What is it?
Simply put, blues dancing is a style of dancing that developed alongside, and is danced to, blues music. Like the music the dancing has its roots in African American culture, evolving from African rhythms and movement into slave work songs, and established at juke joints, barrelhouses, and rent parties.
Blues is a social dance form, so that means that, in general, there are no routines or patterns to learn. Instead, the focus is on connecting and responding to the music and your partner which is where the magic happens. Blues can be danced in partnership, or solo, and has a strong focus on self-expression.
Glasgow started one of the first blues dance scenes in Europe, and it is now possible to dance blues around the world.
A note about Fusion Dancing:
When blues dancing first came to Europe, many local scenes used their knowledge of blues inspired movement to dance to other styles of music. For a while this newer style of dancing and blues were often taught and danced together under the label of Blues Dancing, but as Blues Dance scenes have started to better understand the history and the origins of the dance, distinctions are now made between Blues Dancing and what is now referred to as Fusion Dancing.
Do I need to bring a partner?
Absolutely not. We change partners regularly during the class, and there will always be someone to dance with and there is no requirement to find another person to come along with. That said, the level of contact with others is entirely your choice as set out in out COVID precautions page.
What if I'm terrible?
Nobody is born knowing how to dance. Everyone in the class, including the teachers, has been a beginner and knows what it’s like getting your head around moving to music. Don’t worry, you’ll be in a safe and supportive environment to get to know your inner groovester.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothes you can move around in. Our new venue is usually a pilates studio so if possible bring a clean pair of shoes, separate from whatever you wear in the Glasgow rain! We recommend wearing fairly flat shoes without much grip (it’s easier on your knees), but many of us dance in our socks instead. No need to dress up (although you can if you want!).
Is blues a "sexy" dance?
Blues is as sexy as walking (which is basically what it is). The primary motivation behind blues dancing is to move your body to the music. Some styles of blues dance involve a lot of body contact with your partner, but this is not necessary to dance blues – we often dance solo or breakaway without even touching another person.