Balboa
"It's the only way to hold someone close in your arms and still dance the fast music" - Dean Collins
Balboa is a partnered swing dance with roots that go back to the 1920s.
The term 'Balboa' was originally short for "Balboa Shuffle" which today is known as Pure Balboa. The dance originally consisted of the leader and follower doing a basic shuffle step with little or no improvisation. Today we use the term "Bal-Swing" as an umbrella term for a combination of Classic Los Angeles style swing, such as you see in the movies, as well as body-to-body dancing which incorporates fast and fancy footwork with a lot ofimprovisation These dances from the USA sprung up along the coast in Southern California and are now danced all over the world, Balboa proving itself a dynamic, ever-evolving dance.
In our classes you will learn a combination of Pure Balboa and Bal-Swing.
A great tool for the well-rounded swing dancer to have in their repertoire, Balboa allows you to dance any tempo - from slow, shuffle-paced music to blisteringly fast scorchers that can leave Lindy Hoppers struggling.
Sometimes referred to as "that shuffley
dance", Balboa is also notable for its well-dressed dancers. Due to
weight balance points and the time period which the dance originated
in, ladies tend to wear heels and skirts, which complement the look of
the dance beautifully. Not to be outdone, the men tend to put a little
extra care behind their appearance, leaning towards jackets and
trousers, rather than jeans and t-shirts. Not that this is by any means
a rule - it seems to have happened organically. The only real
requirement for dancing Balboa is a pair of shoes with some slip to
them - leather soles seem to fit the bill the best.
Balpit is the name of one of Australia's longest running, weekly Balboa classes. Established in 2005, Balpit is the central point of Melbourne's Balboa scene - one of the largest outside of the US.
Located in a fantastic venue, Balpit's decor is Tiki-tastic, with a fully licensed tiki bar operating on the premises on Friday and Saturday nights, leaving our students surrounded by the paraphenalia and ambience of a South Pacific Island... all while they float across a sprung wooden floor!
At Balpit you will find a talented, well-travelled and award-winning teaching team. You will learn a full range of skills - beginner to advanced - from teachers who are not only passionate about the dance, but also passionate about passing their experience on to their students. The Where & The When Balpit takes place every Tuesday night in Richmond at 327 Swan Street. Four doors away from the corner of Lord Street, look for the green door with the Tiki sign above it and potted palm trees on the footpath.
As
well as a warm and friendly environment, Balpit is easily accessible
via public transport with the Burnley train station only a few blocks
away and the number 70 tram passing right by the front door. Parking is
readily available on Swan Street and surrounding streets.
Level 1 classes, at 6:30pm, are for the beginner dancer - no prior Balboa or indeed dancing experience is required. You also do not need to bring a partner as we rotate couples throughout the class. Classes are casual - meaning that you can turn up any week and get started straight away.
We also run a Level 2 class at 7:30pm and a Level 3 class at 8:30pm so that you can continue your learning.
At 9:30pm we have social dancing, where you can practice the moves you have just learned and mix and mingle with other students. Social dancing is said to be one of the quickest ways to improve your dancing - and with a venue as cool as ours... we have to agree!
Club Maxie's is a fortnightly social swing dancing event run by Balboa dancers for the general swing dancing community. Click here to find out more about Club Maxie's
Have a look at Balboa in action... if a picture paints a
thousand words then these video clips will say it better than we ever
could! Enjoy!
Bernard & Anne-Helene
Mickey & Kelly
Bobby & Kelly
