I grabbed videos from Ruby Red, Ruth Hoffman (some awesome blues instructors) and events/tutorials to show blues in action as well as some moves if people are interested in the breakdown :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7moOd7Or9Gg&list=PLE069AC801587937F&feature=plpp_play_all
I'll edit the playlist if I find a good addition as well as update this post later with more background on the ^___^
If you ever want to try dancing hit me up!
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A excerpt from : https://bluesdancenewyork.com/what-is-blues/
Blues dance is strongly tied to Blues music, and many aspects of Blues dancing (for example, call and response, emotional intensity, and tension and release) are directly related to the music to which it is danced. There are many types of Blues music (rural, urban, up-tempo, slow, electric, delta, modern), and also many types of Blues dance, all with very different nuances and emotions.
Blues is also an emotion that you bring to your dancing. Blues dance, like most Black vernacular dances, enables intense individuality in expressing the music, emphasizing that the music, not the dancer, leads the dance; the dancer is simply the interpreter. Blues dance demonstrates the passion of the entire range of human emotions - from sadness to joy - not just sensuality. If you don't have a visceral reaction to the music, your partner, and the environment, then you are missing the true beauty of Blues dance.
-- Update --
A more academic version of blues dancing as offered by Blues Dance New York:
Blues Dancing is an umbrella term for a family of dances done to blues music and blues structures. It is an improvisational dance form primarily danced with a partner, but also solo or in a group.
Parallel to blues music, blues dance is based on social dance styles created from African and European roots in America between the 1800’s and mid 1900’s, although it has experienced significant evolution within the last 10-15 years.
Rooted in African movement, blues dance places a high value on rhythm and individual movement. Today there is a strong emphasis on connection with your partner, the music, and the community.
While there are now a wide range of Blues dances, each with unique dynamics, aesthetics, rhythms, attitudes, and step patterns; they share numerous characteristics that allow individuals to stylistically and creatively express the music. These include:
-- Update --
A more academic version of blues dancing as offered by Blues Dance New York:
Blues Dancing is an umbrella term for a family of dances done to blues music and blues structures. It is an improvisational dance form primarily danced with a partner, but also solo or in a group.
Parallel to blues music, blues dance is based on social dance styles created from African and European roots in America between the 1800’s and mid 1900’s, although it has experienced significant evolution within the last 10-15 years.
Rooted in African movement, blues dance places a high value on rhythm and individual movement. Today there is a strong emphasis on connection with your partner, the music, and the community.
While there are now a wide range of Blues dances, each with unique dynamics, aesthetics, rhythms, attitudes, and step patterns; they share numerous characteristics that allow individuals to stylistically and creatively express the music. These include:
- Asymmetry
- A balanced, flexible posture
- Dancing behind the beat
- Everyday found movement
- Pulse
- Polyrhythm
- Bent limbs & torso
- Movement radiating through all parts of the body
- Grounded & earth focused
- Call/Response and Lead/Follow
- Emotion
