African Dance Roots of Blues and Slow Jazz : Dance Workshop

Join Megan Taylor Morrison and Joe DeMers for a 4-hour dance workshop on partner Blues and Slow Jazz dance. Class Description From body posture to polyrhythms, the African roots of Blues and Jazz dance are clear. In this workshop, participants delve into the connection between the two forms in order to bring the raw joy, full-body expression and groundedness of African movement back into the dance. We'll combine short historical contexts, solo movement, and partner choreography in this 4-hour workshop. Come prepared to sweat! Goals For This Class *Bring some of the African dance movement and energy into our dancing *Develop lead/follow partner connection for social dancing these new movements *Share more about the history and context of this dance we love so much Schedule 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: Arrive + Check-in 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.: Blues and Jazz Dance Connections to African Movement (Solo) 11:55 a.m. - 1:05 p.m.: Jookin’ Social Dancing With African Dance Style (Partnered) 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Slow Jazz Dancing with African Dance Style (Partnerd) Register: https://african_roots.eventbrite.com Cost: $25 (pre-reg) / $30 (at door) Location: South High School 1700 E. Louisiana Ave. Denver, CO 80210 Megan’s Bio Megan Taylor Morrison began lindy hop and African dance in 2005 and began teaching dances of the swing era shortly thereafter. In the last 14 years, she has competed, performed, taught and social danced in cities across the United States. In 2014, Megan spent three weeks in Guinea, West Africa where she participated in an intensive dance program that included four hours of dance classes per day with some of Guinea's top teachers. She continues to be an avid student of this beautiful, dynamic artform and to explore connections between the two dances. Joe's Bio Joe DeMers is an international champion Blues and Lindy Hop instructor from Denver, CO. He has toured the world teaching and performing from South Korea to France, Canada, Israel and all over the US. He loves to dance and is proud to be a dancer, performer, competitor, and instructor. In 2008, he was awarded the Spirit of Lindy Hop award at Camp Jitterbug. In 2013 and 2014, he won the title of International Blues Dance Champion. He is the leading ambassador for Drag Blues, a contemporary Blues dance fusing Ballroomin', Strut, and Slow Drag. While based on vintage traveling Blues dances, Drag Blues has a defined technique and incorporates Swing moves and movements. Joe is also a proponent of Frame Matching and the creator of ΔpTed and the Hierarchy of Creating Partner Connections. These frameworks analyze and codify partner-dance connection. He has choreographed for and performed in many theater productions, including SWING! the Musical and Home for the Holidays. Additionally, he is the 2015 National Dance Teacher of the Year, teaching dance in Denver Public Schools as his day job. He enjoys Korean BBQ, anime, and long walks on the beach. For more information on him, or Frame Matching and ΔpTed, check out his website at joeandnelle.com. Watch his free How to Dance Drag Blues instructional videos on youtube: http://youtu.be/tuIt9ooDKXE. You can see his latest Contemporary Blue routine: http://youtu.be/ySJGx4SIBsE.