Classes | Balboa Amsterdam

I want to learn balboa!

Lets start, or continue, Balboa!
Our new courses start on Tuesdays, Februari 11th.

Please sign up before classes, so we know that your coming!
You can register here (in Dutch)!

Classes will take place when enough participants join in.

Balboa Absolute Beginners

Teachers: Michel and Irene.
Tuesday 20:00 uur - 21:00 Balboa for dancers with little to no experience in Balboa.

Balboa Beginners/Intermediate

Teachers: Michel and Irene.
Tuesday 21:00 uur - 22:00 Balboa for dancers some experience in Balboa.

Location

Frankies
Tussen de Bogen 67
1013JB Amsterdam

Costs

Costs: 80,- euro for 8 lessons.

Rates for privates and workshops on request.

Clothing

Comfortable clothing like jeans and a casual shirt. Comfy shoes that don't slip from your feet, no slippers or sandals. In Balboa we slide a lot, so shoes with a smooth leather or suede sole are preferred. For LindyHop sportshoes are more preferred, not so much sliding going on here.

"Playgrounds"

Besides courses, we will organise Playgrounds and Social dances.
Playgrounds are meant to practice together, helping each other.
Socials are meant to just dance, but ofcourse a bit of practice is not forbidden!

General info

Bal-swing.nl are Monique Gerrets and Michel Hendriksen, Dutch "old school" swing dancers who learned their first steps from the original 30s swing dancers like the legendary Frankie Manning and Normal Miller. Irene Kosten has also joined now as a regular teacher. She has been dancing Balboa for multiple years. At this moment we teach Balboa classes in Amsterdam. There are no regular Charleston and Lindyhop classes now, but on request we teach privates and workshops in these dances too.

Although not obligatory to sign up for a class with a partner, we encourage to do so. With a partner your place in a class is 100% guarentueed, without it might be that we have to put you on a waiting list if there is an unbalance between followers and leads. Many of our students sign up without a partner though, and found new friends in Amsterdam on the dancefloor. Besides that swing dancing is a great way to get in shape or to keep yourself fit. So if you are looking for a new challenge that makes you feel happy, gets you in shape and broaden your social network, you found the right place here! Come and join us and become part of the Balboa dance family.

Levels Balswing

Absolute beginner

Never danced before! Then this is your level. We start with the basics and build from that. Soon you will be able to dance socially and build your trust. After this course you will know some basic steps and some lead/follow technique.

Beginner

You've done at least an absolute beginner course and are able to do some basic steps. You can dance a whole song doing your basics and maybe some more! This level can be taken multiple times, where we will provide new challenges in technique and variations.

Intermediate

You are familair with aty least the 'Big Five' in Balboa (purebal/basics, throwout/come around, lollies, out-and-in and swivels) or equivalents in LindyHop and want to extend your repertoire as well as your technique. You have experience on the social dance floor and can dance a complete song without fear of boring your partner. You are ready for new variations and improvemwents in technique. Obviously, this level can also be taken multiple times as we will renew the material here.

Advanced

Dancing gets into your blood and you want even more! You have done at least one year of regularly dancing, and acquired some reasonable repertoire. You want to improve your technique, extend your repertoire and improve your connection with your partner.