We are delighted to announce our 4-week BLUES Fast Track prior to Swing Fix on Tuesday nights! Come join us and get introduced to this amazing family of dances with 150+ year history and a great variety of music.
What? fun and friendly introduction to the family of Blues dances
When? Tuesdays 19:00 - 20:00 starting 30 May for 4 weeks
Where? St. Columba’s Hall, entrance on Blue Boar St. through the Bear pub garden
How much? £7 per week or £25 for all 4 weeks (includes entry to Swing Fix Social from 21:00). You can also pre-book the Swing Basics class (20:00 - 21:00) for those 4 weeks and save (37£ total).
FAQs
What is Blues dancing?
Blues dances are a family of Black American vernacular dances done to Blues music - of which there is a ton of variety! From slow and intense via country to fast and funky, Blues music has everything to offer, so it never gets boring on the dance floor! Blues can be danced solo, with a partner or jamming in groups but one aspect is always the same: it's all about self-expression to the music.
In this introductionary course we will look at a few specific Blues dances and the foundational principles that unite them. We won't just throw moves around but focus on connection, musicality and body movement.
What does it look like? Check out an example here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwdF82eehSo
Will the classes be beginner friendly?
Absolutely. For best results we recommend attending all 4 weeks as we will cover different topics / styles in each class.
Do I need to book in advance?
We will be running the 4 week block as a progressive course so if you’re new to Blues dancing, we would recommend doing all 4 weeks. You can pre-book the block at a discount. If you’ve done some Blues dancing before and are comfortable dancing in close embrace, or are very good with picking up new material quickly you’re welcome to drop in as well.
Please note that we accept card payments or pre-booking only.
What if I want to do the Swing Basics class as well?
You're very welcome to stay for the Swing Basics class which runs from 8-9pm and we will be offering a discounted rate of £3 per class (i.e. £10 for Blues + Swing Basics). You can either pre-book that as well and save the hassle on the door or buy a top-up on the night.
When can I practice?
The Swing Fix social runs from 9-10:15pm and we’ll be playing some Blues tunes towards the end of the social.
What should I wear?
We recommend light, comfortable clothes in which you can move freely. For some of the footwork it can be practical to wear shoes with slidey soles, but it is by no means necessary.
What if I want more Blues dancing in my life after these 4 weeks?
If you have a ticket to Oxford Lindy Exchange (16-18 June), there will be one, possibly even two Blues afterparties! At the moment there isn't any regular Blues dancing in Oxford, but if there is enough interest, who knows what the future will bring. ;)
The best Blues social dance in the UK is currently Blues at the Ritzy in London (last Friday of the month in Brixton always featuring great live music) and we do occasionally organise group trips from Oxford.