Bios

Tim
Tim started dancing in 1997 and never stopped. An active Lindy Hopper, he was a regular at the old Memories and Satin Ballroom until he was swept away to college in Santa Barbara. There he spent two years teaching ballroom at an Arthur Murray before quitting and studying Argentine Tango With Brian and Fay. Once back in LA, Tim Joined the Hollywood Hornets, three time National Jitterbug Champions, where he performed and competed with the team for three years. During that time Tim began learning Blues at house parties and exchanges. Now an avid student of the Blues, he seeks to grow the community through teaching as many people as he possibly can. Tim currently runs LA Blues Kitchen.

Lee
Lee started dancing at the ripe old age of 5, and life has been a dancing journey ever since! She started partner dancing in New York City at the Sandra Cameron Dance studio, studying Lindy Hop and Argentine Tango, and found the warm and welcoming Dallas Swing Dance Society after moving to Texas for graduate school. In Dallas, she was introduced to blues dancing by Jerry and Kathy Warwick, and fell in love with the dance form. And so it began. Since then, she has traveled the country dancing and learning from some of the best instructors in the nation. She brings to the dance a love of music and of history, and loves sharing that love with her fellow dancers and students.

Classes

How to Get Married to the Blues
Dancing is about relationships. This class arc is an ever expanding awareness of what is around you and what you have to play with. We are going to start at the most basic level-knowing thy own self-and then move into creating connections with a partner, then focusing on the music, and then on the room. Tim and Lee will share with you all of their tips and tricks on how they find their sultry, booty shakin, gritty, janky, gimme-more-o-dat Blues. This wont be just "Blues-ish" styling; youre getting the real deal from two champion competitors and rabid Blues aficionados. Are you ready?

Singles Wanted
We're starting the weekend with our own bodies. Work out your own issues, learn some fundamental body mechanics, and discover the geometry of shaping as Tim and Lee put you through your paces. Expect to show off what you already got and then get feedback on where to push it next. You have to know what your assets are if you plan on sharing them with a partner!

Tense Relationships
"It's not you it's me, baby." Well, in this class thats a good thing. When we start dancing with a partner we dont want to loose our individuality while we create a relationship with our partner. Use elements like tone, leverage, and tension to create a personal dynamic as well as a partnered one. Learn how to not suffocate your partner while not abandoning them.

Break
We will have an hour break for snacks and revitalization!

... In Sickness and in Rhythm ...
Blues music has a push and pull, a kind of tension and release. Your dancing should too. Our relationship to the music is fundamental to how we dance our own bodies and interact with our partner. Get into the "pocket," stretch those juicy moments, and create the kind of lag in your timing that will make you look and feel like you own this dance.

Style: It's Not About You
No relationship is lived in a vacuum. Style isnt about what you do: its about contrast. This class is about putting context into your dancing. The reason Blues music is so amazing is because of the context in which it was created. You can do the same. Look for contrast in your own movements from one moment of the song to the next. Discover how your partner hears the music differently and tap into their groove. Be aware of the room and what you bring to it. Wrap up the weekend with youre A-game and let it all out.

Private Lessons

There are still private lesson time slots available with both Tim and Lee. See the Nuts, Bolts, and Sign up! page for details.