Jookin’ & Struttin’: Bluetopia's October Series!

Thursdays: October 8, 15 (optional post-session field trip), 22 & 29 Time: 7–9pm Teachers: Ruby & Tim Location: Dance Center Chicago 3868 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60613 Studio TBD ⸻ About the Series Instead of creeping to the edges of the floor when the music gets fast, learn how to adapt, stay comfortable, and thrive. This series will explore how changing your connection mode, sharpening your footwork, and adapting your rhythms can help you stay on the dance floor all night long. Designed for dancers who have some exposure to basic Blues rhythms and foundations, this series offers practical tools for navigating faster tempos, rhythm changes, and connection mismatches. Whether you’re newer to Blues or an old pro, you’ll find ways to make faster dancing feel more comfortable, musical, and fun. And if you enjoy speed running a new dance, this is a great place to start. What You’ll Walk Away With: 🩵 Tools for navigating faster Blues tempos with confidence 💙Ways to adapt your connection mode as the music changes 🩵Footwork and rhythmic ideas for keeping up with faster music 💙 Strategies for navigating rhythm and connection mismatches 🩵 Practical tools for making faster dancing feel comfortable, musical, and fun ⸻ Meet the Teachers Ruby Rambeau Ruby started Swing dancing in San Francisco in 2001 and discovered Blues soon after. She has had the pleasure of DJing and teaching nationally and throughout Europe. A fierce competitor, Ruby has placed and finaled in numerous Blues competitions as both a lead and a follow. As an instructor and judge, she values connection, musicality, partnership, and risk-taking. With extensive training in body mechanics, as well as experience as a personal trainer and movement coach, Ruby is skilled at identifying technique challenges and creating innovative practice regimens both in and out of class to help her students excel. When she’s not kicking ass on the dance floor, she’s studying the intersection of physics and dance. Tim McCord Timothy got into swing dancing in 2004 and discovered Blues dancing in 2008. He became more deeply involved in the Blues scene while living in Austin from 2010–2012, and after returning to Chicago, has been a part of our local Blues community ever since. He has a profound love of both Blues music and dance. Connection, musicality, and playfulness are pillars of how he approaches dancing and he values the freedom of expression that Blues provides. Timothy believes in always growing and striving to be a better dance partner. He has learned from many local dancers, including Ruby herself, as well as many instructors from around the country, and he is excited to share some of what he’s learned. When he’s not dancing, you can find Timothy playing nerdy games or grabbing a beer with friends.