Schedule

All classes and events will be held at 151 Chapel St (the Swing Dynamite dance studio). The entrance and parking are to the right, at the end of the street.


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Friday, April 4th (At 151 Chapel St.)
7:00-7:30pm Registration Grab your registration pack and say hi to people.
7:30-8:30pm Intro to Jookin' Learn the style of the old Juke Joint blues dancers. NOTE: We will be accepting drop-ins for this class. $20 for the class.
8:30-9:30pm Intro to Ballroomin' Blues like they did it at the Savoy! NOTE: We will be accepting drop-ins for this class. As a special deal with the OSDS, get this class and the Friday night dance for $10!
9:30pm-12:30am

OSDS Presents: JW Jones! (At 151 Chapel St.)

Featuring one of Canada's top blues bands, JW Jones! Join us for a bluesy edition of Ottawa's longest running swing dance night, included in your Blues Blast Pass!
Saturday, April 5th (At 151 Chapel St.)
10-11 Solo blues Blues is all about movement! This class will highlight the distinct ways that guys and girls can move to blues music. This is the foundation for most of what the weekend is about!
11-12 Freestyle modern blues Modern blues dancers combine many influences of the past and present with a lot of improvisation. Learn how to keep the spirit of blues alive as you react to your music and your partner!
12:15-1:15 Teacher's Choice This class is a chance for Damon and Heidi to focus on the things that will benefit you the most as blues dancers!
1:15-3:15

Afternoon Dance

3:15-4:15 Strutting at the Savoy Learn how they did it at the Savoy ballroom! This distinctive style of blues dancing shows you how to enjoy a slow song with flair.
4:15-5:15 Cuttin' Class AND Cuttin' Contest Prelims! Cuttin' contests, where dancers face off and show their stuff, are a major feature of African-American dancing, including blues dances. Push your dancing and explore your capabilities with some friendly competition!
8pm-1am

SNS: Blues Blast at 151 Chapel St.

DJs Jodie Glanzer, Byron Alley, Claudia Petrilli, Joe Lin, and more TBA!

  • Featuring the popular sounds of the Douglas Watson Rhythm & Blues Revue all the way from Waterloo! Insanely popular at the Waterloo Blues Junkie Exchange, we're bringing this phenomenal blues sensation all the way down to Ottawa!
  • Beginner blues lesson from 8:15-9pm
  • Dancing from 9pm-1am!

* More info on the Saturday Night Swing party *

Sunday, April 6th (At 151 Chapel St.)
11am-12:00pm Dance Through Black History: From Ring Shout to Hip Hop Learn some of the dances that came before and after blues dances! There's a common thread through many of the African-American dances, and you'll get a chance to see how dancing evolved in black communities, and what things have stayed the same.
12:00pm-2:00pm

Kosher Brunch, Storytime and Dance - Featuring "Office Hours"!

Storytime: Listen to Damon and Heidi talk about the history of blues dance!

Kosher: Out of respect for the the adjacent synagogue, we're going kosher! Enjoy a delicious selection of fleishig Jewish foods!

Office Hours: Take time during the dance to ask Damon and Heidi those questions that have been nagging you... or maybe even ask them for a dance!

2:00pm-3:00pm Blues Musicality Blues dancing is ALL about the music! When you connect better with the music, your connection to your partner improves as well.
3:00pm-4:00pm Extreme Ballroomin': Dips and Tricks Who said blues couldn't be flashy?