Track Descriptions

Balboa Zero to Hero / Slow Bal Intro

Are you ready to embark on a journey into the world of Balboa, a dance that exudes grace, precision, and timeless charm? Look no further because we're thrilled to present our Balboa Zero to Hero and Slow Bal Intro classes – the perfect starting point for your Balboa adventure!

Learn the fundamentals, no prior Balboa experience required, and no need to bring a partner.
Whether you are switching roles or trying to learn a new dance, these classes are friendly to all levels of Balboa dancers.

Mickey & Kelly Balboa Demo

Intermediate Balboa

This track is designed forBalboa dancers who have been dancing Balboa regularly for at least one year.
Dancers should be comfortable social dancing at a steady tempo and able to smoothly dance to music in the 150–180 BPM range.

This class builds on foundational Balboa technique while introducing greater control, refinement, and variation. Emphasis is placed on improving connection, flow, and musicality in social dance settings.

Dancers should feel at ease dancing to songs such as: Jamaica Jam - Teddy Powell Orchestra

Prerequisites
Students are expected to be confident with the following core Balboa movements:

  • Down hold basic

  • Up hold basic

  • Come-around

  • Toss-out

  • Lollies

  • Outs and Ins

Advanced Balboa

This track is designed for experienced Balboa dancers who have been dancing regularly for several years and are ready to be challenged.
Dancers should be comfortable social dancing at fast tempos (190–230 BPM) with strong timing, control, and connection.
This class moves at a faster pace and is designed to expand your Balboa vocabulary while refining technique under pressure.

Prerequisites
Students are expected to be confident with all the Intermediate prerequisites along with:

  • Advanced variations and styling

  • Musicality at fast tempos

  • Refined partner connection

  • Creativity within social dance structure

  • Control, speed, and smooth transitions

Slow I Balboa

Discover the beauty of dancing slow.

Slow Bal I is the perfect introduction to Slow Balboa, a graceful and expressive style of Balboa danced to music typically under 100 BPM. Slower tempos give you more time to focus on connection, musicality, and intentional movement, creating a dance that feels smooth, relaxed, and elegant.

In this class, you'll build a strong foundation by learning:

  • Basic Slow Bal footwork and technique

  • Comfortable partner connection

  • Fundamental lead and follow concepts

  • Musicality for slower tempos

  • Simple patterns and transitions for social dancing

Whether you're new to Slow Bal or looking to strengthen your fundamentals, this class will help you gain the confidence to enjoy dancing to slower music.

Prerequisite: Students should have a solid foundation in Balboa, including comfort with Pure Bal and Bal Swing basics. No previous Slow Bal experience is required.

Example of Slow Balboa music: Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong

Slow Balboa II

Ready to elevate your Slow Bal?

Slow Bal II is designed for dancers who are already comfortable with the fundamentals and regularly dance Slow Bal. This class dives deeper into the technique, musicality, and creativity that make Slow Bal so captivating.

Expect a faster-paced class with more challenging concepts as we explore:

  • Advanced footwork and variations

  • Musical interpretation and phrasing

  • Refined connection and lead/follow communication

  • Smooth, flowing transitions

  • Expressive movement and dynamic use of slow tempos

This is not an introductory class. Participants should be experienced and regular Slow Bal dancers, comfortable with core fundamentals, rhythm changes, and social dancing to slow-tempo music.

Teachers Track

Class size is limited to 15 leaders and 15 followers to ensure quality instruction and individual feedback.

This track is designed for experienced Balboa dancers who are currently teaching or want to teach Balboa classes and workshops. It focuses on refining both dancing and teaching skills, with an emphasis on clarity, technique, and communication.

Participants should already be comfortable social dancing at a high level across a wide range of tempos, with strong timing, connection, and musicality.
This track is focused and discussion-driven. Participants are expected to actively engage, ask questions, and both dance and analyze movement.

Track Focus

  • Breaking down movement in a clear, accessible way

  • Teaching rhythm, timing, and musicality

  • Understanding and explaining partner connection

  • Giving effective feedback and corrections

  • Maintaining clarity and quality at all tempos

Who This Is For

  • Current Balboa instructors

  • Assistant teachers or aspiring instructors

  • Experienced dancers who want to develop teaching skills

Competition Track

Class size is limited to 20 leaders and 20 followers to allow for focused coaching and quality partner rotation.

This track is designed for experienced Balboa dancers who are actively competing or seriously preparing for competition-level performance. The focus is on precision, speed control, musical interpretation, and performance quality under pressure.

Participants should already be highly comfortable social dancing at a range of tempos, with a strong technical foundation, and refined partner connection.
This track moves at a fast, and detail-oriented pace. Dancers are expected to be fully engaged, self-aware, and ready to refine movement at a high level of precision.

*Students are strongly encouraged to participate in competitions during the weekend as part of their development, gaining valuable experience, feedback, and confidence on the dance floor.

Track Focus

  • Advanced musical interpretation and phrasing

  • Performance quality, presence, and styling under pressure

  • Connection and response

  • Decision-making and adaptability in competition settings

  • Building confidence for Match & Match, Strictly, and Showcases

Who This Is For

  • Active Balboa competitors

  • Dancers preparing for Mix & Match, Strictly, or any competitive event

  • Advanced dancers who want to focus on performance

Collegiate Shag Track

This track is designed to introduce and develop dancers in Collegiate Shag, a fast, energetic swing dance known for its bounce, rhythm, and playful style. The track includes a structured progression from beginner to intermediate levels, allowing dancers to build a strong foundation and continue developing throughout the day.

Track Structure
Morning Class – Beginner / First Class in Shag
This class is designed for dancers who are completely new to Collegiate Shag.

You will learn:

  • Basic Shag footwork and timing

  • Fundamental partner connection

  • Introduction to bounce and relaxed movement

  • Simple social dance patterns

No prior Shag experience is required.

Afternoon Classes – Build & Intermediate Level
This class builds on the material covered in the morning, or is suitable for dancers who already have experience with Collegiate Shag.

Track Focus
The goal is to guide dancers into feeling comfortable and expressive in real social dance settings with Collegiate Shag.

Who This is For
If you want to learn Shag