Blues and Jazz Workshops w Jamica Zion. Presented by the PNW Blues Collab

PB&J and Savoy Blues Underground are collaborating to hire the best blues instructors from around the country! The PNW Blues Collab. A two day Blues & Jazz dance workshop with Jamica Zion. 6 hours of instruction! $50 full pass online $60 full pass at the door $15 per workshop Mask Optional. Rapid Test Required ( free at venue or bring a time stamped photo with your intitials on the test ) Saturday the 9th: 1 til 2 Class 1: Close Embrace and Slow Drag Contrary to popular representation, there’s more than one way to connect in close embrace. This class will guide students to negotiate close embrace so that each person enjoys the cozy and connected position. We will practice the Slow Drag, one of the first recognized Blues dances. Through this dance, the class will assess their own sense of rhythm and taking their time, and the ability to keep their dance simple but layered and dynamic. No experience needed, all levels welcome. 2:15 til 3:15 Class 2: One and Two Step Dances Blues and Jazz music each have many one and two step, walking based, dances. On the outside they appear to many as easy, but actually there is a lot of technique and practice that even goes into it. We will practice ‘dancing’ our walking (Jamica calls it dalking or wancing lol, but ultimately it’s just dancing) at different tempos and styles of music. No experience needed, all levels welcome. 3:30 til 4:30 Class 3: Slow Lindy There are a lot of lovely slow swing songs, but there’s more to dancing to the slower tempos than just slowing things down. By the end of class you will be dancing more grounded and connected to your partner and the music. Need to be comfortable with the basic steps in lindy hop. Sunday the 10th 1 til 2 Class 4: Fast Blues It’s a popular misconception that blues music is just slow and sexy. There are a lot of upbeat and energetic blues songs and Jamica will show you some ways to dance to it! No experience needed, all levels welcome, but comfort with close embrace will be helpful for part of class. 2:15 til 3:15 Class 5: Blues Sampler This class will give you a taste of a few different styles of blues music and their dances: Piedmont Triple, Chicago Triple, and Funky Butt. No experience needed, all levels welcome, but comfort with close embrace will be helpful for part of class. 3:30 til 430 Class 6: Blues and Lindy Crossover These two dances have so much in common… we’ll take everything we’ve learned throughout the weekend to experiment and enjoy freestyling by truly listening to the music and accessing our unique ‘tool kits’. Need to be comfortable with the basic steps in lindy hop and have taken at least two blues classes. About Jamica: Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Jamica Zion takes pride in being a groovy solo dancer, a dynamic follow, and rising lead. Jamica aims for range, not just in connection and style, but across genres too! They hold multiple titles in Blues and Lindy Hop contests from top US events including Lindy Focus, Camp Jitterbug, Beantown, and Camp Hollywood. As a solo artist, Jamica has prioritized performance over contests so instead of lots of shiny titles, she has a diverse and abundant performance portfolio (check some out on YouTube)! When Jamica is not social dancing, teaching, or working on choreography, she is likely spending time with her dog, reading, playing video games, napping, or relaxing with loved ones. Jamica's approach towards sharing dance with others includes a critical understanding and appreciation of its history and culture, while simultaneously ushering students to build their own styles and meaningful connections to it. Jamica draws on their professional training from working with organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, and a long educational background which includes nearly three degrees in Sociology. This unique blend of experiences, pedagogy, and knowledge allows Jamica to deliver inclusive and culturally responsible classes that are creative, thought provoking, and original! Playlist of some of Jamica’s recent and favorite performances! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3mEui1kJF-5JhYcluLquzs1aw54NbMMI Follow Jamica on Instagram: @jamaaagram https://www.instagram.com/jamaaagram/ If you would like to attend from out of town and need housing, please email [email protected] we will try to connect you with community members.