Intro to Blues - Saturday 26th July 2025 - 1pm
There’s a dance that doesn’t ask for performance, only presence. The kind where every step is a conversation, every pause a possibility, and the music wraps around you… this is Blues dance. Join Natalie and Marcel for an afternoon of discovering connection, embodying musicality, and expressing yourself in your own unique way.
Over the afternoon, you’ll dive into the rich traditions of Ballroomin’ and Jukin’ style Blues idioms. This workshop will journey from the partner dances of the nineteenth-century American South to the urban grooves that emerged when Blues went electric in cities like Chicago.
No need to know all the moves—just bring your curiosity and a willingness to listen with your body. Whether you're brand new to Blues dance or a seasoned mover, this is your chance to experience an afternoon of musical expression, soulful connection, and irresistible rhythm.
Your Teachers:
Marcel’s dance journey was sparked by one core, insatiable, desperate need; a distraction from a university degree. Little did he know where those first few, awkward steps would lead him. He has had the pleasure of being a guest in a number of cultures’ dances, and has travelled all over the world learning, teaching and competing (having placed in comps both nationally and internationally).
Through Marcel and Therese's passion project, Dance the Blues, they along with Nat get to share their love for partner dancing, and that at its core, it is all about playfulness and connection; with each other and with the music.
Natalie is a passionate blues dancer with over twelve years of experience in partner dancing. Based in Brisbane and part of the Dance the Blues teaching team, she draws inspiration from the rich history and improvisational spirit of blues dance. Her journey has taken her to workshops, classes, and festivals across Australia, New Orleans, Mexico, and Italy, shaping her unique teaching style and deepening her love for the art.
An active member of the Australian blues dance community, she has also contributed to events like Borderline Blues and Hearken the Blues. In the classroom, Natalie fosters an inclusive and supportive environment where dancers of all levels can explore creativity, connection, and playfulness, with a strong focus on partner dynamics, improvisation, and personal expression.
This is a 2.5 hour workshop that kicks of at 1pm, be sure to arrive 15 minutes early
This workshop is aimed at:
- absolute beginners who've been wanting to learn to swing dance, but are unable to attend regular weekly classes.
- beginners looking to fast-track their learning or cement knowledge gained from weekly classes.
- intermediate students wishing to learn the other lead/follow role.
You don’t have to bring your own partner, as we’ll be rotating partners, but if you can encourage a friend to give it a go and try the opposite role to you, that’s excellent. If you bring a partner and wish to stay together we can accommodate that, but bear in mind that dancing with many different partners will help you to get the steps faster with fewer technical feedback loops.
LOCATION: St Augustine’s Church Hall, Hamilton
COST: $50
WHAT TO WEAR:
Deodorant! Please use low-scented or hypoallergenic deodorants and apply before you enter. Don’t wear perfume, as some people have allergies.
Dancing is exercise! So wear clothes you can move freely and sweat in. Most people go fairly casual to classes and save their fancy duds for going out social dancing. Some people like to dress a little bit fancy wherever they go, and we love to see it! You do you, swing kid. You do you
Shoes! Wear comfortable shoes that won't kick off your feet and that aren't too grippy. The floor is slightly sprung timber with medium grip.
The room is well air-conditioned, so if you are a person who chills quickly when you stop moving, you might want to bring a layer you can quickly throw off and on.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
In partnered swing dancing there are two roles, Lead and Follow, which are both equally challenging and fun in their own distinct ways. These roles have never been strictly gender-specific and we have no problems at all if you are a woman who chooses to lead or a man who chooses to follow. We only hope to achieve an even balance of the roles in class if possible. If there are a couple of bonus leads or follows don’t worry, the class will rotate and everyone will get to try the steps with multiple partners. Occasionally we’ll have one couple who want to stick together and we can accommodate that. At the beginning of a Level 1 class we often go through some easy solo warm-up movement to music. Then we teach a “Basic” repeatable footwork pattern that will be the basis for the additional moves we will teach you later in the class. Students are encouraged to ask questions of the teachers if things are unclear or something isn’t working, however we ask that students refrain from giving each other unsolicited feedback. There may be some more experienced students or some of our other teachers dancing in the group to even up the numbers and help the class progress more quickly. You may ask your partner for brief feedback, but please do not hold up the rotation or be talking with your partner while the teachers are trying to talk.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Our current COVID-19 Policy can be found here: https://cornerpocketswing.com.au/covid-19
Attendees at our classes and events must abide by our Code of Conduct at all times.
You may also find some useful info in our FAQ: https://cornerpocketswing.com.au/faq
If you have questions about anything at all please email: info@cornerpocketswing.com.au