Upcoming Events
BFF Goes to Steel City Blues, Feb. 27 – March 1!
Steel City Blues is Pittsburgh’s annual blues dance weekend, with workshops, live bands, and tons of dancing! You can purchase individual workshop and single dance passes if you can’t attend all the events — very convenient for local dancers.
Weekend Schedule: https://steelcityblues.com/schedule/
Registration Details: https://steelcityblues.com/registration/
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Do you have an idea for a field trip, guest instructor, or special event? Let us know!
Past Events
Blues Guest Instructor Julie Brown at BFF on Sept. 20!
Julie Brown, international blues dance instructor, is coming to Pittsburgh to teach a Blues Workshop for BFF on Saturday, Sept. 20, followed by a social dance in the evening with guest DJs Amalia and Josh from Burning River Blues in Cleveland, OH. Don’t miss this amazing event! (event details and registration)
Fusion Guest Instructor and DJ at BFF on July 28!
Cherish Collins aka DJ Paradise is coming to Pittsburgh! Cherish will be teaching an all-levels fusion lesson and DJing a set for the social dance.
Lesson Description
In this all-levels fusion lesson, we’ll focus on redirecting momentum (getting out of tight spots, not playing bumper cars, and playing with momentum), floor craft (traveling, hesitations, and direction changes, and speed), and musicality.
8pm Fusion Lesson with Cherish and Patrick
9pm DJ Josué
10pm DJ Paradise
Bio
Cherish / DJ Paradise’s dance addiction began with ballroom, but now she primarily dances Fusion, Kizomba, Blues, and occasionally she flies. As an instructor of Fusion, Kizomba, and aerial arts, her goal is to encourage dancers and aerialists alike to explore different types of movement and play with musicality and flow. As a DJ, her goal is to encourage dancers to explore different types of movement and play with musicality. Along with her dance addiction, she’s a bit of a music enthusiast who loves finding and sharing new music with dancers. As a DJ, Cherish loves playing with fun and unexpected sounds and sharing music from different genres and dance styles, so you can expect to hear a bit of everything in her sets. Her favorite part of DJing is seeing how dancers from different backgrounds interpret the songs she plays. So if you like a song or special mix she plays, feel free to let her know. 😊
BFF goes to Steel City Blues!
Steel City is almost here! Get your blues on March 7-9. FYI, they’ll be an unofficial late night houseparty Sunday night till the wee hours on Monday morning, so if you can take work off on Monday, that’s highly recommended!
BFF on the Move…
Burning River Blues (BRB), our sister scene in Cleveland, is hosting the first ever Lake Effect Blues (Jan. 31 – Feb. 2), with workshops, live bands, and lots of dancing! Stay tuned for carpooling, housing, and other coordinating details…
In the meantime, check out the program and registration info: https://lakeeffectblues.square.site
and https://www.facebook.com/events/855758842656147
BFF goes to PittStop!
PittStop isn’t just for Lindy Hoppers — the late nights are blues dances!
Instead of hosting BFF at Art in Motion on Friday, Nov. 22, we invite you to join us dancing to live music from Miss Freddye until the wee hours at Spirit (245 51st St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201), and we’ll also be getting down with Chelsea Reed on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Single dances are $20, or you can register for a full weekend pass (student discount available): Registration
BFF at BRB: A Dance Road Trip
BFF at BRB: A Dance Road Trip
Saturday, October 19
Blues Dance Lesson 7-8pm
Social Dancing 8-11pm
$10
Pittsburgh’s Blues & Fusion Forge (BFF) is traveling to Cleveland to dance with Burning River Blues (BRB)! Like at home, they’ll be a lesson followed by social dancing. Save the date, and stay tuned for carpooling and other details.
Blues at The Brownhoist at 4403 St Clair Ave Cleveland, OH (Google map)
“SSSSSteps to Minimalism”
Slow, Small, Stay, Still, Space. AKA “How to Make Everything Micro”
Friday, August 16
7:30-8:30pm
$10
BFF is hosting a Micro Fusion workshop with visiting instructor, K.Lani!
What is Micro Fusion Dance? Micro developed as a sub-genre of Fusion, trying to capture the feeling of crowded house parties and late nights. Micro partner dance focuses on making the most of every movement no matter how small. It may not be much to look at but feels like a musical hug. Micro is built on subtle movement, deep listening, and being totally present in the music with your partner. Like Fusion, Micro can be its own dance or the techniques can be layered and add dimension to any dance you do. Maximize your dance with micro movements!
General Notes:
Some previous partner dance experience is recommended, but otherwise this workshop is suitable for all levels, whether you’re an experienced dancer or newer to partner dancing.
Accessibility Notes:
Comfortable walking with a partner is ideal but not required.
Close embrace is not required or a focus of this class.
Bio
K.Lani has always been fascinated by movement. She’s been dancing for over 20 years, and dabbling in everything from ballet and street jazz, to circus, and various partner dances. She swung into Lindy Hop in 2003, before sinking into the Blues in 2008. In 2010, she discovered Fusion at the San Diego Fusion Exchange, and with her extensive movement background, took to it like a fish to water. Fusion continues to inspire her dance, organization, and teaching. She has taught around BC, the USA, and in Europe. She also founded a local Fusion dance; Coalescence in 2013, and MiniVan: A Vancouver Micro Odyssey in 2017 to further her love of micro. As a teacher K.Lani strives to inspire her students and give them the confidence to play, discover, and connect through movement. Dance Your Art!