What is Blues Dancing? According to the event page:
Blues dance is characterized by a relaxed yet grounded and athletic posture. Pulse, lag, rhythm play, and improvisation are some important aesthetic elements. Dancers often alternate between dancing close together, in a more open embrace, holding one or both hands or without touching.
Blues dancing is a family of African American partnered social dances evolved beginning in the early 1900’s, originally danced to blues music, early jazz, and swing. Cultural, historical and geographic factors impacted the development of various styles of blues music as well as blues dance. Over the last 20 years blues dancing has seen a resurgence with growing communities in many major cities. Here in Champaign Urbana, Jukin’ is the primary form we focus on every Monday night and is taught in our free blues dance lesson.
From 6 to 7:30 p.m. there are free lessons offered by the organization bluesCentral, and then dancing from 7 to 9 p.m. No need to bring a partner, and beginners are welcome. Seems like an uplifting thing to begin your week, and it’s free!
