Dancehouse Hosts Open Air Free Dance Classes in Melbourne
Queer and Streetdance Styles
Put your dancing shoes on, grab a friend (or three), and head down to the Atrium at Fed Square in Melbourne for six weeks of energetic dance classes in the open air, led by local artists, curated by Dancehouse.
There are six class styles to choose from: vogue, waacking, drag culture, litefeet, house and Jamaican Dancehall so you can select what suits you the best!
Classes are suitable for adult movers and beginners. Please wear comfortable closed-toe shoes and loose-fitting clothing.
QUEER DANCE SERIES
Wednesday May 5, 12 & 19 @ 6:30—7:30pm
May 5: Vogue — Kiki Targe
Voguing is a style that transcends dance, representing inclusivity, respect and community based in ballroom culture from the 1980s. Learn how to spin, dip and duckwalk with the mother of Melbourne’s original voguing house, Kiki from the House of Dévine.
May 12: Waacking — Marnie Newton
Move your arms dramatically to the disco beat. Waacking is a queer expression founded by Black and Latinx people in 1970s Los Angeles. Burn City Waack co-founder Marnie Newton will show you the ropes to get your poses, character and performance down so you can waack just like the pioneers on the iconic American television show Soul Train.
May 19: Queer Expression and Drag Culture — Valerie Hex
Drag is a way of life and quintessential in queer performance. Immerse yourself in the finer points of how to walk, perform and embody your best drag self with Valerie Hex, the drag persona of James Welsby. Find yourself and express it in a class exploring what it means to be Queer and perform it as a drag persona.
STREET DANCE SERIES
Wednesday June 23, 30 & July 7 @ 6:30—7:30pm
June 23: Litefeet — Arisa Herbert
Litefeet is a new street dance founded in New York City in the 2000s. Learn the Tone Wop and other foundations of this innovative footwork straight from the cyphers of Harlem. Led by Arisa Herbert, one of Melbourne’s leading street dance teachers, get to know the basics of this form and get lite.
Jun 30: House — Alec Pernes
House Dance is a style of dance that originated in the late 70’s and early 80’s from underground clubs in Chicago and New York. The style was influenced by several types of movement, including Tap, African and Latin dance. House Dance is about freedom, improvisation and feeling the music. Get to jack, slide and groove with Alec Pernes.
July 7: Jamaican Dancehall — Cat Pwiti & Chuby Dice
Dancehall is both the adjective describing the place and the name of the culture lived by Jamaica’s underprivileged communities who find meaning, purpose, status and a means of survival through being part of the Dancehall fraternity, both past and present. Learn from this ever evolving culture with Dancehall juggernaut Chuby Dice and founder of Jungle City, Cat Pwiti.
Classes are free but you must register online to attend. All attendees must turn up to register and class spots will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. Keep an eye out on Dancehouse’s social media if it’s raining or if it’s too cold. Classes will be cancelled due to inclement weather.
