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 essential skills that every dancer, no matter how experienced, must master. We’re firm believers that these skills aren’t just the building blocks for advanced techniques—they’re the very heart of what makes blues dance so incredibly special.
What Are Essential Skills?
“Fundamentals are the building blocks of fun. If you don’t have a good foundation, the house will crumble.” (Mikhail Baryshnikov, one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time!)
Think of essential skills as the bedrock of your dance journey. Imagine trying to build a house without a solid foundation. Sure, you might have beautiful walls and a stunning roof, but without a strong base, the whole thing could come tumbling down. The same applies to dance. Without mastering the basics, your progress can feel shaky, and you might find yourself struggling as you try to tackle more complex moves.
In any art form, the basics are what make the advanced techniques possible. That’s why we’ve created the “Essential Skills” category—to help you build those vital foundational techniques for blues dance. These are the skills that will enable you to move with ease, adapt to different styles, partners, and tempos, and ultimately bring more joy and expression to your dance.
How Essential Skills Improve Your Dance Experience
When you’ve got a strong grasp of the essential skills, everything else in blues dance starts to fall into place. You’ll notice that:
- Your movements are more fluid: With a solid foundation, transitions between moves become smoother, allowing you to focus more on the creative and expressive aspects of your dance.
- You connect better with your partner: A good understanding of connection means you can lead or follow with ease, making the dance more enjoyable for both you and your partner.
- You’re more confident on the dance floor: Knowing you have a strong base gives you the confidence to explore new things and push your boundaries.
- You have the tools to express yourself: Essential skills give you the versatility to interpret the music in your own unique way, adding personal style and emotion to your dance. As pioneering modern dancer, Martha Graham, said “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion. But technique, or the ability to perform those basic movements with precision and clarity, is what allows that passion to be fully expressed.”
The Blues Room’s Approach to Essential Skills
At The Blues Room, we know just how important it is to build a strong foundation in your dance. Our Essential Skills courses are designed not only to teach you the techniques but also to help you understand why they matter and how they fit into the bigger picture of blues dance.
Our experienced instructors break down each skill into manageable steps, making it easier for you to learn and apply them. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re looking to refine your technique, our Essential Skills courses are here to support you every step of the way.
We currently offer seven courses within this category, each focusing on a unique aspect of blues dance. Let me walk you through them and show you how they can transform your dance journey.
- Stretch & Frame
Understanding and mastering the concepts of ‘stretch’ and ‘frame’ is key in any partner dance. In this course, you’ll dive deep into these techniques, learning how they apply specifically to blues dancing. Knowing how to maintain your ‘frame’ while you dance ensures clear communication between partners, making your dances safe, connected, and enjoyable.
2. In The Swing of It
Fluidity and effortlessness are the hallmarks of a skilled blues dancer. This course focuses on the concept of ‘swing’—a technique that helps you maintain flow and smooth transitions between moves. By mastering swing, you’ll enhance your connection with your partner, making each dance feel natural and unforced. If you’re looking to bring more elegance and seamlessness into your dance, this course is for you.
3. Close Embrace Intensive
Close embrace is one of the most intimate and rewarding connections in blues dance, but it requires careful attention to technique. Our Close Embrace Intensive course offers a deep dive into making close embrace both comfortable and magical. Through a variety of exercises and new vocabulary, you’ll improve your close embrace technique with the aim of discovering that magical connection.
4. Contra-body Adventure
Contra-body movement adds dynamism and rotation to your dancing. This course is designed to improve your contra-body movement through targeted exercises and drills. You’ll start by practicing solo, which is especially great for those of you without a partner, before applying these movements in partnered dance.
5. Transitions & Flow (solo)
Flow is the key to creating smooth and continuous movements in your dancing. In this course, you’ll explore the concept of swing to maintain an internal energy flow, allowing you to transition between moves with ease, create new movements, and improvise freely.
6. Transitions & Flow (partnered)
Building on the solo course, Transitions & Flow (Partnered) teaches you how to maintain a clear flow within your body while dancing with a partner and explores how this can help your connection. By developing this internal flow, you can communicate more effectively with your partner, allowing for spontaneous creativity and improvisation.
7. Exploring Axes
Understanding and controlling your body’s axis is crucial for balance, coordination, and fluidity. In Exploring Axes, you’ll learn about the concept of axis—an imaginary vertical line running through your body—and how to manage weight and axis shifts during partner dancing.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Our Essential Skills Category
We’re always striving to give you the best tools to succeed in your dance journey. While these seven courses form the backbone of our Essential Skills category, we’re continually developing new courses to expand this offering. I’m excited to share that we have three more courses in the works which will be available in The Blues Room course library soon:
- Turning Technique with Flouer Evelyn
- Blues Movement Family Tree with Flouer Evelyn
- The Blues Aesthetic with Bibi
Final Thoughts
Mastering the Essential Skills is the first step towards becoming a confident, versatile, and expressive blues dancer. Each course in this category is designed to give you the techniques and understanding you need to build a strong foundation. But remember, a palace isn’t built in a day—these skills take time and practice to master. So take your time, enjoy the process, and discover new ways to approach your dancing.
