WHAT THE BLUES
Blues dancing lessons in the heart of Seattle
SERIES, WORKSHOPS & LESSONS
Lowdown DL Summer Takeover!
Dillon Arevalo & Lila Faria will be teaching Tuesdays this summer!
7/15 - 8/12
Tuesday
6:30-8:30pm
Lowdown Ballroom
Joel Astley & Friends
Free outdoor dance to Blues by Joel Astley & Friends! Intro lesson by Lila & Dillon.
8/21
Thursday
6-9pm
Lake City Mini Park
DJ’ed Blues by Alex & Whitney
Free outdoor dance to Blues by DJs Alex & Whitney! Intro lesson by Robin.
8/26
Tuesday
6:30-9pm
Ballard Commons
Fall Blues Camp
A 5-week series for both beginners and intermediate blues dancers! Lead instructor: Robin
9/2 - 9/30
Tuesdays
6:30-8:30pm
Lowdown Ballroom
What is Blues dancing?
Blues dancing is a family of living dances that is intricately linked to Blues music, and is rooted in Black American culture & history. Its aesthetics comes from Africanist movement & values, and influenced and shaped by the Black experience, just as Blues music is. Blues dancing is solo, partnered, and in community, where the core values are connection with and embodiment of the music as ourselves. Dancing with others are acts of self-expression and conversational exchanges, where we show off our musicality while embracing and inspiring each other.
Our Services
Lesson Series & Drop-Ins
Our core weekly lessons timeslot is Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm, at the Lowdown Ballroom. We will either have drop-in lessons, or 4- or 5-weeks series, depending on the month.
Workshops
Occasionally, we will teach workshops on more specific topics or styles. We also bring in out-of-town and national/international instructors to share their knowledge and experience with Blues.
Private Lessons
If you’re after a more tailored learning experience, we also offer private lessons. Our current rates are $90 - $125 / hr, sliding scale.
Please contact us to set up a time!
Blues Resources & FAQs
-
SBDC is a volunteer-run online resource providing a well-updated list of Blues-dance related happenings in Seattle!
Website: https://seattlebluesdance.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seattle.blues.dance.collective/Mission
The Seattle Blues Dance Collective cultivates a vibrant, inclusive, and collaborative community rooted in the rich traditions of Black American Blues Dance. We create and promote spaces where people can connect, learn, and express themselves through social Blues dancing in Seattle — with a commitment to equity, care, and cultural respect. Through local classes, practice spaces, live music and community events, we honor the past, explore the present, and move together into the future of Blues Dance. -
-
Important Note - Blues dancing is not just about the aesthetics. It is important to acknowledge this, because one may be tempted to “learn” blues by imitating the movement, and miss the entire point by a country mile and then some.
For now, here is a very small sampler of blues dancing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwdF82eehSo&list=PLDUS7SX8CheUXxLMFSpMyYbIzrVXWHQiZ&pp=gAQB