Classes ...


New WINTER Classes

@ Ari's Home Studio

- focusing on fun new steps and great combinations -

JANUARY 2023 

"Small-Group" Intensives

"Small Group" classes are limited in size to allow for the most one-on-one personal teaching and improvement! Plus we have a really fun wine & cheese social & dance practica following each lesson -- People LOVE these!


Classes are held at Ari's Home/Studio (Must pre-register for directions)


3 WEDNESDAY's:  (Jan 11, 18, 25)  six hours of class

  • 7:00-9:00pm:   "Intro to Bal-Swing:   Balboa is a delightful partnered swing dance from the 1920's & 30's, typically done to faster swing music, rags, and Charleston's.  Put a new "zip" & "pop" into your swing by adding some simple, fun, balboa steps and combos to your repertoire -- It's the perfect way to push the envelope into new swing territory and to learn to dance quietly & effortlessly to fast swing or jazz music! Perfect for beginners and for folks who have had some Balboa in the past but would like to brush up!  CLICK HERE to see an example of Bal-Swing (or scroll down page to video near the bottom).  Level: Non-Novice Beginner (some basic East Coast Swing and partner skills assumed).  Also perfect for intermediate and/or advanced dancers who would like to review the basics. No partner needed 
    • Level: Any basic social dance experience recommended.  

  • 9:00-9:30+pm:  Wine & cheese social and guided practica!

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3 THURSDAYS's:  (Jan 12, 19, 26)  six hours of class

  • 7:00-9:00pm:   "Intro to Lyrical Fusion":  (see video above) As a dance genre, fusion allows you to take everything you know from all the dance styles you do, all the while emphasizing improvisation over steps and musicality & playfulness over rote patterns.  Lyrical fusion does the same, but on a level that starts with a whisper, and with some of the most beautiful etherial music you'll ever hear!  

  • For folks who have a little social dance under their belts and who would like to take that dance into a whole new territory, this is the perfect class for you!  In the first hour, we'll explore the secret language of effortless lead, follow, and flow (and believe me, there is a LOT to learn here!).  In the second hour we'll turn those concepts into really fun movements and combination opportunities! 

  • It's the perfect way to not only expand your horizons and build confidence on what you know, but it will give you all the fodder you need to improvise and play during our "Fabulous Friday" late-night lyrical fusion sets (every 2nd & 4th Friday at Om Culture, after 10pm)!   
    • Level: Any basic social dance experience recommended.  

  • 9:00-9:30+pm:  Wine & cheese social and guided practica!

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LOGISTICS


TIMES: 
  • 6:45pm:  Doors open, warm-up and stretch
  • 7:00-9:00pm:  Class  
  • 9:00-9:30pm:  Guided Practica

LOCATION:  

  • Ari's Home Studio.  You must pre-register online to get the address.  Ari's home studio is located in the Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle, just off of I-5 at the I-5 & 520 intersection

CLASS SIZE:  

Class sizes are limited to 6 leads and 6 follows, so register soon!  
 

COST: 

3-WEEK SESSION (6+ hr's of instruction):  $75
  • STUDENTS (under age 25, with student ID):   $55

TO REGISTER & PAY:  Click on the "Registration" button in the menu on the top left side of this page to go to the Registration Page.  If you are signing up for the "role reversal" option, please register for the role you would like to dance in the class.

Payment can be made from the Payment page using PayPal or a credit card, or by check sent by mail,  or paid at the door just before the first class. Payment by check will help you to avoid the additional online PayPal surcharge. 

Class size is limited, so register early!  

 CLICK HERE to go to the Registration Page


"Role-Reversal Option" 

If you are an advanced-level dancer, and would like to GREATLY improve your lead, follow, & connection skills, you are invited to take any of the above classes in "role-reversal" mode.  On the registration page, please register for the role you would like to dance in the class (ie, if you are typically a "follow" but would like to take the class as a "lead", please register as a lead)


NW Dance Network Classes 
with Ari
JANUARY 2023 

Classes are held at the Swedish Club 
(1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109)

  CLICK HERE to go to the Registration Page


Sun, Jan 22 5-7pm (5-6:30 pm workshop, plus ½ hr guided practica): 

Fabulous Nc2s Blending

“Blending” is the art of borrowing moves from one dance style and seamlessly incorporating them into another, something which Ari has been innovating and teaching for the past 20 years.  In this workshop, using Night Club 2-Step as our foundation, we'll show how you can harness moves from balboa, tango, and foxtrot to create something new and exciting!

For non-novice beg/int/adv dancers (some knowledge of basic Nc2s and partnering expected)


Sun, Jan 29  (5-6:30pm):  Fun with "Double-Pulse" Blues-Latin Fusion  

Double-pulsing is an extremely versatile dance rhythm that borrows much of its esthetic from Latin music.  In this class we’ll cover the essential building-blocks of blues "single" and "double-pulse" stepping, then quickly move on to explore the more fun & creative combinations you can apply to blues, Latin, and pop music. 

For non-novice beg/int/adv dancers (some knowledge of basic partnering expected)

Upcoming Seattle

STAND-ALONE

DANCES & WORKSHOPS

with Ari

(Mark Your Calendars)  


SUNDAY, Dec 18: 
with NW Dance Network (at the Swedish Club)
CLICK HERE to Register

1)  Cross-Step Waltz:  3:30-5:00pm:  Learn how to intermix and blend some unique swing-inspired moves into your waltz. A perfect fusion of two dances that we all know and love!
 
2)  Fancy Foxtrot: 5:15-6:45pm:  Learn some fun, new Foxtrot combinations (with a special section on rhythms and breaks!)

3)  FREE Dance Party! 6:45-8:00pm:  Join us for a FREE dance party DJ'd by Ari and featuring some of the best social partner dance music in the world! (all new material he has collected from his recent travels)
 
 
FRIDAY, Dec 23: 
at Om Culture (just show up at the door)

Join us for a special Fabulous Friday Holiday Dance DJ'd by Ari and featuring some of the best swing, waltz, ballroom, blues, and Latin dance music you will hear, collected from Ari's recent travels abroad!

7:00-7:30pm:  FREE Intro Pre-Dance Lesson   
7:30-9:30pm:  Fab Friday Social Dance Party 
9:30-11:00pm:  Late Night Lyrical Blues & Fusion Set  



FRIDAY, Jan 13 & 27: 
at Om Culture (just show up at the door)
NEW 2023 Fab Friday "Focus On..." Dance Format

Join us for a new year of Fabulous Friday Dances DJ'd by Ari and featuring some of the best swing, waltz, ballroom, blues, and Latin dance music you will hear, collected from Ari's recent travels abroad!

 In our new 2023 format, we will focus each night's lesson and approximately 1/3 of the 7:30-9:30pm DJ'd songs on a particular style of dance such as swing, waltz, blues, etc. (Sunday's NEW weekly Om Culture Dances will have a more evenly distributed general mix -- see below)  Themes for January will be:  Jan 13 "Mostly Swing"; Jan 27 "Mostly Waltz"

7:00-7:30pm:  FREE Intro Pre-Dance Lesson   
7:30-9:30pm:  Fab Friday Social Dance Party 
9:30-11:00pm:  Late Night Lyrical Blues & Fusion Set 
 


SUNDAY, Jan 8, 15, 22, & 29: 
at Om Culture (just show up at the door)

Join us for a new Sunday Social Dance Series every Sunday at Om Culture beginning in January.  Start with a one hour intro lesson in dance & connection (each week will feature a different dance style and different teacher/DJ), followed by a guided practica/dance where you can get one-on-one coaching from the instructor!  Ari will be teaching/DJ'ing Jan 15 & 29

7:00-8:00pm: Intro Dance Lesson (themes vary weekly)
8:00-10:00pm: Sunday Social Dance Party 
 


Example of Bal-Swing:


_____________________________ TESTIMONIALS _______________________________


"After understanding the importance of connection, Ari began teaching me how to have a conversation without words; to listen to the lead and to the music and to recognize opportunities for back-leading and interjecting my own expression. When done fluidly, the conversation goes back and forth and truly becomes a creation of two dancers.  This is why Ari’s lessons are so important for both leads and for follows.  It is this understanding of 'close-connection' that will not only make you a better dancer, but more importantly, a better dance-partner. For this reason, I highly encourage you to attend his classes and experience this kind of connection for yourself." 

-- W.E., Sept 2010

"Ari's workshops are amazing!  I've learned more about partnering in this one session than I have in all my years of group classes" --  K. B., April 2012

"Without a doubt, the BEST teacher I have ever taken lessons from, and I've taken from lots of teachers!" -- A.M., March, 2015

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Swing, Blues, Balboa, Lindy, WCS, Night Club 2-Step, Hustle, Waltz (Rotary, Cross-Step, Fusion, Viennese), Foxtrot, Salsa, Merengue, Cha cha, Rhumba, One-Step, Styling, Connection, Lifts & Drops, and more!