Summer Waltz Ball- new music suggestions

Playlists for events like the Summer Waltz Playlist, are composed mostly of familiar music that has been played for dancers many times and has kept them on the floor dancing. But some new music helps to add a freshness to the playlist, especially if the music inspires dancing. Here is a selection of new music that I am considering for the playlist. I would love to hear your thoughts on any of the music below.

To listen to the music you will need to sign up for spotify and download and install the software. I quick (especially if you have a Facebook account), easy and free. The are 14 songs in the list so you will need to scroll down. Scroll is on right.

A number of the songs, if played on Saturday, will be adjusted for length and tempo to play them more danceable.

Ari and Whitney's Blues Connection Workshop

Ari Levitt and Whitney Evans gave a workshop in Portland on June 9 that explored the blues connection. In an afternoon they went through a series of exercises that took the dancers from moving in groups where individuals connected with and allowed other members to affect their movement (a little like contact improvisation) to where at the end of the session partners were moving together, with the energy from the music flowing from one dancer to the other, both sharing the lead and follow. Attached is a video of a demo Ari and Whitney did at the dance Saturday evening. Notice there are no basic blues patterns but the character of the dance is more in the connection between Ari and Whitney then in the particular moves they are doing. The patterns are borrowed from other dances like swing and salsa. Catch Ari and Whitney the next time they are to Portland. They give a great workshop.