The Blues Variety Weekend 2024

- Top international teachers
- Intensive workshops on 3 levels
- Blues and African dance classes
- Amazing bands
- Chill out on the beach
- Djembe drums workshop, an African drum concert & jams
- Additional intensive training for ambitious students (Monday - Tuesday)

  REGISTRATION: https://forms.gle/sRQH9qp44oH8uiEH9  

 

 THEMES OF THE WEEKEND CLASSES - Rhythm and creativity!!! 

 

 One of the most intriguing things about African and blues dancing is the plethora (or variety ;)) of rhythms we hear and interpret in these types of music. At The Congo Square in New Orleans there were traditional African rhythms (e.g. tresillo, clave), which started mixing with ragtime music and polkas of the parades and parading brough on one hand the marching rhythm and on the other - interpretation of different instruments by the dancers with their own rhythms 

 As blues dancers we would love to find out more about these rhythms, their interpretation, differences and roots in African dances  This is why we start with village African dances, go to blues rhythms and styles and finish with walking blues inspirations  We hope you’ll enjoy this journey 

 But.. we would love to be creative in it and have more and more resources and ideas to do it, while respecting the aesthetics and the historical context of the dance 

 This all sums up to the major themes of the weekend (Friday - Sunday workshops) - RHYTHM AND CREATIVITY!

We want to focus on the following:

 djembe drum workshops (playing drums) using traditional African dance rhythms which are also present in blues dancing,
 African dance - dances of villages in Western Africa, traditional rhythms and preparation for African dance jams,
 the rhythm is in your body/backbone (groove) or in your feet, so we will cover also some upper body workout in African dances to make our backbones more vivid and prepared for blues dancing,
 we will work on the grooves of the Downhome (also called “Backwoods blues” - the acoustic blues of rural areas of the South)
 African rhythms in blues
 marching and walking blues
 funk and fast blues rhythms for more creativity and ideas for music interpretation.

 

 FULL WEEKEND CLASS TOPIC DESCRIPTION AND TENTATIVE  SCHEDULE in this link 

WERSJA POLSKA OPISU TEMATÓW I HARMONOGRAMU 
https://docs.google.com/.../1xVv2qMtOafKSFuBGB1VP.../edit...

 

LEVELS

INTERMEDIATE - you have had or are attending local classes at least for a few months (or you used to dance blues and had a long break or you dance other dance styles more often than blues) and one or more workshops & international festivals and have some experience dancing socially. You know basic movements and some variations depending on the music genre of blues.You are familiar with concepts such as rhythms, grooves, open and closed position. You can express yourself while dancing in a couple.

ADVANCED - you have been dancing blues for a few years now and traveling a lot to festivals or actively attending many workshops. You have a rich vocabulary of movements, genres, understanding of blues aesthetics and want to further develop your skills in improvising. You know musicality well and distinguish between various blues styles without effort.You feel comfortable dancing in different types of close embraces. You have been playing with some idioms such as chicago triple, ballroom or struttin’.

SOLO BLUES (OPEN LEVEL REQUIREMENTS) - you have had or are attending local classes at least for a few months (or you used to dance blues and had a long break or you dance other dance styles more often than blues) and one or more workshops & international festivals and have some experience dancing socially. You know basic movements and some variations depending on the music genre of blues.You are familiar with concepts such as rhythms, grooves, shapes. You can express yourself while dancing solo.

AFRICAN DANCE (OPEN LEVEL REQUIREMENTS) - you are fit, have no major injuries, love djembe drums and are ready for a dance workout 

BEGINNER - you have no or very little experience in blues dancing, but you would like to participate in this festival, so you need us to show you the basics to enjoy the parties 

OPIS POZIOMÓW W JĘZYKU POLSKIM 
https://docs.google.com/.../1_YZW4KsqMwvu9YmQ98Zh.../edit...

 

   VENUES   

Most venues will be in Gdynia this time 

Friday Opening Party:

 Konsulat Kultury Gdynia, Jana z Kolna 25, 81-354 Gdynia

Saturday Party:

 Dom Kultury Przymorze, ul. Śląska 66 b, Gdansk, Poland

Sunday Afterparty: TBC

Monday Party: TBC

Tuesday Farewell Party: Konrad & Agnieszka's garden, Sędziowska street, Gdynia Orłowo

CLASS VENUE: LATINO CAFE, Gdynia (Redłowo district)
Cypriana Norwida 4C

(the studio is inside a block of flats, so enter from the parking lot to the block of flats and go till the end of the corridor to the left; if you get lost easily, please try to ask our regular students for help ;))

 

 FRIDAY EVENING & PARTY - CLASSES, DESCRIPTION & TICKETS 

On Friday night we would like to invite you to one of our favorite places in Gdynia which is Konsulat Kultury Gdynia 

Beautiful bar & theatre, nice patio and interior of a former Swedish Consulate 

We will start the evening with a djembe drums workshop on the patio followed by the African dance class with Viola in the theatre  We will then continue with an African drums concert, showcases and jams  And finally we will welcome one of our blues bands and and some great Harlem Beats DJs to spend awesome time on the dancefloor with them in the beautiful theatre  We hope you like this idea 

Tentative schedule:

18.00 djembe workshop with Marek Malinowski (patio)
20.00 African dance - into & jammin with Viola Wojciechowska (theatre)
21.00 - African drums concert, jams, showcases
22.20 - blues band concert - 1st set
23.20 - blues band concert - 2nd set with showcases
01.00 - end of the party

 

 TICKETS FOR FRIDAY PARTY:

 The Party/ Impreza: 

English version: https://gck.interticket.pl/.../noc-kupaly-w-konsulacie...

Wersja polska: https://gck.interticket.pl/.../noc-kupaly-w-konsulacie...

 Djembe workshops\ Warsztaty gry na djembe: 

English version: https://gck.interticket.pl/.../warsztaty-gry-na-bebnach-w...

Wersja polska: https://gck.interticket.pl/.../warsztaty-gry-na-bebnach-w...

 PRICES OF FRIDAY TICKETS

- djembe workshop with your drums - 12 euros/ 50 zlotys; with djembe rental - 19 euros/ 80 zlotys

- African dance intro class + concerts and party - 12 euro / 50 zlotys

 

 INTENSIVE TRAINING SESSIONS - MONDAY & TUESDAY 

 Just like the Blues Essentials, the Intensive Training Sessions of the Blues Variety Weekend are meant for smaller (up to 10 couples per level) groups of ambitious and curious dancers (dancer geeks ;)) who go one step further to master their dance, are open to work solo, in groups, and couples, but are also not afraid to ask questions and try out new things with the teachers!

 The sessions will be full of exercises, guidance, feedback and options to try with teachers in small groups, but also time to test certain connections with peers and ask for feedback without rushing. Teachers will assign tasks to analyze, test, discuss and elaborate and come up with your own style or opinion about the topic of assignment.

 Most classes will be partnered. Some of the sessions will be solo classes with a demo of how to use the same grooves/moves in a couple 

 The classes will be held on two levels/ in two groups, but the levels and groups depend on the experience and background of the participants. Therefore, in order to be placed in one of the groups, please answer the questions in the registration form 

 In the registration form we will ask you about your blues dancing experience, your training goals, your frequency of attending classes and events, your favorite blues genres/music and your blues challenges you hope to tackle during these sessions  Based on the answers or all the participants you will be placed in one of the groups with dancers with a similar profile. We suspect one group might be slightly more advanced than the other, but as this is the first time we are organizing these Intensive Sessions, it is difficult for us to foresee the levels in advance 

 

 DETAILED CLASS TOPIC DESCRIPTION AND  TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF THE INTENSIVE SESSIONS 

 

 

 MUSIC BANDS 

 

 THE VARIETY BLUES BAND 

Variety Blues Band is an extraordinary mix of musicians from two Warsaw bands - Blues Junkers and Smokey & The Slim Cats - who are joining forces especially for The Variety Blues Weekend 2024. Their common love for black music means that we can expect from them the sound of old-time blues, steady soul, lively boogie and more! This evening you will be put into trance by Dominik's confident and juicy harmonica, Krzysiek's powerful and fat beat, Natalia's phenomenal and captivating voice and Witek's fiery and agile playing.

Band members:
Natalia Abłamowicz - vocals
Dominik Abłamowicz - harmonica, piano
Witek Bielski - vocals, piano, guitar
Krzysztof Mika - drums

 

 THE BLUES SISTER & BROTHER 

If you knew and liked Christine and the Blue Drags, you are going to love them for sure! Witek Bielski is a talented musician playing on many different instruments (see bio below) and Krysia Ostrowska has a beautiful voice. They now return with a new project and repertory.

WITEK BIELSKI
Witek "Little Boogie Slim" Bielski - multi-instrumentalist and blues vocalist. He began learning music at the age of six, playing the piano. In 2006, he founded his first duet with harmonica player Antek "Kurson" Kurek. They regularly performed at the renowned Warsaw jazz club Tygmont, and took part in numerous festivals and competitions, including: International Blues Challenge (2009, USA), Jesień z Bluesem, Lauba Pełno Blues and Jimiway Blues Festival. His solo album "Born to Blues" reached the IBC semi-finals in the "Best Self-produced CD" category. He holds an MA in Music (Music & Sonic Media, 2014, University of Sussex, England). In 2016, together with Sławek Nowodworski, he founded The Blue Drags, which was soon joined by Krystyna Ostrowska and Jan Lipert. Together they played at many dance and music festivals, including Bluesila (Lithuania), Blues Meets Balboa (Leipzig, Germany), Bear Blues & Fusion Exchange (Berlin, Germany) and Rawa Blues (Poland). He currently performs with the band Smokey & The Slim Cats.

 

 Marek Malinowski & Cocodjembe musicians 

Marek "ajsu" Malinowski, multi-instrumentalist, instructor, musician from Tricity Cocodjembe band. While developing his musical passion, he explored various areas styles, went through many transformations. Already in his family home he discovered that there was music like language and began to look for forms of his own expression. He learned the basics of music playing keyboard instruments. Then the realities of beats and rhymes, in which, as an MC and producer, he traversed the world of hip-hop as part of "Prości People". He also developed a love for reggae and dub, which resulted in this co-founding the band "Root Wise" and performing as a musician keyboardist in the band "Kompanija". The positive vibes of reggae took him to roots of music, where he fell in love with the natural sound of drums. From then on, he focused around the ethnic percussion music of West African countries. It fascinates him at the same time the simplicity of the instruments and the complexity of the form, with countless combinations basic sounds create intricate compositions. In the drum world has been operating for over 14 years, conducts workshops, organizes events and animates social actions.

During our event Marek and his band will:

- run the djembe drumming workshop
- play a drum concert
- play during some of Viola's classes and shows

What can a concert of African drums sound like? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tda2RKsD62c

 

Tickets for classes:

 Solo Track (4 hours) + Party (SAT + SUN) - 360 PLN /85 EUR
 Couple Track (4 hours) + Party (SAT + SUN) pass - 400 PLN / 95 EUR
 Afro Track (5 hours) + Party (SAT + SUN) Pass - 415 PLN / 100 EUR
 Solo Track + 1 afro class on Saturday + 1 afro class on Sunday (6 h) + Party (SAT + SUN) Pass - 465 PLN / 110 EUR
 Couple + 1 solo class on Saturday + 1 on Sunday (6h) + Party (SAT + SUN) Pass - 500 PLN / 115 EUR
 Solo Track + Afro Track (8 hours) + Party (SAT + SUN) Pass - 560 PLN / 130 EUR
 Couple + 2 solo class on Saturday + 2 on Sunday (6h) - 480 PLN
Crazy Pass (couple pass 4h, solo track 4 hours, + 2 extra afro classes) + Party (SAT + SUN) Pass - 670 PLN / 160 EUR
 Party Pass without classes - (Saturday + Sunday) - 120 pln
without parties:
 Solo Track (4 hours) - 260 PLN / 60 EUR
 Couple Track (4 hours) - 290 PLN / 70 EUR
 Afro Track (5 hours) - 305 PLN / 75 EUR
 Solo Track + 1 afro class on Saturday + 1 afro class on Sunday (6 h) - 355 PLN / 85 EUR
 Couple + 1 solo class on Saturday + 1 on Sunday (6h) - 390 PLN / 90 EUR
 Solo Track + Afro Track (8 hours) - 460 PLN / 105 EUR
Couple + 2 solo class on Saturday + 2 on Sunday (6h) - 580 PLN
 Crazy Pass (couple pass 4h, solo track 4 hours, + 2 extra afro classes) - 570 PLN / 135 EUR

  REGISTRATION: https://forms.gle/sRQH9qp44oH8uiEH9  

In any questions contact us: harlembeatsstudio@gmail.com
cheers!