Week number four for Jon & Carsie’s Blues Series… except Carsie won’t be there. Instead, Kerri will be taking the reigns for this class. Jesse & Cheryl will hold down the beginner class, Stuart’s bustin’ swedish heads, and we’ve got Father Mike back to DJ this week.

See you dancin’!

Carl Nelson & Joanna Lucero are extremely talented dancers hailing from Montreal and Rochester respectively. Carl is now in NYC and Joanna is soon off to Atlanta, so finding them in Philadelphia is definitely a treat. These guys are teaching a workshop for us on Wednesday July 16th from 8-10PM at Studio 34. If you register by Tuesday, July 15th, the workshop will just be $10, and $15 if you pay at the door on the day of the event.

In order to register, visit our sign up page:
http://lab.socializr.com/event/375440343.

Read more for a bio on Carl. Read the rest of this entry »

Fantastic news, labbers. An incredible group of blues dancers and instructors has elected to host the world’s first all-blues follower-centric workshop weekend right here in Philadelphia.

Save the date and book your travel!

Philly Lindy and Blues is proud to present the world’s first follow-created blues weekend:

Four of the best blues instructors on the East Coast, each has struck a unique balance between creative expression and responsive following. The Blues Muses are:

Megan Adair, Knoxville, TN
Heather Adams, Knoxville, TN
Carsie Blanton, Philadelphia, PA
Mike (the Girl) Legett, Atlanta, GA

These ladies are posting a call, challenging followers to step outside their previous limits: to explore the music and movement, and bring their leaders with them. To the leaders, the Blues Muses would like to give the tools of receptivity, without sacrificing their position as leaders; the Muses want leaders to be able to enjoy and encourage the expression of followers, to create a more interactive dance.

The weekend will feature two full days of classes. Some will be on partnership, some will be on solo movement. Many classes will have a particular focus on followers, but there will also be classes specifically for the leaders. There will also be a special discount for leaders, so stay tuned for more information!

You’ve danced with them, you’ve heard them teach, you’ve seen them dance together… now learn the concepts, techniques and moves that make Jon and Carsie’s style of blues so extra-special.

Every Tuesday in July, Jon and Carsie will be teaching a blues series for intermediate dancers. In this 5-week class (plus 2 Sunday workshops), they’ll cover:

1) Connection Perfection: How to transform your closed and open position blues from so-so to oh-so-fantastic
2) Really Cool Moves: A new move each week to illustrate concepts from the lesson in a way that looks and feels fantastic
3) Blues Musicality: Tips for both partners to translate what you hear in the music into a language that you and your partner can enjoy together
4) Balance and weight sharing: Simple dips and lifts to spice up any dance and meanwhile improve your balance
5) Blues etiquette: Tips to make your partner happier and more comfortable, on and off the dance floor

The series will cost $25 for the month, the same price you’d pay for five weeks of LAB dances (in other words, it’s free!). Series includes five Tuesday night classes (At Take the Lead (4701 Pine St.), July 1st-29th, 8-9pm), and two Sunday afternoon workshops (At Jon and Carsie’s House (2822 Poplar St. 1F), July 6th and 20th, 2-6pm).

Series is for intermediate blues dancers. That means people who feel comfortable dancing BLUES (not Lindy or six-count) to a whole song, on the social floor (to different songs, with different partners). Ideally, you’ve have been dancing blues for at least a few months, and you’ve taken at least a few blues lessons. If you’re not sure if you qualify for this class, please ask Jon or Carsie. Be warned: they may ask you to dance!

SPECIAL OFFER: Those who attend all five classes and both workshops will receive a $5 refund!!! That’s right, if you make every lesson, we’ll pay you.