Balboa Crash Course

Learn the important stuff in one afternoon!

Balboa is “the dancer’s dance” – it just feels good!   (plus it makes your Lindy better!)

Crash courses take the content we’d normally present over the span of a month of weekly classes and compress it into a single afternoon. It can be a lot of information to digest, but it’s a great option for people who’ve had some Balboa in the past but never got comfortable with it, for those with other previous experience with swing dance connection and lead/follow dynamics, and of course, for those whose schedules prevent them from attending our regular weeknight classes.

No partner necessary. Bring a clean pair of shoes, preferably with slightly slick soles.

January 2025 Crash Course Weekend!

Saturday January 4: Pure Balboa Crash Course (sold out)

START HERE! this Pure Balboa Crash Course is suitable for BRAND NEW DANCERS, as well as anyone wanting to learn or refresh their Balboa skills. Join July and Stan on Saturday, January 4th at Mango Studio for a Pure Balboa Crash Course, and start your Balboa journey! We’ll be teaching fundamental movement and connection for close-embrace Balboa — the original “Balboa” danced in the crowded Southern California ballrooms during the swing era. This will cover connection mechanics, down-hold basic, up-hold basic, and ad-lib steps. (no prerequisites!)

The crash course will be offered in an ELEF model: Everyone Leads, Everyone Follows. Starting your Balboa journey with ELEF helps you understand the mechanics more quickly and more deeply. Though many dancers do choose to specialize in one role, starting out with ELEF helps you understand how both roles work and feel, so you can choose the one that suits you, or choose to keep dancing in both! No partner is necessary, as we will rotate partners in class.

Register for the Crash Course
Date/Time: Saturday, January 4, 12:00pm-4:00pm

Location: Mango Studio, 112 Bishop Allen Drive, Cambridge, MA

NOTES:

• Bring a pair of clean shoes with a slidey sole (leather or suede works best).
• Mango Studio requires all participants entering the building to complete a liability waiver. This can be done online using a QR Code available in the studio.

Sunday January 5 Bal-Swing Crash Course (sold out)

Keep learning more Balboa! Join July and Stan on Sunday, January 5th at Mango Studio for a Bal-Swing Crash Course! We’ll be teaching some of the fundamental movements of Bal-Swing — the original “Swing” danced in the crowded Southern California ballrooms during the swing era. This will cover simple out-and-ins, lollies, and tossouts. (all students are expected to be familiar with fundamental Pure Balboa connection and movement including at least one of the 2 “Balboa Basics” and comearounds, or to have participated in the Saturday Pure Bal Crash Course)

The crash course will be offered in an ELEF model:https://bostonbalboa.wufoo.com/forms/202501-balboa-crash-course-weekend-elef/Everyone Leads, Everyone Follows. Starting your Balboa journey with ELEF helps you understand the mechanics more quickly and more deeply. Though many dancers do choose to specialize in one role, starting out with ELEF helps you understand how both roles work and feel, so you can choose the one that suits you, or choose to keep dancing in both! No partner is necessary, as we will rotate partners in class.

Register for the Crash Course
Date/Time: Sunday, January 5, 12:00pm-4:00pm

Location: Mango Studio, 112 Bishop Allen Drive, Cambridge, MA

NOTES:

• Bring a pair of clean shoes with a slidey sole (leather or suede works best).
• Mango Studio requires all participants entering the building to complete a liability waiver. This can be done online using a QR Code available in the studio.

Description:

From the bread and butter of Pure Balboa, to different movements of Bal Swing, we will cover material that will give you the skills to hit the dance floor right after class! A crash course is suitable for everyone, from beginners learning Balboa for the first time all the way to seasoned dancers wanting to fine-tune and polish their foundations.

The crash courses will be offered in an ELEF model: Everyone Leads, Everyone Follows. Starting your Balboa journey with ELEF helps you understand the mechanics more quickly and more deeply. Though many dancers do choose to specialize in one role, starting out with ELEF helps you understand how both roles work and feel, so you can choose the one that suits you, or choose to keep dancing in both! No partner is necessary, as we will rotate partners in class.

Because we are still living in Covid times, we are maintaining the requirement of a suitable mask (N95/KN95/KF94) covering nose & mouth at all times in the studio. (we will continue to have masks available free at the door if you need one)

Pure Balboa Crash Course

The Pure Balboa Crash Course will cover the fundamental connection, rhythms, and basic movements of Pure Balboa — the original “Balboa” danced in close-embrace connection in the crowded Southern California ballrooms during the swing era.

Bal-Swing Crash Course

The Bal-Swing Crash Course will cover fundamental connection mechanics along with the open-position movements that were called “Swing” back in the SoCal ballrooms of the swing era, but called Bal-Swing now for clarity. This curriculum includes out-and-ins, lollies, and tossouts.

Upcoming crash courses

January 4: Pure Balboa Crash Course
January 5: Bal-Swing Crash Course