Weekly Classes
We run weekly classes on Tuesday evenings at The Dance Complex in Cambridge.
Most commonly we are teaching our Fundamentals series, which starts with Intro to Balboa/Fundamentals 1a for beginners with no Balboa experience, followed by Fundamentals 1b which is suitable for anyone who’s taken Fundamentals 1a or its equivalent.
Sometimes we’ll have classes for intermediate-and-beyond students, or special events with guest instructors, so watch this page for updates and registration links!
The Dance Complex
Typically Studio #5 or #2
536 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
IMPORTANT: For everyone’s safety, we are requiring that everyone wear a suitable mask (N95/KN95/KF94) covering nose & mouth at all times. (We will have suitable masks available free at the door if you need one.)
Intro to Balboa Fundamentals 1A and Fundamentals 1B – Sept 15 to Nov 3
Our beginner series starts again September 15! Join us for 8 weeks of everything you need to get started dancing Balboa.
For everyone who wants to learn – or revisit – their Balboa fundamentals, Fundamentals 1A is a four week series that will get you up to speed with basic vocabulary and connection techniques for Balboa, and get you out on the floor dancing Bal socially. Fundamental figures of both Pure Balboa (closed position) and Bal-Swing (open position) will be covered. And then Fundamentals 1B is another 4 weeks that improves technique and adds some more fundamental figures of Balboa and Bal-Swing.
This class series will be taught “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 better understand how both roles work and feel, so that beyond this series, 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.
Registration is OPEN! for Fundamentals 1A and Fundamentals 1B
Tuesdays 8-9:30pm with practice time until 10pm
September 15 through November 3
The Dance Complex, Studio 2
536 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
(Dance Complex is closed the first 2 Tuesdays in September, for their annual renovate-repair-and-refresh, so our series breaks across months this time.)
Class Topics for Fundamentals
Intro to Balboa/Fundamentals 1a (suitable for beginners with no Balboa experience)
– posture and connection
– rhythm
– up-hold basic and down-hold basic
– ad-lib/progressive steps
– out-and-ins
– lollies
– tossout
Fundamentals 1b (suitable for anyone who’s taken Fundamentals 1a or its equivalent)
– out-and-ins and variations
– swivels and swivel breaks
– paddle turns
– side scoots
– crabwalks
Fundamentals 1a & 1b consolidates the core material from our original ABC series. While we will continue to refine technique in these new classes, we hope to shift work on higher level mechanics and movement technique into more interactive guided practices and intermediate content.
Private Lessons
July & Stan also offer private lessons for $100 per hour teaching together (total), $60 per hour teaching individually. Lessons can be held in our home dance studio space, or in other locations by arrangement, with any floor fee paid by the student. Email us at info@bostonbalboa.org to inquire about a private lesson.