Ready to refresh or dig deep in to all that amazing material that will boost your dancing to the next level. Technique, styles, some body work, you will get it all!
Your Instructor, Brenda Russell
Brenda comes from a family of social dancers and musicians. As dance became her profession, she began specialising in African American cultural jazz, blues, and latin dances. For the last 24 years, Brenda has travelled the world teaching movement and dance, including balboa, blues, swing, tango, west coast swing and fusion.
Brenda is known as a technician, historian, and sometimes drill sergeant. She is most known as a dancer and teacher for her feel, and that of her students. Brenda promotes the philosophies of proprioceptive partnering, neutral frame, spinal alignment and pulse-based dancing, helping her students experience an organic connection often found in native social dancers.
When describing her vision, she states:Movement | Sensuality | Community
Brenda is a movement and dance educator by nature and by training. She holds many certifications in movement education modalities, and she continues to deepen her understanding of body movement, along with integration of mind, body and spirit.
Brenda believes that the best way to learn a dance is the same way the original dancers did: by listening to the music, moving in response, picking up movements from family and friends, through observation and then by joining in the dance.
Brenda believes that when a dancer connects fully with their own body and with the music, and can understand, observe, and embody dance movement in general, then they can dance their own authentic dance, within any form they choose, including the Blues and Jazz Dance.
Schedule
Saturday March 7th
11:00–11:30 – Spirit Alive! Warm-Up
11:30–12:30 – The One-Step: Walking, Texture & Direction
12:45–13:45 – Turn Technique: Foundations & Play
13:45–15:00 – Lunch
15:00–16:00 – Revolving Boxes & Jazz Blues Rhythm
16:15–17:15 – Turning Pathways: Closed to Open & Back
Practice time: 17.15-18
Class descriptions
11:00–11:30 | Spirit Alive! – Warm-Up
A grounding, pulse-based warm-up connecting breath, spine, and rhythm. We awaken musical response, prepare the body for partnered movement, and set the tone for embodied Jazz Blues dancing.
11:30–12:30 | The One-Step: Walking, Texture & Direction
An accessible entry into Jazz Blues through walking and one-step variations. We explore open and closed positions, promenade pathways, textures, hesitations, and grapevines—building musical clarity and partner awareness from the ground up.
12:45–13:45 | Turn Technique: Foundations & Play
Clear, efficient turn mechanics for comfort, balance, and musicality. We explore promenade turns, pivots, and waltz-style turns adapted for Jazz Blues, with space for both precision and play.
13:45–15:00 | Lunch
15:00–16:00 | Revolving Boxes & Jazz Blues Rhythm
Revolving box structures as a rhythmic and directional tool. We layer quicks and slows, quick-quick-slow and slow-quick-quick, then translate these patterns into triples, shuffles, and syncopated rhythms.
16:15–17:15 | Turning Pathways: Closed to Open & Back
Building on earlier turn technique, this class focuses on transitioning turns between closed and open position while maintaining groove, clarity, and connection. Emphasis on flow, direction, and partner communication. Builds on Class 2
17:15–18:00 | Practice & Integration Guided practice time to integrate material, explore musical choices, and embody the work in a social-dance context.
Prices
One day Blüesli (incl. Practice): 120 CHF regular / 100 reduced
Venue
IFMZ, Zeughausstrasse 56, 8004 Zürich