Brenda Collins Workshops

MondayNiteBlues is excited to present Brenda Collins in a weekend workshop. Build up your blues vocabulary with two days of jazz movement theory and practice, styling from a broad range of influences, and the discovery of muscles you never knew you had.

Date: November 17-18, 2007
Place: Ripley Grier Studios, 520 8th Avenue, 16th floor (between 36th & 37th Streets)
Times: 12 pm - 5 pm (see below)

Brenda will be teaching four classes per day. A package rate for the entire weekend is the unbeatable price of $80.00. Individual classes are $15.00 each. Class descriptions and PayPal options for purchase of individual classes are listed below. Reserve your spots for the full weekend rate or individual classes below.

Registration is now closed! See you at the workshops! Class descriptions remain below.

Individual classes:

Blues Vocabulary I
Saturday, 11/17, 12:00 - 1:00
Tabby, Fish Tail, Shake & Bake, Mooch, Lowdown, Applejack, Push n'Go, Groovin', and Ticktocks

Rent Party/Late Night Blues (Drag)
Saturday, 11/17, 1:15 - 2:15
The basics to this style of blues can be characterized as lazy, slow, smooth, intense. We will cover a couple of ways of dancing this basic as well as coordinating variations and timing changes, fun stylings and characterization.

Solo Blues Movement/Solo Partnered Movement
Saturday, 11/17, 2:30 - 3:30
Emphasis on posture, alignment, and integrated movement while exploring vintage jazz movement and the components that make up the dance.
This class will also focus on using breakaway position as another frame option as opposed to a personally focused expression. We will learn to dance with each other, for each other, inspiring each other, as opposed to in spite of one another. Specific suggestions for smooth transitions between breakaways and embraces will be offered and explored.

Hip Movement and Counterbalance
Saturday, 11/17, 3:45 - 4:45
Learn the Afro-Cuban hip motion commonly used by blues dancers as well as the dancers in vintage video clips. We will use these base movements as a foundation for learning modern counterbalance movements as well.


Blues Vocabulary II
Sunday, 11/18, 12:00 - 1:00Traveling, Pivoting, Boxes, Grapevines, Promenade, Lunging, Snaking, Paddles, and Shuffles

Ballroom Blues
Sunday, 11/18, 1:15 - 2:15
Learn to dance a sophisticated style of Blues that was done in the Savoy ballroom and is growing in popularity among Blues dancers. This class will teach you to Strut, Stroll, Twirl, and Dip with grace.

Weight Sharing and Flying
Sunday, 11/18, 2:30 - 3:30
Weight sharing requires an increased level of connection and communication between lead and follow. We will practice common preparations for various weight sharing moves and how to initiate and recognize them, as well as explore creating our own moves with them.

Transitions
Sunday, 11/18, 3:45 - 4:45
Transitioning styles, concepts, movements, etc. We will cover some moves and common tools for transitioning, such as pause, turning, dipping, frame changing, character/mood shifting, etc.

Upcoming Workshops

We are happy and excited to present two new workshops for the burgeoning New York City blues dance scene.

Brenda Collins
November 17-18, 2007

Brenda Collins is a professional dancer and teacher of many styles of dance: Salsa, Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Balboa -- and Blues! She has taught workshops, group classes, performance choreography, and private classes all over the country. Her unique teaching style incorporates a focus on individual movement and body control with solid partnering techniques. Brenda draws upon a wide variety of influences, including ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip-hop, African, and Middle Eastern forms. The last time Brenda led a workshop for the MondayNiteBlues practicum, she was one of the most sought-after visiting blues dance instructors ever in New York City.
(adapted from the Portland DanceMode studio bio)

This will be a two-day workshop, and as usual, paired with a JookJointShimmy event. Detailed information about the workshop classes and package rates will be posted when available.

Monday Nite Blues Workshops

Monday Nite Blues is proud to present our first weekend workshop series, Ballroomin' Blues Bootcamp, featuring the lovely, talented, and nationally-known dance instructor Noelle Gray.

Location: Chelsea Studio
151 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001 US
Date: Saturday, September 29, 1:00PM
Individual Pricing: $20 / class
Package Pricing: $55 / three classes + admission to the evening's Jook Joint Shimmy with Gordon Webster and Karen Maria

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Get Into the Groove (1:00-2:15 PM)
The first several measures of your dance can determine everything from connection, to frame, to musicality. Our first class of the day will focus on how to create a comfortable and relaxed connection through breath so you can enjoy your partnership. Comfortable social dances aren't about how complicated moves can be, but about how simple moves are crafted. In this class, Noelle will show some of her favorite ways to Keep it Simple while still keeping it interesting for both partners!

Beyond Basic Blues: Closed & Open (2:25-3:35 PM)
We'll begin by exploring simple yet effective ways to move across the floor while in closed position with simple breathing & ballroomin' techniques to make the movements more juicy and bold. From there, we'll integrate ways of getting in and out of closed while maintaining momentum and encouraging your partner's creative voice.

Gray's Anatomy of Dynamic Dancing (3:45-5:00 PM)
As a culmination of the day, Noelle will share some of her favorite moves that encompass several of the techniques covered in the first two classes. These fun and dynamic moves are like a rollercoaster ride for the follow! Follows: here's your chance to simply sit back, relax and enjoy your leader's mad skillz, yo!

NOELLE GRAY BIO

With a diverse dance background spanning 20 years, Noelle Gray is Connecticut's most prominent Lindy Hop and Blues Dance instructor. In addition to teaching for Connecticut Swing Dance Society and the Yale University Swing Club, Noelle also teaches Lindy Hop, Blues and Styling in London, England (11/2004, 2/2005 & 2/2006, 2/2007, 10/2007) and throughout the Northeast at dance camps and workshops weekends such as Goodnight Sweetheart in England (GNSH), Swing Out New Hampshire (2005 & 2006), Junebug Jam, the Albany Lindy Smorgasbord (2005, 2006 & 2007) and the Gargleblaster Blues workshops in Connecticut and Boston (2006). Noelle has also partnered Bill Borgida in Lindy Hop and Blues workshops - most recently at the 2006 American Lindy Hop Championships. Known for her solid technique, flawless isolations, and great sense of humor, she is an increasingly sought-after instructor in the US and abroad.

REGISTRATION is now closed! Walk-up sign-in will be available.

Workshop classes begin at Chelsea Studios, at 151 West 26th Street, New York, starting at 1:00 pm, Saturday, September 29.

Please join us for the Jook Joint Shimmy at Connolly's, 121 West 45th Street, New York City. We'll be starting at 10:00 pm and going until 4:00 in the morning, and our first live blues band will feature GORDON WEBSTER and KAREN MARIA CAPO! $15.00 admission.