
Ballroom, German Society
Want to Look Cool? Make It Look Easy
Sunday
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
Why is blues so easy to pick up and hard to master? We are going to break down the common pitfalls and go over some tips and tricks to keep your cool when trying to do hard things. Be that flawlessly recovering from a mistake, turning an accident into a moment or just doing something complex with a grace, this class can help!
Grey Armstrong
Level 3 + 4
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Practice Teaching Dance
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
If you're new to teaching blues dance and want to get your feet wet, this is the class for you! Targeted at newer teachers, we'll help you focus your lesson planning and movement development, and give you in-class hands-on time teaching a small group, complete with feedback on your methods!
Krystal and Adam Wilkerson
All Levels
Library, German Society
The Battle
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Battle is a choreographed dance that you learn in class and then perform at midnight on Saturday! Learn the choreo in this class so you can strut your stuff on the floor.
Mike Legenthal
All Levels
Ballroom, German Society
Composition and Variations in Close Embrace
Saturday
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Close embrace is more than a hug. In this class, we'll work on texture variation, position changes, and partnership independence in close embrace to help you find your voice with your partner!
Krystal and Adam Wilkerson
Level 3 + 4
Ballroom, Ruba Club
Composition & Flow in Line of Dance Ballrooomin'
Sunday
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
How do you transition from one figure to another? How do you string them together to tell a cohesive story with the music? That's what composition is all about, and we want to help you find your flow in Line-of-Dance ballroomin'!
Adam and Krystal Wilkerson
Level 4 + 5
The Library, German Society
Developing Your Style
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Work on developing or refining your personal style in solo and partnered contexts, exploring who you are, what you enjoy, and what you want to project in blues contexts. Your personal style and individual voice are not only valued in blues, but are an essential and defining element when dancing blues and other African-American-created forms.
Julie Brown and Kenneth Shipp
All Levels
Rathskeller or Terrace, German Society
Lecture: Finally Hearing the Rhythm Section
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
You’ve heard these phrases before- “the pocket”, “in front of the beat”, “lag”. But what you are actually supposed to hear- and how do you know when you’re hearing? We’re going to make use of technology and let you actually hear how the rhythm section works and how some of the commonly used jargon sounds like. This class will be approachable for all levels, whether you’re just learning about musicality or whether you’ve relied on “you’ll know it when you hear it” for far too long.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
All Levels
Level 5
Ballroom, German Society
Auditions
Saturday
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Auditions for Level 4 and 5.
Miscellaneous Instructors
Level 4 + 5
Ballroom, German Society
The Battle
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Battle is a choreographed dance that you learn in class and then perform at midnight on Saturday! Learn the choreo in this class so you can strut your stuff on the floor.
Dan Legenthal
All Levels
Library, German Society
Master Class: Freedom in the Blues
Saturday
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Explore what your body can do! Highs and lows, different shapes, cool and creative movements. Feel less limited within yourself, explore the possibilities, and create some cool shit!
Kenneth Shipp and Julie Brown
Level 5
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Master Class: Being Creative and Stuff
Sunday
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
If your own muse has been a little shy, learn how to draw them out! We’ll find ways to get you inspired and get the ideas flowing no matter the circumstances.
The Legenthals and The Wilkersons
Level 5
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Practice Teaching Dance
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
If you're new to teaching blues dance and want to get your feet wet, this is the class for you! Targeted at newer teachers, we'll help you focus your lesson planning and movement development, and give you in-class hands-on time teaching a small group, complete with feedback on your methods!
Krystal and Adam Wilkerson
All Levels
Library, German Society
Supportive Solo Dancing!
Saturday
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Welcome back! Feeling a little rusty? Shy or uneasy? I’ll let you in on a secret, we all are. Set your weekend up right with a gentle toe dip into solo dancing and jams. Join Grey as he demystifies and supports you in showing up as your best self, celebrating our community and learning a little dancing along the way!
Grey Armstrong
All Levels
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Breaking the Fourth Wall
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
From playing an instrument in your living room with friends to a large amphitheater - Musicians are living and feeling people. In a small Juke Joint, that fact is even more apparent when you are dancing just a few feet away from them. In this class, we are going to focus on ways to build and explore that relationship and bring your musician into your dance.
Kenneth Shipp and Krystal Wilkerson
All Levels
Ballroom, Ruba Club
Composition & Flow in Line of Dance Ballrooomin'
Sunday
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
How do you transition from one figure to another? How do you string them together to tell a cohesive story with the music? That's what composition is all about, and we want to help you find your flow in Line-of-Dance ballroomin'!
Adam and Krystal Wilkerson
Level 4 + 5
The Library, German Society
Developing Your Style
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Work on developing or refining your personal style in solo and partnered contexts, exploring who you are, what you enjoy, and what you want to project in blues contexts. Your personal style and individual voice are not only valued in blues, but are an essential and defining element when dancing blues and other African-American-created forms.
Julie Brown and Kenneth Shipp
All Levels
Rathskeller or Terrace, German Society
Lecture: Finally Hearing the Rhythm Section
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
You’ve heard these phrases before- “the pocket”, “in front of the beat”, “lag”. But what you are actually supposed to hear- and how do you know when you’re hearing? We’re going to make use of technology and let you actually hear how the rhythm section works and how some of the commonly used jargon sounds like. This class will be approachable for all levels, whether you’re just learning about musicality or whether you’ve relied on “you’ll know it when you hear it” for far too long.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
All Levels
Library, German Society
The Battle
Saturday
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Battle is a choreographed dance that you learn in class and then perform at midnight on Saturday! Learn the choreo in this class so you can strut your stuff on the floor.
Mike Legenthal
All Levels
Upstairs Cabaret, Ruba Club
Advanced Partnering Tools For Your Tool Kit
Saturday
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Ok, let’s say that your dancing toolkit includes the basics (hammer, screwdriver), and the not-so-basics (tile saw, grinder). But what about the cabbing arbor and the duplex rabbet plane of your dancing? Come try out some of Mike and Dan’s favorite niche tools for that extra touch of partnership magic!
*This class might break you a little.
Mike and Dan Legenthal
Level 4 + 5
Ballroom, German Society
Expand Your Blues
Sunday
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
Ever heard Japanese Blues? How about African blues? What about contemporary Blues from non blues artists from other areas of the Black musical landscape? Why *Does* blues by white artists feel different and why do some have soul? Explore the edges of blues outside of the highly traditional and expected sounds with Grey and expand your blues dancing.
Grey Armstrong
Level 4 + 5
Ballroom, German Society
Dance With Any Body
Sunday
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Let’s talk bodies and demystify some assumptions around roles, and bodies. Grey will go over some tools and modifications so anybody can confidently dance with any body. Be that yours, or someone else’s. We will work on techniques for expression in non-traditional roles, being a good base, floor work, trust, confidence and modifications for ability and various body differences.
Grey Armstrong
All Levels