A day of blues dance workshops for all levels of dancer to level up your Blues dancing in an immersive, fun environment.

Get ready to dive into the rich history and rhythm of blues dance at the Ōtepoti Blues Sessions: Vol. 3.0!Brought to you by Swing Riot Dunedin, this exciting event celebrates this incredible form of dance, which has its roots in African American culture. Born from the soulful sounds of the blues, blues dance is a deeply expressive partner and solo dance form, rooted in the emotional and rhythmic connection between dancers and music.

What's happening? Good question!

FOUR (4) blues dance workshops.

ONE (1) Evening Social Dance with live band and taster dance class.

Workshops will start at 10am and finish around 4pm with a lunch break somewhere in the middle. The workshops are being held at the very centrally located Te Whare O Rukutia (20 Princes Street).

TEACHERS: We are lucky to have Rebecca and Coco down from Auckland to teach. If you haven't had the pleasure of learning from Coco or Rebecca yet you are in for a real treat. And those of you who have will know that their sensitivity towards the cultural context and their love for blues dance is irrepressible and infectious.

BAND: The Whirling Eddys are back to keep us grooving all evening. This band is stacked with some of Dunedin's best and most acclaimed blues musicians. Location: The New Athenaeum (23 the Octagon)

Is this event for me? You bet your giddy aunt it is!

NEW TO BLUES? If you are new to dance or Blues dance, we have got you covered. The first workshop of the day is aimed at you! That way you can enjoy the rest of the workshops with the basics you need.

BLUES OFFICIANADO? If you've been dancing blues for ages - then we hope this event is for you too!

Ok. But what's it going to cost?

Blues Beginner Pass: (four workshops plus evening social) $85

Blues Mover pass: (three workshops plus evening social) $65

Single workshop: $25

Evening social with taster class: $25

What is blues dance?

Blues dance developed alongside the music and is as varied in its style and tempo as the music is. It has its roots in African-American dance, which itself is rooted in sub-Saharan African music traditions and the historical dances brought to the United States by European immigrants. Blues dances as a genre has an athletic and grounded body posture and movement, characterized by the weight being held on the balls of the feet, the knees bent, the hips pushed back, and the chest forward. It is steeped in improvisation between dancers and on their own movements, pushing and pulling creating a sense of tension both in the body and the body moving through space, while remaining loose and relaxed.

Code of Conduct

By purchasing a ticket to one of our events you are agreeing to the terms and conditions of our code of conduct. You can read that on our website here.