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. . . take a class . . . start having fun!

. . . begin Sunday, September 12th

Cost: 6-week session – $65/person ($45 for students*) If you are using a Class Card or any payment option other than PayPal or a credit card, please contact the office by phone 206.781.1238, or email

Improve your dancing skills - repeat any level 1 class within one year for only $45!

Location: Swedish Cultural Center or Mt. Baker Community Club

*Special rates for all students age 23 and under at NW Dance classes, workshops, and dances: Student ID required.

Sundays • Sept 12 - Oct 24 (no class on 10/17)

Sunday classes are held at the Swedish Cultural Center

4:00 - 4:55pm • Waltz 1

Instructors: Jodi Fleischman & Friends

Waltz is the world's most romantic dance. Learn the art of twirling around the room with a partner to glorious music. Don't worry; we start with gentle, easy twirls. Take this class as often as you like to fine-tune your basics. Know that some dancers take it in conjunction with Waltz 2, even Waltz 3. We focus on simple moves that can propel even beginning waltzers confidently onto the dance floor.

Prerequisite: none

Class Cost

5:05 - 6:00pm • Swing 1

Instructors: Jodi Fleischman & Friends

Swing is a perfect place to start partner dancing, and a great way to meet new people who love to have fun! You'll learn smooth—style Lindy (also called Jitterbug or East Coast Swing), and we'll cover two footwork basics: Single-time (simpler, and for faster music) as well as triple-time (for use with a vast variety of swing music). You'll gain a solid foundation in 6-count Swing by practicing the fundamentals of good partnering along with a number of exciting and versatile moves. Most importantly, our delightful and compassionate instructors will make dancing so easy and fun, that you'll be overjoyed you took the leap to learn.

Prerequisite: none

Class Cost

6:10 - 7:05pm • Salsa 1

Instructors: Jodi Fleischman & Jim D'Apice

Learn the energetic and passionate Salsa. Become familiar with the steps and styling that have made this dance one of the most popular dances in the world. Salsa 1 is designed to be taken twice before moving on to level 2 classes. New material is taught in alternate sessions of Salsa 1.

Prerequisite: None

Class Cost

7:15 - 8:10pm • Salsa 2: Salsa, Rattle & Roll

Instructors: Jodi Fleischman & Jim D'Apice

Boogie to the Latin beat and strut your Salsa-stuff in this awe inspiring class filled with new moves, tricks, and show-me-that-again dazzling footwork. We'll also demystify Latin hip motion and have you swaying like a pro. All new moves and combinations, plus lots of cool styling tips for both leads and follows.

Prerequisite: Salsa 1 at least once

Class Cost

8:20 - 9:15pm • Rumba/Bachata Fiesta Combo

Instructors: Jodi Fleischman & Jim D'Apice

Take a generous helping of the sensual, smooth rythyms of Rumba. Then add a pinch of the spicy Bachata flavor, and you've got yourself a combination made in Latin heaven. We'll focus on mastering pivot turns, incorporating Latin hip motion into your moves, and lead/follow techniques for a smooth, effortless look. We'll quickly progress from the basics into a series of challenging but fun moves.

Prerequisite: Salsa 1 at least once

Class Cost

Tuesdays • Sept 21 - Oct 26

All Tuesday classes are held at the Mt. Baker Community Club

6:30 - 7:25pm • Swing 1

Instructors: Nancy Fry, Jeanette Piper & Sean Donovan

A world of fun, and a great place to start! Learn the basics of East Coast Swing, along with moves and techniques to get you rolling and keep the joy coming.

Prerequisite: none

Class Cost

7:35 - 8:30pm • Swing 2: Spring-Loaded

Instructors: Nancy Fry, Jeanette Piper & Sean Donovan

A delightfully snappy suite of moves based on the element of surprise. We'll learn to use our frame to create tension and momentum for the purposes of redirection, the result of which is usually a sweet and sudden smile.

Prerequisite: any Swing 2 - or Swing 1 at least twice

Class Cost

8:40 - 9:35pm • Mind/Body/Blues

Instructors: Heather Kraft & Sean Donovan

Expressing ourselves eloquently through movement, in deep connection with a partner, to the slow and powerful rhythms of blues music...sound interesting? Sure it does! We'll take you step by step through becoming more well-grounded, communicating effectively with your partner, and getting "that look" -- yeah, the sexy one. We'll entertain the mind, raising awareness by practicing specific moves and physical techniques, and celebrate the body, by inviting and putting to good use our intuition. Identifiable improvements in your dance is our goal. Weekly field trips to Waid's after class for blues dancing with Heather and/or Sean.

Prerequisite: Good grasp of partner dance basics

Class Cost

Thursdays • Sept 16 - Oct 21

Thursday classes are held at the Swedish Cultural Center

6:30 - 7:25pm • Waltz 1: The World's Most Romantic Dance

Instructors: Leah Fast & Dean Paton

Waltz is the world's most romantic dance. Learn the art of twirling around the room with a partner to glorious music. Don't worry; we start with gentle, easy twirls. Even if you think you can waltz, take this one again. And again. Because we can never get enough of the basics. Know that some dancers take it in conjunction with Waltz 2, even Waltz 3. We focus on simple moves that can propel even beginning waltzers confidently onto the dance floor.

Prerequisite: Desire for romance. Modest courage. Urge to explore movement and history simultaneously.

Class Cost

7:35 - 8:30pm • Easy Cruisin' in the Traveling Lane

Instructors: Leah Fast & Dean Paton

Sometimes a song just begs you to travel. And then, because the music wants to swing you as well as float you down the floor, that same song wants to change your mind, practically orders you to pull out of the traveling lane, find a spot where you could spin a few stand-alone moves. And when those moves conclude, well, the tune begs you to float on down the floor again. The steps are easy; no syncopations needed, just even steps, one foot following the other. Simplicity is the point here.

Though nothing is perfect, we know, Leah and Dean have come close to perfecting this kind of dancing – what they call Easy Traveling – and in this exploratory class they'll give you strategies, moves and exercises to build your confidence and help you to punctuate a simple traveling dance with a flowy spins, woozy wraps, pivots and a cuddle or two. No rules. We'll dance to any kind of music in 4/4 time or 2/4 time –v blues, mellow swing, energetic one steps, peppy swing – anything you might hear at Sonny Newman's, Left Foot, Waltz etcetera or at NW Dance. We'll laugh, experiment and probably discover there are no wrong moves.

Prerequisite: Reasonable competence and some experience with partner dancing. Contact the instructors if you have questions: dgpaton@mac.com.

Class Cost

8:40 - 9:35pm • Waltz 3: Advanced Rotary Waltzing

Instructors: Leah Fast & Dean Paton

Not for beginners, this fast-paced class will help both competent and accomplished waltzers polish their technique, deepen their understanding of musicality, and better connect with multiple partners. We'll pivot. We'll motor between left- and right-turning waltz. We'll evolve toward new levels of rotating ecstasy as we work on the finer points of smooth-flowing waltz with a dramatic – yet mellow and more relaxed – Viennese flavor. If you crave waltz, this class will guide you toward mastery, give you new confidence (as well as useful moves), and, we hope, create a safe space in which laughter coaxes emotional risk-taking – and opens a door to a simpler approach to waltz based on mastery of the basics and a new sense of how one move flows into the next.

Prerequisite: Confidence with both left- and right-turning rotary waltz. Ability to take none of this too seriously.

Class Cost