February 2024: Workshop with Juan Villafane

Juan Villafane is a world-renowned swing dancer, teacher and performer specializing in Lindy Hop & Authentic Jazz Dance. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he has dedicated over 20 years of his life to the world of dance, and throughout this journey, Juan developed a strong connection with jazz music and has dived deep into its history and culture.

As a professional, he has taught, competed, and performed at the most important Lindy Hop events in the United States, Europe, Asia & Australia. Known for his teaching methods and no-nonsense approach to technique, Juan shares, in simple terms, the results of his experience in the dance. A highly skilled and passionate dancer, Juan continues to inspire people around the world with his syncopated rhythms, intricate moves and musical interpretation. 

Location:

Glen Echo Park 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD 

Workshop: Spanish Ballroom

Social Dance: Backroom

Schedule:

2:15 pm Check-in for workshop in the Spanish Ballroom

2:30 pm-7:00 pm Workshop classes will include 1 hour of solo dance and 3 hours of partnered Lindy Hop

9:00 pm-midnight Social dance in the Backroom featuring DJs, Michael Quisao and Juan Villafane

Class Descriptions:

Solo Jazz:

"Taking a Chance on Love"

An introduction to the classic slow soft shoe routine, created by the legendary jazz tap dancers Honi Coles and Cholly Atkins. Nonchalantly stylish, this routine smoothly combines strolls, turns and slides in crystal cut precision.

Partnered Lindy Hop:

1) "The Lead Follow Matrix"
A methodical approach to master “partnered dance moves”. This challenging but revealing class will help you make sense of the myriad of possibilities, expand your repertoire exponentially and refine your “lead-follow” technique.

2) "Rhythm Is Our Business"

Mastering rhythm variations and applying it into your dancing to create your own footwork and/or swing out variations to match the melody, hit the breaks and add rhythmical ideas.

3) "Dancers Don't Need to Know More Steps, They Need To Know More Songs" 

How to use your already acquired repertoire to "illustrate" any song. This class focuses on upgrading your listening skills, your musicianship and overall connection with the music that is being played.

Basic knowledge of partnered Lindy Hop including 6-count and 8-count vocabulary like side passes and swingouts are strongly recommended.