Julie Brown Teaches & DJs Back Room Blues, plus Birthday Jam! (2026-7-30)

The incomparable Julie Brown returns to Back Room to teach intermediate and beginner blues dancing classes AND DJ, along with our own Colin Hay! Intermediate lesson 7–8pm ($25 at the door, no pre-registration) Beginner-friendly lesson 8:15–9pm ($10 at the door, no pre-registration) Paying for either class gets you into the dance for free! Cash or card at the door. 9pm–11:30pm Blues Dance ($10 entry or free with class) Halfway through the dance, we'll celebrate July birthdays and out-of-town guests with a "steal" jam. No partner or prior experience is required! If you can, wear shoes that can slide. Please avoid wearing strong fragrances. Most people come to dance with everyone there (but if you'd prefer to stick with one person that's okay too). More about Julie: Julie Brown (any/all pronouns) is a Boston-based blues dance teacher, DJ, choreographer, competitor, organizer, and enthusiastic student. She has been participating in blues dance since 2004 and has since gone on to teach blues dancing around the globe and won many national competitions. As a teacher, Julie aims to help students connect with and understand blues dance’s deep roots, find their own voice, and connect to themselves & others authentically, joyfully, and respectfully. Julie has taught blues dancing in Austin, Boston, San Francisco, Seoul, London, Chicago, Zurich, and many places in between. They are grateful to have won or placed in many solo & partnered blues competitions, including at bluesSHOUT!, Blues Muse, Mile High Blues, Steel City Blues, Northstar Blues, and more. Julie is continually reconnecting to their love of solo blues dancing, working on Chicago-style Stepping, headstands, & leading blues, as well as continuing to learn about blues history and its connections to later and present-day Black social dances & music. *photo by Jerry Almonte