DanceFeature Dancing away the The tenth annual Swingin’ the Blues workshop took place in London in January. Natanya van der Lingen went to interview the country’s foremost blues teachers and fi nd out more about this sensual dance form s with blues music, further by themselves.” person on the dancefl oor.” Former UK Blues Champions Val and David Rokov. Photograph cour tesy of blues dancing has its The sold out full-day workshop Perhaps uncharacteristically Aroots deeply set in early attracted 250 dancers, offering for most partner , blues African-American culture. But a varied selection of classes for gives female dancers the as it was never formalised as dancers to choose from. The opportunity to improvise and a dance style, it went on to fi rst was an ice-breaking dance take some control over the incorporate infl uences from session, where participants direction of the dance. “There is a wide variety of other dance were encouraged to become a lot of space for interpretation styles, including slowed-down comfortable dancing up close and for women to add their own elements of modern jive, West with a series of new partners. personal style,” says Nicola, Coast , , ballroom, “Some people fi nd this closeness “which is why the ladies really , mambo, rumba and salsa. a little intimidating at fi rst,” love it.” Val Rokov agrees. “As In truth, blues dancing could says Simon Selmon of London blues is wholeheartedly music- simply be described as a way Swing Dance Society, co- led, this means that, if the lady of moving to slow music and, as organiser of the event since for example picks up a moment long as dancers keep in time to 2003 and American Blues in the music that she would like the music, they are encouraged Dance Champion in 1999. to interpret, she can infl uence to draw from any other dance “But as I always explain to my the dance and her partner experience they bring to the fl oor. students, even though the dance will be able to mirror her.” The freestyle element to is usually danced very close, Val and her husband and dance blues dancing is one of the you don’t actually have to have partner, David Rokov, former most appealing – and often that much physical contact. It’s UK Blues Champions, (pictured most intimidating – aspects all about the eye contact and opposite) have developed

Photograph © Auke Holwerda/istockphoto.com for dancers new to the style. the you have with their own style of blues called According to Nigel Anderson, your partner and the music.” “Utopia”. Set to R&B, soft Latin, who founded the fi rst Swingin’ “Blues,” he continues, “is one tango and contemporary music, the Blues workshop with dance of the best ways to develop your their style is modern, smooth, partner Nina Daines in 2000, connection with another person often uplifting and very sensual. “Blues dancing is a completely and your sensitivity to the music; As well as running regular blank canvas. You can dance in there really is no other dance like Utopia-style blues classes, any way you want to the music it.” This sentiment is backed up events and weekends in London and this is scary for some people by Howard Temple and Nicola and rest of the UK, Val is and that’s why we introduced Chappell, UK National Blues also involved in the UK Blues this workshop. Our lessons are Champions 2004 and teachers Championships held annually in about getting people comfortable of the workshop’s Cool Blues Somerset in October. The open dancing to slow music. We give session. “You don’t have to know section of this competition draws the dancers building blocks to or do many steps”, says Howard. about 30 to 40 couples, while the start with, short routines and “It’s more about the relationship “Dance with a Stranger” section lots of different ideas. And once between the dancers and attracts around 60 couples. This they have gained confi dence, understanding the rules of how to year a new section called Blues they can go on to experiment move and connect with another Showcase is being introduced, 48 Dance Today March 2010

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