2023.03.24 – The Blues Variety Weekend 2
Opis wydarzenia
Welcome to the magic world of the Blues Variety Weekend!!! Thank you for looking at the event website 
The Blues Variety Weekend is a traditional blues dance event that celebrates blues as a family of dances with different blues genres. Each class is on a different blues type. We always invite renowned international teachers (and assist them while teaching) to inspire the Polish blues dance scene with fresh ideas and blues aesthetics. We hope you will join us!
The Blues Variety Weekend is a traditional blues dance event that celebrates blues as a family of dances with different blues genres. Each class is on a different blues type. We always invite renowned international teachers (and assist them while teaching) to inspire the Polish blues dance scene with fresh ideas and blues aesthetics. We hope you will join us!TOPICS OF THE 2023 EDITION
Our students often ask us about the origins of blues dances. Following the dance literature we like to explore dances of the African regions that the blues dance creators came from. So one of our focal points this year’s edition is traditional African dance from West Africa and we have invited an expert in this field to cover it. We would both like to learn about the basics of traditional African dances as well as look for some inspirations for blues dancing So much fun!!!
So much fun!!!Another key point is dancing to fast and very slow music without losing creativity or repeating movements. Fast juke joint blues are not only idioms or struttin, there is a whole bunch of other movements to explore and we are looking forward to them On the other hand, slow ballroom blues can also be very inspiring, especially when danced by creative people Who hasn’t seen and been mesmerized by the great choreo danced to Jeep’s Blues? Well, we have been and we still love it We believe we have found a perfect blues dance teacher to cover these two topics
On the other hand, slow ballroom blues can also be very inspiring, especially when danced by creative people Who hasn’t seen and been mesmerized by the great choreo danced to Jeep’s Blues? Well, we have been and we still love it We believe we have found a perfect blues dance teacher to cover these two topics MAIN TEACHERS
African dances – Viola Wojciechowska
And the moment has come to introduce our local African dance star – Viola Wojciechowska! Please give her a nice African shout
Viola Wojciechowska has been dancing African dance since 1997. She is also a psychologist working with teenagers and children. During many travels to West Africa she was working with the best dancers and soloists from Mali, Guinea, Gambia and Senegal. In Europe she was cooperating with many artists in traditional African projects and new wave fusions as well.
She has been teaching dance for 15 years as well as leading the „C’est ca!” dance group. She also organizes music and dance workshop travels to Guinea and Gambia. In Warsaw Viola is working in Centrum Kultur Świata.
Viola Wojciechowska has been dancing African dance since 1997. She is also a psychologist working with teenagers and children. During many travels to West Africa she was working with the best dancers and soloists from Mali, Guinea, Gambia and Senegal. In Europe she was cooperating with many artists in traditional African projects and new wave fusions as well.
She has been teaching dance for 15 years as well as leading the „C’est ca!” dance group. She also organizes music and dance workshop travels to Guinea and Gambia. In Warsaw Viola is working in Centrum Kultur Świata.
Blues dances – Flouer Evelyn (assisted by Konrad and Agnieszka)
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans? or to want to invite somebody you admire a lot to your local dance scene? Yes, yes, yes, let us introduce one of the most creative blues dancers we know, Flouer Evelyn as the main blues star of the Blues Variety Weekend 2023! If you’ve watched the best showcases and competitions of the Blues Shout, you must have seen her (i.e. rock in the cuttin competition or perform). Ladies and gentlemen give a warm welcome to Flouer Evelyn!!!! You can read more about her career as a dancer and dance teacher on her website: https://flouerdances.com/. We are so happy that she has accepted our invitation
VENUES
The Saturday party will again take place in our favorite dance room in the Shipyard of Gdańsk If you have been to the Blues Variety Weekend last year you know the special atmosphere of this place and excellent unique views
SO SALSA, Elektryków 1, 80-863 Gdańsk:
If you have been to the Blues Variety Weekend last year you know the special atmosphere of this place and excellent unique views SO SALSA, Elektryków 1, 80-863 Gdańsk:
Classes will be held in Akademia Artystyczna, a dance studio in the Gdańsk Przymorze district.
The Friday party will be held at Napoleonka, a beautiful old building in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz.
DANCE AVENUE
ul. Konrada Leczkowa 1
80-432 Gdańsk
DANCE AVENUE
ul. Konrada Leczkowa 1
80-432 Gdańsk
After party right at the river –
ORIA MAGIC HOUSE
ul. Stara Stocznia 4/1,
80-862 Gdańsk
ORIA MAGIC HOUSE
ul. Stara Stocznia 4/1,
80-862 Gdańsk
MUSICIANS AND BANDS
Let me reintroduce our great bands for the 2023 edition! We are very lucky to have them, as they are very busy people at the moment, traveling a lot to concerts not only in Poland, but also to other EU countries
TOMEK KRUK BAND – SATURDAY NIGHT
Tomek Kruk (guitar and vocals)
Guitarist and songwriter, blues specialist from Delta to Chicago. A permanent member of the Kraków Street Band, also known from the bands Przytuła & Kruk, GRUFF, Companions. He plays the guitar with the slide technique, performed on stages in Poland and around the world, e.g. at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis (USA), Sziget (Hungary), Pol’and’Rock and many, many more.
Guitarist and songwriter, blues specialist from Delta to Chicago. A permanent member of the Kraków Street Band, also known from the bands Przytuła & Kruk, GRUFF, Companions. He plays the guitar with the slide technique, performed on stages in Poland and around the world, e.g. at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis (USA), Sziget (Hungary), Pol’and’Rock and many, many more.
Tomasz Imienowski (bass)
Bass guitarist, double bass player, composer. Connected with music since childhood. He appears on stage with Krzysztof Tyniec’s band, Piramidy band and as a session musician in blues and jazz concerts. He collaborated with the Ateneum Theater in Warsaw. He played over a thousand concerts all over the country and abroad (USA, Denmark, Germany, Holland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Croatia). He also performed on radio and television.
Bass guitarist, double bass player, composer. Connected with music since childhood. He appears on stage with Krzysztof Tyniec’s band, Piramidy band and as a session musician in blues and jazz concerts. He collaborated with the Ateneum Theater in Warsaw. He played over a thousand concerts all over the country and abroad (USA, Denmark, Germany, Holland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Croatia). He also performed on radio and television.
Igor Augustynowicz (drums)
At the forefront of blues drummers in Poland. Drummer for several years. A fan of blues-rock, progressive-rock, jazz, rock’n’roll and vintage music for sound and drumming. Raised on the blues jam session scene. He has performed at festivals in the country and abroad. Opole Debuts (PL), Suwałki Blues Festival (PL), Baltic MUSIC Festival (Sweden), Rawa Blues (PL)
At the forefront of blues drummers in Poland. Drummer for several years. A fan of blues-rock, progressive-rock, jazz, rock’n’roll and vintage music for sound and drumming. Raised on the blues jam session scene. He has performed at festivals in the country and abroad. Opole Debuts (PL), Suwałki Blues Festival (PL), Baltic MUSIC Festival (Sweden), Rawa Blues (PL)
BROTHER & SISTER – FRIDAY NIGHT
If you knew and liked Christine and the Blue Drags, you are going to love them for sure! Witek Bielski is a talented musician playing on many different instruments and Krysia Ostrowska has a beautiful voice. They now return with a new project and repertory.
Christine & The Blue Drags – Praski Blues XV – Centrum Promocji Kultury
Christine & The Blue Drags – Praski Blues XV – Centrum Promocji Kultury
WITEK BIELSKI SOLO – SUNDAY AFTERPARTY
Witek „Little Boogie Slim” Bielski – multi-instrumentalist and blues vocalist. He began learning music at the age of six, playing the piano. In 2006, he founded his first duet with harmonica player Antek „Kurson” Kurek. They regularly performed at the renowned Warsaw jazz club Tygmont, and took part in numerous festivals and competitions, including: International Blues Challenge (2009, USA), Jesień z Bluesem, Lauba Pełno Blues and Jimiway Blues Festival. His solo album „Born to Blues” reached the IBC semi-finals in the „Best Self-produced CD” category. He holds an MA in Music (Music & Sonic Media, 2014, University of Sussex, England). In 2016, together with Sławek Nowodworski, he founded The Blue Drags, which was soon joined by Krystyna Ostrowska and Jan Lipert. Together they played at many dance and music festivals, including Bluesila (Lithuania), Blues Meets Balboa (Leipzig, Germany), Bear Blues & Fusion Exchange (Berlin, Germany) and Rawa Blues (Poland). He currently performs with the band Smokey & The Slim Cats.
Harmonogram
Saturday
11.00 – 12.50 Fast blues inspirations (partnered track) / 11.30 – 13.00 African dance basics (solo track)
13.00 – 14.00 Funk blues solo (1h) – (partnered track)
13:15 – 14:15 – Additional Afro (for Solo and Novice Track)
15.00 – 17.00 Novice track
15.00 – 16.00 Funk blues solo (1h) – (solo track)
16.00 – 17.00 African dance – cool moves and inspirations for blues (elective for Couple and Party pass)
11.00 – 12.50 Fast blues inspirations (partnered track) / 11.30 – 13.00 African dance basics (solo track)
13.00 – 14.00 Funk blues solo (1h) – (partnered track)
13:15 – 14:15 – Additional Afro (for Solo and Novice Track)
15.00 – 17.00 Novice track
15.00 – 16.00 Funk blues solo (1h) – (solo track)
16.00 – 17.00 African dance – cool moves and inspirations for blues (elective for Couple and Party pass)
Sunday
11.00 – 12.50 Ballroom – inspired by Jeep’s blues – (partnered track) / 12.00 – 12.00 – 13:30 African dance basics (solo track)
13.00 – 14.00 Fast blues solo (1h) – (partnered track)
14:00 – 15:00 – Additional Afro (for Novice Track and Party Pass)
15.15 – 16.35 Novice track
15.00 – 16.00 Fast blues solo (1h) – (solo track)
16.00 – 17.00 African dance – cool moves and inspirations for blues (elective for all)
11.00 – 12.50 Ballroom – inspired by Jeep’s blues – (partnered track) / 12.00 – 12.00 – 13:30 African dance basics (solo track)
13.00 – 14.00 Fast blues solo (1h) – (partnered track)
14:00 – 15:00 – Additional Afro (for Novice Track and Party Pass)
15.15 – 16.35 Novice track
15.00 – 16.00 Fast blues solo (1h) – (solo track)
16.00 – 17.00 African dance – cool moves and inspirations for blues (elective for all)
PARTY SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY (Dance Avenue, Konrada Leczkowa 1, Gdansk):
20:40 – 21:00 – Registration
21:00 – 21:40 – African Dance talk with Viola
22:00 – 01:40 – Party!!! – we start with a band and switch from a band sets to DJ sets
01:40 – Party ends, you go home or continue with your own afterparty
21:00 – 21:40 – African Dance talk with Viola
22:00 – 01:40 – Party!!!
– we start with a band and switch from a band sets to DJ sets01:40 – Party ends, you go home or continue with your own afterparty
SATURDAY (SoSalsa, Elektryków 1, Gdańsk:
21:00 – The party starts!
21:00 – 22:00 – DJ set
22:00 – 02:00 – Band set, then we continue with DJs and additional band sets
22:30 – teachers showcase
23:10 – Slow down competition
21:00 – 22:00 – DJ set
22:00 – 02:00 – Band set, then we continue with DJs and additional band sets
22:30 – teachers showcase
23:10 – Slow down competition
SUNDAY, Oria Magic House (afterparty, Stara Stocznia 4/1, Gdańsk):
18:00 – 21:00 – Witek starts with a set and then we continue with DJs and additional live set
Szczegóły
Przykładowe miejsce
Konrad i Agnieszka