Description
In this course the focus will be on the original Balboa style of dancing. Dancing in the closed embrace position, while working on a relaxed and comfortable connection with your partner and dancing to the music.
Level Guidance
To join this class you need to have done a minimum of 3-4 Balboa courses at Happy Feet Studio, including Balboa 2 (Pure-Bal) and Balboa 2 (Bal-Swing). If you have not been taking regular Balboa classes at Happy Feet Studio, you need to master – as a minimum – Balboa Basic (collect/up-hold), Come Around, Out & Ins, and you need to be familiar with Pure Bal vocabulary like Paddles, Crab-Walk and more.
If you are unsure of whether this course is right for you, talk to Lara M.
Please note: There is partner rotation in all our Balboa classes to improve the leading and following skills of the participants.
Description
Welcome to the Balboa Laboratory. In this class the focus will be on creating comfortable relaxed connection with you partner, musicality, dancing to fast music and being creative in your partnership.
Follower-autonomy will be a focal point of many classes, where followers will learn how to influence the dance and make musical choices. Leaders will learn how to accept the suggestions the followers make.
Level Guidance
This course is right for you, if basic Balboa vocabulary is Integrated in you, so you can focus on your posture, the flow and more. To join this class, you will need to have done a minimum of 5 Balboa courses at Happy Feet Studio, including Balboa 3 (Bal-Swing) and Balboa 3 (Pure-Bal). If you have not been taking regular Balboa classes at Happy Feet Studio, you need a minimum of 1.5 years of taking Balboa classes/workshops.
If you are unsure of whether this course is right for you, talk to Lara M.
Please note: There is partner rotation in all our Balboa classes to improve the leading and following skills of the participants.
After the summer break
(exact dates will be announced soon)
Balboa is a swing dance that originated in Southern California during the 1920s and enjoyed huge popularity during the 1930s and 1940s. It is a dance primarily danced to up-tempo swing jazz and is danced in a close embrace position as well as a more open, closed position.
Two styles of modern Balboa dance developed back in the early days of the dance.
“Pure Bal” is danced in close embrace and has developed as an answer to packed dance floors . Pure Bal has focus on footwork and musicality.
“Bal Swing” developed when Swing dancers started using Balboa steps in their more open-style dance. Bal Swing is danced primarily in open position, with a focus on figures, spins and turns.
On the social dance floor most Balboa dancers dance a mix of both during a song.
Slippery shoes are the best, and having dance shoes with a slightly elevated heel is even better. See an example here.
Slippery shoes are the best, and having dress shoes with a classic heel is even better. See an example here.
Come and practice material from your class during Open Practice. It’s free and open for everyone! Consider bringing a partner to dance with though.
We have collected some of our favorite swing songs, which are good for practicing, and we put them together in a Spotify playlist
See our full teachers team consisting of almost 40 teachers, all very passionate and eager to share their knowledge with you!