Discover The Blues
Blog articles exploring the history, culture and values of blues dance.
WHY WE STARTED THIS BLOG
Blues dance is an African American vernacular dance that developed alongside blues music in the Deep South of the USA in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and is still evolving today. Like the music, blues dance is not just one style of dance, but a family of blues idiom dances. Born from slavery, blues music and dance embody African American cultural values. As teachers who are not from this culture we feel that it is essential for us to educate ourselves about the history, cultural values and the social context of the dance. The articles in our Discover The Blues Blog are our way of sharing some of what we are learning on our own personal journey, and we hope they inspire you to discover more about the blues.
Choreography Benefits Every Dancer – Performer or Not
In The Blues Room, we believe in supporting every dancer’s journey, whether you enjoy performing, get a kick from competing, or simply love to social dance and want to deepen your connection to dance. Learning choreography is a powerful tool for every dancer, regardless of your goal, as it enhances both the physical and cognitive…
Challenges: Creating Thinking Dancers
At our online school, we're always looking for ways to help dancers deepen their connection to movement. For those ready to push their understanding beyond replication, we’re excited to spotlight a unique section in our bonus material: Challenges. This series is designed for experienced dancers eager to take their learning to the next level. Unlike…
Warm Ups and Practices: The Foundation for Progress
In the world of dancing what is the key to real growth? Consistent practice, effective warm-ups, and focused drills. At The Blues Room, we’ve crafted a series of bonus materials designed to help you lay a solid foundation for progress, starting with our Warm Ups and Practice Sessions. These sessions are not just about getting…
Bonus Time!
Welcome back to The Blues Room! We’re excited to give you an overview of our Bonus Material, exclusively available to our yearly and premium members. These extras are designed to support and enhance your learning journey, offering focused content to help you build new skills and deepen your connection with blues dance. Each category will…
Find Your Confidence with the Beginners Survival Kit
Welcome to The Blues Room, where we believe every dancer’s journey begins with a single, confident step onto the dance floor. Whether you’ve got experience in other dances or are venturing into the wonderful world of dance for the first time, our Beginners Survival Kit is your gateway to embracing the blues with ease. Our…
Idiom Dances: A Family of Blues Dances
To truly dance the blues, you must not only feel the music but also embrace the idioms that have shaped it. Let’s delve into what blues idiom dances are, explore how "blues" serves as an umbrella term for a family of dances, and discover the courses offered at The Blues Room that will immerse you…
Dancing is a Conversation: Expand Your Vocabulary
We believe that dance is more than just a series of steps—it’s a conversation. And like any good conversation, the quality of your dialogue depends on the words you use, the way you deliver them, and how well you listen and respond. In the world of dance, this means mastering the essentials and building a…
The Power of Solo Skills in Blues Dance
When we think of blues dancing, it’s easy to picture two people grooving together, creating a dialogue through their connection. Partner dancing is undoubtedly a cornerstone of blues dance, but what happens when you remove the partner? What does it mean to dance solo on a dance floor surrounded by people experiencing the music in…
Inseparable: How developing your musicality enhances your blues dance
“A good dancer is one who converses with music, clearly hears and feels the beat, and is capable of using different body parts to create visualisations of the rhythms” (Malone, 1996: 15) What is Musicality in Dance? Musicality refers to a dancer's ability to connect deeply with the music, interpreting its rhythms, emotions, dynamics and…
Mastering the Basics: Why Essential Skills Are the Foundation of
In the world of blues dance, it’s easy to get swept up in the magic—the way two people can have a non-verbal dialogue, the emotion of the music, the propulsive rhythm, and the deep connection that forms between partners. But, let me tell you a little secret: behind every captivating dance is a foundation of…
Helen Humes & All Star Band
What a line up! Helen Humes (vocal), Sonny Terry (Harmonica), Brownie (Kazoo) McGhee (Vocal & Guitar), Willie Dixon (Vocal & Bass), T-Bone Walker (Vocal & Guitar), Memphis Slim (Vocal & Piano), Jump Jackson (Drums) all in one video! This video is a beautiful example of so many important elements present in blues music and blues…
The Language of the Blues
Introduction 1. 'Back Door Man' Page 6-9 “A back door man is the secret lover of a married woman. He’s the one scooting out the back door just as the man of the house is turning his key in the front door lock.” Devi explains that, according to Clarence Major (author of Juba to Jive:…
