Program – HÜLLY BLUES

Coming Where I’m From: Blues Fundamentals

Blues as an improvisational folk art form depends on a shared set of value based rules that define the language of the Blues. In this class we’ll teach the rules that will give you a foundation to build your Blues upon.

Southern Stuff: Applied Aesthetics 1 & 2

In this two part class we will learn a number of basic steps to idiom dances, learning how they build off the same fundamentals, but executed in a way that results in different dances.

Rhythm Nation: Let the Music Move You

Understanding how the cultural expression of African-Americans translated into both music and movement allows us to take our own ideas and thoughts and translate them in a way that is both authentic to ourselves AND to Blues.

One Nation Under A Groove: Funky Blues

The ability to dance in a rhythmically percussive and energetic style with relaxed coolness and lag is key to expressing the dichotomy found in Blues music, and few styles of Blues depend on it to the degree that Funky Blues does. We’ll learn an idiom style suited to exploring and taking advantage of this dichotomy as well as how to adapt what we’ve learned to all of our Blues dances.

This Is How We Do It: Bring the Party

Blues music was the party music of its time, and the idiom and freestyle dances are the accompanying party dances. We’ll work on how to channel that party vibe in our dancing and learn how to let go of over-intellectualization and over-analyzation.

Look At Me Now: Badass Ballroom with Sidney Bechet

Far too many contemporary Blues dancers default to Ballroom Blues dances and moves when it is musically inappropriate and rely on their own cultural values when dancing the Ballroom Blues styles. We’ll center your connection to the music and to Black cultural valued movement principles putting the emphasis back where it belongs, on the Blues party of Ballroom Blues.

Rise: Texas Shuffle with Lowell Fulson

A Californian dance grown out of Texas Blues as played along the West Coast of the US. You’ll learn the basics and the idiom’s signature shuffling footwork and how to express yourself to the music within one of our absolute favorite dances.

Get in the mood with Koko Taylor

Get ready to groove with Koko Taylor. A discovery of her musical world.

Blues conversations 1 (Body Shapes in action) & 2 (Play with Rhythms)

How to create conversations in your partnered dance, whatever your role is. Both classes can be attended separately and will explore call and response techniques, blues rhythms, motions and shapes to give you tools to express yourself more.

Embrace New Orleans Blues Jazz

Intimate time with yourself, your partners and the music on slow New Orleans Blues tunes. Slow down and anchor yourself in the ground to infuse music in your body.

Groove in threes : Chicago Triple

One hour to dance triple rhythms into fast Chicago Blues music and feel relaxed in it. This class is open for beginners but will have some challenges for the more experienced dancers all at the same time.

A time to travel – Stride & Glide Ballroomin’

Back to early jazz Blues music, join a giant circle to sneak and glide on the floor.
With its particular line of dance from Ballroomin’ Blues and its close embrace position, this session will explore traveling steps and body involvement.

Blues meets Latin

How can we implement Latin Rhythms into Blues and Jazz music and dance? One thing is for sure, you will have to use your hips!

This year is open level!
You will be able to choose between two strands of Theme Classes: Basics Themes and Geeky Themes.

If you’re a accomplished dancer who wants to revisit the Basics (yes, it’s the best you can do), you can choose to do it!

If you’re new to Blues and have no idea about the different idioms, you can choose to do the nerdy class about the Strut.

Having open levels has many advantages.

It invites the more advanced dancers to be super clear with their moves when they dance with newer dancers and it allows newer dancers to grow faster thanks to the influence of more experienced dancers.
We mix more and hopefully set aside some hierarchies
Open Levels reflect the reality of the dance floor better and invites you to adapt to every person for who they are and what they bring to the dance rather than their “level”.
It allows classes to be about important concepts rather than about moves. And we love that!

We offer some fun and relaxing, non-dancing activities:

We will have a professional massage therapist at your service.

You will find, at the reception desk, a list/time table to sign in with your name for 30 or 60 min slots. Please be at the massage place on time, and bring the money in cash and in the right amount with you. Prices: 25 min: 20-30 €, 55 min: 40-60 € (gliding scale).

There is a sauna which can be used in the evenings. Please contact us if you want to use it (so we make sure it is hot by the time you want to enter). We a need to know at least 2 hours in advance to heat it up. Price: included in your package. Please make sure nobody is alone in the sauna.

We will also have a book table ready for you, chosen carefully by Michael, our fellow organisor, who happens to own a Bookstore in Bremen 🙂

We hope you enjoy the variety!