Powerhouse Blues (PhB) is a weekly blues dance held every Monday in Old City neighborhood
of Philadelphia. Preceding the dance, there is an intermediate/advanced lesson, for
which students must audition in order to participate.
Powerplant Studios
230 N 2nd St
(beneath the Ben Franklin Bridge!)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
7:30-9PM Int/Adv Blues Lesson (by audition)
9PM-11:15AM Blues Dance (open to all!)
About the Dance
PhB takes place in a gorgeous photography studio (the Power Plant) on 2nd
Street. Our DJs play a mix of vintage and modern blues which is suitable for
many styles of blues dancing.
Our DJs (bios to come):
Carsie Blanton
Jesse Young
Dan Repsch
Mike Legett
About the Lessons
PhB lessons are designed for the committed blues student who has been blues
dancing and taking classes for approximately 2-5 years. Lessons are usually taught by
Carsie and Jon, but include guest instructors when possible (Mike Legett,
Reuel Reis, Abby Kunnecke and Topher Howard have all taught at PhB). Lessons
are designed to be fast-paced, and to offer in-depth exploration of current
blues dance styles and technique. Past lesson topics include turning
technique, counterbalance and momentum, history of blues music, blues lifts,
posture and connection, micro-blues, and emotional dancing.
If you'd like to join the lessons, come to an audition class, held on the
first Monday of every month. At the audition class, our instructors will
teach an intermediate/advanced level topic or technique. Several scorers
will be in the class rotation or watching the class, and will evaluate
students' connection, movement quality/blues aesthetic, and ability to
integrate class material. After the class, students will receive an email
letting them know how they scored in each of these three areas, and whether
they can participate in future PhB classes. If they don't get into the
classes, this email will also tell them how they can improve to be ready for
future auditions.
Every first Monday of the month:
7:30pm-9pm audtions.
If you’re still feeling energized from Kidu Kidu this past weekend (and we know you are), tonight we have two special guests at Powerhouse Blues! Eric Eltringham from L.A. will be teaching a drop-in class appropriate for any level, and Andrew Smith from Portland will be teaching an int/adv class on ‘texture’. So no matter where your blues stands, you’ll be sure to gain some new knowledge from these visiting instructors. Both classes will run from 7:30 to 9pm, then stick around till 11 for DJing from Andrew and Philly’s own Dan Repsch. See you there!
Come out to Powerhouse Blues tomorrow night and enjoy DJs Jesse and Dan, playing blues for your dancing pleasure! Also, don’t forget that the lesson (7:30 – 9:00pm) will be a drop-in class suited for blues dancers at the beginner level and up. The lesson will be on “silliness and humor” taught by Kerry and Jon.
Hey guys, we’ve got two special treats for you at Powerhouse Blues tonight. Mihai is an instructor visiting from San Fransisco, and if you’ve never heard one of his sets, (check out http://beyondblues.com/) don’t let the opportunity pass to do so tonight. Dancing starts at 9:00 with Carsie DJing, followed by a set by Mihai from 10 to closing time at 11:15. So come out to Olde City tonight and get your blues on!
Also, tonight Ph.B. will be offering our first ever beginner/intermediate drop-in class taught by Mike The Girl (http://www.mikethegirl.com/). To join these lessons, we recommend that you’ve taken at least sixteen hours of novice and beginner blues classes (that’s at least 2 months of classes twice/week), and be familiar and comfortable with open, closed and close embrace positions, basic blues vocabulary like fishtails and grinds, and able to lead both ballroomin’ and jukin’ styles of blues. If this sounds like you, join us for the drop-in lessons tonight from 7:30 to 9:0opm.
We’ve decided to introduce a new format for Monday night class application. Instead of applying on the website, if you want to come to the invitational int/adv classes, come to FIRST MONDAY TRYOUTS!
The first tryout will be on Dec 7th at 7:30. We’ll teach an int/adv class like usual, but the class will be open to all. The next round of invitations will take place after the class, and will be based on students’ ability to understand and integrate class material.
We’ll also provide students with a “score sheet”, letting you know why you were or were not chosen for the classes, and telling you what you can do to be chosen next time.
If you are already in the invitational classes, we ask that you come to tryouts anyway, but nobody will be “cut” from classes. This is just a new way to find our invitees!
Remember, class costs $3, dance costs $5 (that’s $8 admission for the whole night).
