London Balboa Workshop by DanceMode

London Balboa Workshop Original Balboa • Movement • Musicality • Foundation Join Brenda Jean Russell for a deep dive into the essence of Original Balboa—the smooth, subtle jazz dance rooted in the crowded ballrooms of the 1930s–40s. This workshop is designed to give you both a clear technical foundation and a felt sense of the dance—how it lives in the body, the music, and the partnership. ⸻ 🕐 Schedule 1:00–1:30 — Movement Session We begin with a guided movement session to awaken the body—exploring alignment, pulse, and coordination to support ease and efficiency in your dancing. 1:30–3:00 — The Essence of Original Balboa We’ll work from the foundational pure Balboa vocabulary: • Box step • Progressive (downhold) • Starter step From there, we’ll explore: • Direction & spatial awareness • Timing & pulse (the heart of the dance) • Lilt & musical phrasing • Body shaping & connection • Intro to ad-libs 3:00–3:30 — Break Bring snacks, hydrate, and rest. 3:30–5:00 — Ad-libs & Rotational Concepts We expand into creativity and variation through: • The 4 Balboa rotations • Developing ad-libs from the core basics • How everything builds from simple, repeatable structures ⸻ ✨ What You’ll Gain All ad-libs in Balboa come from a small set of foundations—when you understand those deeply, the dance opens up. This workshop will: • Give you a complete picture of original Balboa as it was socially danced • Strengthen your technique, clarity, and connection • Expand your musicality and creative options • Help you develop a feel for the dance, not just shapes Whether you’re brand new or have been dancing for decades, you’ll walk away with: → Technique refinements → New variations and ideas → A deeper understanding of the dance → And a fresh perspective on this elegant, grounded jazz form Location Bang Studios 8 Marylebone Passage London W1W 8EX United Kingdom 💸 Pricing • £50 Early Bird (through May 10) • £60 Full Workshop • £35 Half Day (first session) Registration https://forms.gle/F1dFEc1Gf5EAeQeQ6