Track Level Information
"Beginner/Intermediate" means the following:
You’ve been dancing blues for six months to two years**. You’re familiar with basic movements and terminology, and comfortable in open and closed ("close embrace") positions. You can dance a whole blues song comfortably, but you&rsqou;d love to make your dancing more connected and dynamic.
Follows in this track will be working primarily on subtle connection, movement quality, and solo vocabulary. Leads will be working on assertive, clear leading, and movement quality.
"Intermediate/Advanced" means the following:
You’ve been dancing for over two years. You’re not only comfortable dancing to a whole song - you’re ecstatic! You’ve worked on your connection for many hours, and now you’re happy to connect in open, closed, full open, or to dance solo. You’re beginning to explore different styles and tempos, advanced vocabulary such as lifts, dips and microblues, and creating your own style of connection and movement.
Follows in this track will be working on musicality, blues aesthetic, and connected creativity. Leads will be working on blues aesthetic, and making space for follows while still leading clearly.
"Masters" level entails the following:
Our Muses will offer two Masters level classes over the course of the weekend. Students who wish to participate in these classes will be required to audition. Masters students will be chosen at the discretion of the teachers. These classes will target students who have been blues dancing for several years and have taken private lessons, enrolled in series, and traveled out-of-town to workshops and exchanges.
Classes will focus on movement quality and styling, to make your dancing look as inspiring as it feels, and on rhythm and musicality -- finding and communicating precise, subtle rhythms in a blues song.
Masters class auditions will be held at 11AM on Saturday morning at the Ethical Society Building.
**If you're a "novice" -- someone who's been dancing blues for less than six months -- we recommend the following:
- Take our Blues Crash Course on September 19th. This course includes 4 hours of classes designed to make the novice dancer comfortable with all the blues basics!
- Take classes and private lessons from Mike Legett. She's our resident professional blues instructor, and she'll bring you up to speed in no time.
If you have any questions about the skill levels, don’t hesitate to contact us at
lab (at) lindyandblues (dot) com.
Jack & Jill Competition Information
This year at Blues Muse we’ll be holding our first ever Jack & Jill! Prelims will take place at the Friday late night dance. There is a $5 entry fee (sign up by checking the box on the registration page). Judges will include Muses Mike, Carsie, Abby, Karissa, and Julie, and Dude Muse Reuel Reis.
Being Blues Muse, this will be a little different than your average J&J competition. Participants will be judged on the usual (musicality, movement quality and blues aesthetic), as well as what we’re calling "Creative Partnership". For leaders, that includes creating space for followers; clear, connected leading; and "Dudeliness" (masculine, musical movement). For follows, that includes expressive contributions to the dance; responsive following; and "Museliness" (feminine, inspiring movement).
If you’re not the competitive type, don&rsqou;t worry: we will be holding the second annual 'Most Muse-ical Lead' and 'Most A-muse-ing Follow' awards, in which attendees will nominate their favorite social dancer. Prizes for both events include bragging rights, and free passes to regional blues events.