Ari Levitt Waltz, Swing, Blues & Fusion Dance Weekend!
Schedule
Fri, 16 May, 2025 at 07:00 pm to Mon, 19 May, 2025 at 07:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Upper Hall, 175 Hampton Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 2Z3, Canada | Toronto, ON
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Waltz Toronto & Swing Toronto presentAri Levitt Waltz, Swing, Blues & Fusion Dance Weekend!
REGISTER HERE: https://swingtoronto.com/ari-levitt-2025-workshop-weekend/
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at convenient central locations right on the subway.
Ari Levitt is teaching workshops in Toronto for the first time!
He is a renowned dance teacher with over 30 years of teaching experience. He is based in in Seattle, and teaches internationally and across the USA.
More about Ari Levitt: https://www.rolluptherug.com/bios.php
Prerequisite for the workshops: You already do partner dancing of some kind, have taken dance courses and are not a novice.
For the Saturday and Sunday evening beginner lessons at 6:15pm, no prior experience is needed, and absolute beginners are welcome.
There is no need to bring your own dance partners (because most people rotate/change partners in the lessons).
DRAFT SCHEDULE
All workshops and classes are taught by Ari Levitt.
FRIDAY NIGHT WALTZ
Friday May 16, 7pm to 11pm, St Barnabas Hall
- INTRO TO CROSS-STEP WALTZ workshop, 7pm to 9pm:
Cross-step waltz is a recently re-introduced dance form, revived from the Boston Waltz of the 1920's, that is done to some of the most beautiful mid-tempo waltz music you'll hear. Ari is considered one of the USA's leading instructors and pioneers of Cross-step & Fusion Waltz, which he has been actively creating and teaching in workshops throughout the US and abroad.
- WALTZ DANCE PARTY 9:15pm to 11pm with DJ Ari Levitt
- Examples of Cross-step waltz can be found on the video pages of www.rolluptherug.com and here:
- Fun with Cross-Step Fusion:
- Ari’s Cross-Step Teaser: http://www.youtube.com/embed/Nwtifo9SXKE
- $40 for the night, $30 for full-time students with ID.
- $10 for the Dance only after 9:15pm
SATURDAY DAYTIME WORKSHOPS
Saturday May 17, 11am to 6pm, St Barnabas Hall
11am to 1:10pm. 2:30pm to 4:40pm
- FUN & FANCY SWING! - THE ART OF DANCE BLENDING, 11am to 1:10pm
Using six-count Lindy Hop (East Coast Swing) as a foundation, we learn to break out of the six-count basic step and explore alternate rhythms, step patterns, and fun new improvisational stylings. Perfect for both beginning dancers or for experienced dancers who want to focus on partnering and connection while learning a whole lot more about swinging outside the box.
-SWING DANCE MAGIC - Hidden Hand Changes, Illusions, & Casting Spells on the dance floor! 2:30pm to 4:40pm
In this class, we’ll embellish our ability to play and improvise by learning to use “hidden hand changes”, “illusions”, and “upper extremity sorcery”, which can be applied to almost any partnered movement, and can take you places you never dreamed of going. It’s definitely the kind of thing that can both dramatically elevate the level of fun & play with your partner, and make people watching go “wow!”
$50 for each Saturday workshop, F/T students $35
$90 package deal for all of the Saturday events, the two day-time workshops and the Live Band Saturday Night Swing Dance.
SATURDAY NIGHT SWING, 6:15pm to 10:30pm, St Barnabas Hall
- Lindy Hop Beginner Lesson with Ari Levitt, 6:15pm to 7:15pm
- Swing Dance ft live band tba, 7:30pm to 10:30pm
Ari Levitt DJs while the band is on break.
- $20, $15 for full-time students
SUNDAY WORKSHOPS
Sunday May 18, 1pm to 4pm, Trinity-St Paul's, main hall
"BLUES AND THE ART OF CONVERSATIONAL DANCE", 1pm to 2:30pm
In this class, we’ll explore the foundations of blues dance, learn how to create “conversations” in our partnership (a skill that can easily translate to all the dance styles you do), then wind it down with a mini-micro blues lesson to satisfy the soul. As with all of Ari’s classes, major emphasis will be on lead/follow connection and partnering skills.
"INTRO TO BLUES WALTZ", 2:35pm to 3:55pm
Some of the best blues music is in waltz rhythm. Learn how to create syncopated movement and how to flow in and out of waltz rhythms utilizing all of the techniques and foundations of blues. Ari has taught this class to rave reviews in the USA & Europe!
$40 for the first Sunday workshop, $35 for the second.
$70 for all of the Sunday events, the two workshops and the Live Band Sunday Night Blues.
SUNDAY NIGHT BLUES
La Plaza Bar, Dovercourt House, 6:15pm to 10:30pm
- Blues Dance Beginner Lesson with Ari Levitt, 6:15pm to 7:15pm
- Blues Dance Party ft the Heather Luckhardt Blue Band! 7:30pm to 10:30pm
Ari Levitt DJs when the band is on break
$20, $15 for full-time students.
MONDAY WORKSHOPS, 1pm to 6pm, St Barnabas Hall
- CROSS-STEP CREATIVITY" 1pm to 3pm
Cross-step Waltz" is one of the fastest growing waltz styles done today. In this class, we’ll review the Cross-step basics, then learn some simple but beautifully flowing variations that focus on flow and ease. Perfect for both beginning dancers, or for intermediate level dancers who want to add some graceful new moves to their repertoire.
“FUN SLIDING & GLIDING WALTZ VARIATIONS!” 3:30pm to 5:30pm
In this very unique & informative workshop, we'll first review some of the basics of Cross-step waltz, then learn how to improvise using fun, innovative, sliding and gliding steps that allow you to float across the dance floor. Amazingly simple to do, yet so much fun!
Join us for supper at a nearby restaurant after the Monday workshops.
$50 each of the Monday workshops, (F/T students $35)
$80 for both of the Sunday workshops
Package Deal for all of the weekend - all seven workshops, and all three dance parties, and the beginner lessons before the Saturday and Sunday Night live band dance parties. $180 (lower for students).
All prices and details will be posted at the website soon: https://swingtoronto.com
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Where is it happening?
Upper Hall, 175 Hampton Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 2Z3, CanadaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
