Beyond Blues Office Hours

Our mission is to celebrate blues dancing, and introduce the world to it.
We know the economy is tough. Now you can blues dance and get one-on-one instruction for free!

Having introduced series classes (sign up here), we are cutting down on office hours in the month of March to make more time for classes. We will keep a few office hours scheduled monthly and if they get crowded we'll add more.

Four Ground Rules of Office Hours

1. Be Intentional
We are all here to work on our dancing. Have a specific dance goal.
It's okay if you don't know what you're working on; we'll help you choose something.

2. Be Free/Responsible
This is not a class. Nobody will be telling you what to do.
Do whatever you choose: dance, ask, listen in, come, leave, bring music...
We just give you useful resources: instructors, other students, mirrors, etc.

3. Be Nice
Please share our limited resources (instructors time, leads, follows).
Exception: if you bring a dance partner, it's totally okay to not share.
Support other people. Be excited for their goals.
Feedback is tricky. Always ask permission before offering constructive criticism.

4. Pay It Forward
You can reach your dance goals for free, just by coming to regular office hours!
If our gift of free instruction helps you, please come back to office hours and help others.

Who is coming?
You and your friends, if you invite them.
People of all experience levels who already blues dance.
People who have questions about blues dancing, or things they're working on.
People who just want to dance for free.

Can this really be free? What's in it for you?
First, I love to contribute and make a difference. I am a teacher, and a dancer. It's still shocking that people pay me money to teach them to dance, when I enjoy it so much. And I got the studio so I could have events just like this. It's about time to use it.

Second, there are benefits I can control. I plan to have a great time. I am inviting my friends and my favorite dance partners. I can geek out on dance technique, or work on my follow, or get some tango help from Mirabai.

Finally, there is the opportunity for people to find out they want to take workshops, etc. Another local instructor asked me, "Are you sure you want to do this? If people can just get instruction from you for free, won't you lose business?"

One answer: people who can pay for private lessons will actually be more likely to do so if they come to office hours. And people who couldn't afford them anyway will not be turned away for lack of money - something that, growing up poor, is very very important to me.

An even better answer: everyone who comes to office hours is, in fact, paying: with their time and attention. This is a precious gift I do not take for granted. A teacher would not be a teacher without willing students.

Details for SF Office Hours
Location: Back Room Studio, 1072A Folsom St in San Francisco
Parking: easily available on the street after 6 p.m.
Cost: free! bring some potluck food/drinks to share (optional)