What does the A and B designation mean for each workshop topic?

A: Breadth

The Breadth elective is perfect for dancers who crave variety and want to sample a little bit of everything. In this class the instructors offer a wide range of topics to keep you energized and curious. Ideal for those who enjoy exploring many flavors without staying on one dish for too long.

B: Depth

The Depth elective is designed for dancers who want to savor the richness and depth of Balboa. In this class the instructors focus on a select few core topics, allowing participants the opportunity to refine their technique, deepen their understanding, and truly immerse themselves in the nuances of the dance. Perfect for those who enjoy focusing on the nuances of Balboa and prefer a steady, enriching pace.

-Thanks to MTL bal jam for the breadth & depth idea!

Additional Workshop FAQs

What does "All-Levels workshop" mean?

If you attended Tracktown Swing’s December 2025 Blake & Grace workshop, this All-levels format will feel similar.

“All-levels” means dancers from beginner/intermediate through intermediate/advanced can all get something meaningful out of the class. We’ll start the day focusing on strong fundamentals, then gradually increase the level of challenge so you can build on those ideas. Teachers will offer layered options within each concept so newer dancers can understand and apply the material, while more experienced dancers can explore deeper technique, nuance, and variation. This is not a “teach only the basics” class—it’s a guided, collaborative learning environment designed to meet you where you are and push you forward.

To get the most out of the workshops, we recommend having some familiarity with Balboa basics. If you’ve taken classes for a few months and know core movements, even if you’re not yet comfortable dancing at super fast tempos, you’ll likely find the material a good fit and lots of peers by your side. You don’t need to be advanced, just be ready to engage and learn!
If you’re not yet familiar with fundamental concepts listed below, we recommend building that foundation first through regular classes at local studios like VMAC, Viscount, or Dance With Joy. There's still time left before the June event - it's not too late to start now!!

Pure bal, progressives/ad-libs, Lollys, Come around, Toss-out, Out-and-In

What are the benefits of this workshop and is it right for me?

Time efficient: Many of you are familiar with weekly Balboa classes at local studios. This workshop offers a different format: instead of spreading learning over several weeks, we bring everything together into a focused, back-to-back weekend experience. For busy adults, this means you can commit to an intensive block of learning without committing a full month—while also getting access to a much higher volume of connected material in a short time.
Boutique experience: The content in this workshop is designed to complement, not replace, what you learn in regular classes. We’ll introduce ideas, concepts, and approaches that are difficult to fit into a typical series but are essential for developing confident, well-rounded social dancers. Because the material is unique to this event, the pacing and structure are optimized to help you engage with these new ideas more deeply.
Everybody wins: Another benefit of this format is the mix of experience levels in the room. Advanced dancers get more opportunities to develop skills applicable to a wide range of partners, while newer dancers gain a clearer sense of movement, connection, and momentum by dancing within the workshop student body. With more balanced roles and frequent rotations, the learning environment tends to feel more dynamic than a typical weekly class. Less sitting out, less guessing, more learning!

A quick note on expectations: it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed when learning from top instructors and being exposed to a lot of new material. You don’t need to master everything in one weekend. Instead, treat this as an opportunity to explore, experiment, and notice what resonates with you. Pay attention to how different partners feel, what ideas excite you, and what you’d like to keep working on after the workshop. We even have an open guided practice afterwards for you work with local instructors to reinforce the day's new content!

What if I've never danced balboa before?

You're what we affectionately call "bal-curious"!! First of all, we are so happy to have you and you being here means a lot to us.
We work our best to accommodate different levels of experience and interests–we are not here to force anything to happen, just sharing the joy and beauty of this art form. Come with an open heart and walk away with memories of wonderful music, good people, and unique experiences.

Make sure to check out our beginner balboa crash course to learn everything you need to get out on the social dance floor for the very first time!

Saturday, June 6th: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
"Beginner Balboa Crash Course" at Dance with Joy Studios

What's the difference between an open-guided practice and a group class?

At our open-guided practice, you get a great opportunity to sample local instructors and work with them on a closer, more personal level. In group classes it's hard to receive instructor attention one-on-one, now with our event pass you get to receive personalized feedbacks. Come workshop the movements you learned this weekend, or refine your questions before your scheduled private lessons.

Customer Testimonials:

"I often receive a lot of encouragement and good insight, and during guided practice is when I feel my progression the most)."
- Cora, 30 (an open-guided practice proponent)

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