Sapphire Ballroom
Sapphire Dance News - May 2018

Happy May! Now that springtime is finally showing it’s sunny face, let all the “newness” of this season inspire you to try something new at Sapphire. We have a new Group Class schedule ready for the summer, the Summer Sampler to preview those classes, and new styles featured every week at Monday and Friday night workshops. This is a great time to try an Upper Level Workshop (challenging, but maybe not as challenging as you think), a “Cheaper-Than-A-Movie” Beginner Workshop (perfect for beginners with new material every week), or private lessons (the best way to take your dancing to new heights). And if you’re getting ready to start a new life with someone special, how about a new date-night activity?

Whether the new season inspires you to try a new type of class, a new dance style, or a new hobby by dancing for the first time, we would love to help with that. Check below to see what’s going on this month, and as always, don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have questions.


  1. Monday Night Upper Level Workshops, every Monday except Memorial Day - read more
  2. Black & White Ball, Dance Party on Saturday, May 12 - read more
  3. Summer Sampler, a free introduction to Blacksburg Group Classes on Wednesday, May 23 - read more
  4. Viennese Waltz group class on Monday nights beginning May 14 - read more
  5. Monthly Milonga, Argentine Tango Dance on Friday, May 18 - read more
  6. Got a wedding this year? We’ve got your “first dance” covered! - read more
Summer Sampler    

Calendar GraphicDates to Remember:

Saturday, May 12 - Black & White Ball with Viennese Waltz Lesson
Monday, May 14 - Viennese Waltz: 2-Wall Patterns begins
Friday, May 18 - Monthly Milonga
Sunday, May 20 - Junior Ballroom Spring Dance Party
Wednesday, May 23 - Summer Sampler: Free Intro Lesson
Friday, May 25 - CTAM Beginner Workshop cancelled for Memorial Day

Monday, June 4 - Latin Styles start in Monday Night Workshops
Tuesday & Wednesday, June 5 & 6 - Blacksburg Group Classes begin
Saturday, June 9 - Beach Bash Dance Party with Carolina Shag Lesson
Friday, June 15 - Monthly Milonga
Monday, June 18 - Quickstep begins

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Icon1 - Monday Night Upper Level Workshops, every Monday except Memorial Day

If these Monday Night Workshops are not on your radar, they should be. They are always on Mondays at either 7pm or 8pm. They are always “Upper Level,” which means some experience is required, but sometimes not that much! And they always rotate through the many awesome styles we teach.

Studio ClassMost months you will often notice a theme. For instance the dance styles in May could all be considered Country Western, June’s are Latin, and July’s are Swing. Ultimately the schedule depends a lot on what people are asking for, so be sure to let us know if there is something you want to see. Whatever styles end up on the schedule, the workshop always features an exciting pattern that includes fundamental elements as well as new ways to take those syllabus patterns and make them more interesting!

The first workshop in May is particularly unique because it is Sadie Hawkins Style Waltz! This means you will be encouraged to learn the opposite roll you normally dance. Not just to mess with your heads (although we take a tiny bit of pleasure in that), switching roles will improve your understanding and appreciation of your partner’s challenges and triumphs. This will undoubtedly make you better at your typical role. Increasing your awareness of your partner is an excellent way to take your dancing to the next level.

You will also see workshops on Country Two-Step: Doubling Down (all about double spins) and West Coast Swing: Wacko Whips in May. Find the full schedule with details at http://www.sapphiredance.com/int-adv-wksp.php.

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Icon2 - Black & White Ball, Dance Party on Saturday, May 12

Black&White BallSapphire’s May Dance Party is one of the few dances of the year where we encourage people to dress up: either a little or a lot - your choice! The Black & White Ball just begs for cocktail dresses and jackets, in black and white, of course. Honor the theme in whatever way your suits your personality… but come out and dance with us, starting with a Viennese Waltz lesson.

If you have never tried Viennese Waltz, this is a great time to give it a go. It is the slow Waltz on steroids, and not for the faint of heart. But don’t worry - we will keep the speeds approachable and start with foundations in the lesson. So, even if this is your first time dancing, you will enjoy this carnival ride of a dance. If you are new to this dance, be sure to make it to the start of the lesson (7:30pm), because about half way through we start gearing the material to those with more experience.Black & White Ball, 2017

And if you really love V Waltz, check out the 4-week class starting up May 14 - details below.

Another excellent reason to be sure to come to our Dance party this month is that the members of the Beyond the Routine Class will be debuting their Rumba performance at the mid-dance break (about 9:30pm). Come see what they have been working diligently on for the last few months. You don’t want to miss it.

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Icon3 - Summer Sampler, a free introduction to Blacksburg Group Classes on Wednesday, May 23

Summer SamplerWe love spreading the joy of dance and one of our favorite ways is the Samplers that come at the beginning of each semester. Next up: Summer! Come out on Wednesday, May 23 at 7:15, for a FREE hour of fun sampling all our of Summer Group Class offerings. We always teach 2-3 sample lessons, demonstrate anything else you are curious about, and answer any questions you might have. And… you get $8 off any Summer Class that you register for that night!

Rack CardIf you want to start planning your summer classes, you can find our schedule on line, http://www.sapphiredance.com/groupclasses.php or stop by the studio to pick up a rack card. You will see what is offered for June, July, and August. Even if you have already figured out your entire summer group class scheudle, you should still come to the Sampler, just for the fun of it.

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Icon4 - Viennese Waltz group class on Monday nights beginning May 14

What is it about the Viennese Waltz that keeps us coming back for more? Is it the fast pace that gets the heart racing? Is it how you elegantly glide across the floor? Is it the pretty music? Whatever it is, we can’t get enough of it! And from your feedback, we know it’s time for another 4-week class!

WaltzingThe class will run Monday nights, May 14 - June 11 at 8pm, and skip May 28 for Memorial Day. Because of the great response we got last time, Debbi is planning on approaching this class the same way she did the last V Waltz class back in February: moderately difficult pieces, sandwiched by basics, creating 2-3 wall sequences that are usable on the social floor. The prerequisite is Level 2 Viennese Waltz, but if you have a strong foundation in Slow Waltz you would probably be a good fit. Please talk to an instructor if you are on the fence about joining.

And if you have a thing for these faster Ballroom styles you will be glad to know that we will have TWO, not one, but TWO 4-week Quickstep classes this summer, so be on the lookout for that!

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Special Event5 - Milonga Argentine Tango Dance on Friday, May 18

TangoThank you to everyone has been able to make it out to our monthly Milongas so far this year and made these evenings so enjoyable.

You might be wondering why Tango needs it's own dance party. While Argentine Tango is featured at Sapphire Dance Parties, it is mixed with many other dance styles and you don’t get to experience the unique social dance party structure of a true Milonga. For example, at a Milonga, you get to experience the mirando cabeceo, a very charming and traditional method of asking a partner for a dance. If this sounds intriguing (and is new information to you), all you need are a few lessons before joining in the fun. If you're already familiar with the Tango culture, join us this month on Friday, May 18 at 8:30pm!

As you might already beTango able to tell, there are many neat elements to a Milonga and you can find a very nice detailed description by Karen Jaffee on the FAQ section on her website: http://tangogypsies.com/. If you have not met her, Karen teaches Argentine Tango in Asheville, and has visited here for several wonderful dance weekends. She describes the Milonga like this: "A “milonga” or social dance party, is just that….purely social dancing. Dancers are there to enjoy themselves in the connection and dance with their partner. The idea is to dance at a level not above one’s partner, keep it simple, musical and connected."

So, there will be no lesson at these events, just social dancing! A staff member is always there so you can feel free to ask any questions that you have. But in general, this is a place to just dance the Tango that you know and have fun exploring this amazing dance.

Monthly Milongas are be held on the 3rd Friday of the month at 8:30pm (after Sapphire’s Friday Night Beginner Workshop) and last about 2 hours. They are $5 a person. Come see what it’s all about.

By partnering with the good people at Blacksburg Tango (https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbtango/), Monthly Milongas will continue through the summer. Thanks for the assist!

Check out the details for this dance and other events at http://www.sapphiredance.com/events.php.

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6 - Got a wedding this year? We’ve got your “first dance” covered!

WEdding Dance fun.This time of year, when the wedding couples start coming in brimming with anticipation and excitement, is always such a pleasure. Our goal is to help you feel confident, excited, and happy about your first dance… which can otherwise be a bit stressful. Our skilled instructors help wedding couples with the entire process from...
- choosing a song (if needed)…
- making a grand entrance (if that’s your style)...
- achieving that polished, comfortable, not “too rehearsed” look (we all want that, right?)...
- and finishing with a sweet, final pose that will have you and all your guests grinning from ear to ear.

Whether you’re looking for simple and understated or dramatic and non-traditional, Sapphire can help you with that and everything in the middle.

Check out our bridal package designed just for wedding couples, http://www.sapphiredance.com/bridalpackage.htm. Wedding funThis gives you the individual time you need with your instructor plus some experience in a group setting as well. You will spend most of your time on your “first dance” but will also have the opportunity to sample other dance styles as well, helping you enjoy the dance floor for your entire reception (and all through your happily-ever-after). Alternatively, we can build a custom package to fit your needs, tailoring the lessons to your goals and schedule.

Don’t wait until the last minute to contact us: it’s never too early to get started!

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Thanks for reading; we hope you found something you liked. Until we see you again, happy dancing!

To subscribe to Sapphire Dance News, our monthly e-newsletter, visit us at SapphireDance.com/email.php.

Sapphire Ballroom & Dance Center

30 W Main Street, Suite C, Christiansburg, VA  24073 - 540-382-8782
www.SapphireDance.com