Levels

Auditions or No Auditions?

If you attend a workshop, you want to have a good time, a positive feeling, want to improve your skills, learn new material, and get new inspirations. The higher the level is, the more complex the required and learned skills will be. You will only have a good learning experience and improve your skills if the classes don't ask too much of you, but rather build up on your current level of skills and challenge you positively. If your skill level is not appropriate, you and your class members will be frustrated.

For that reason, it has become more and more common to audition for classes. The goal is to have the teachers look at the dancers and decide which level is appropriate for them. Generally, this is a good idea, but it is problematic that each level requires a big set of different skills that the various participants have mastered to different degrees. Levels don't have hard boundaries and it is the mix of your skill set and not one single skill that gives you an idea about where you are in your progress to mastery. So maybe someone has great rhythm and great lead/follow skills but has trouble with turns. So, it is hard if not impossible to give an absolute grading. Often the auditions take a lot of time and are frustrating and exhausting for dancers. It might also happen that teachers have different opinions about a level because they value certain skills differently.

We would like to have participants start the day with a positive feeling. We also think it is important for each dancer to develop a good and honest judgement about his/her dance skills. For all those reasons we decided not to have auditions. We want to encourage you to consider your dance skills honestly and make a decision on the level you take based on that. It is not how long you have been dancing or how many workshops you have attended which decides about your actual level, but the skills you have mastered.

We kindly ask you not to go to a higher level because you want to dance with the better dancers. If you only can dance well with a better dancer than this means that you are not on that level, yet. If you don't have the skills, they won't enjoy dancing with you and will only be able to associate a bad feeling with you. Wouldn't it be better if the other dancers love to dance with you?

So if the teachers will see at the beginning of the track that you don't fit the skill requirements for that level, they will explain to you why you need to go down or can go up a level.

What do the levels mean at MBSW?

A level label can mean something very different in various schools, dance scenes or cities. It is not a precise description of the associated skill set. It is also generally hard to self-evaluate your level.

In order to make it easier for you to sign up for the right level, we created a list of skills below that you should have mastered in each level in our opinion. A mastered skill means that you can use that skill repeatedly without thinking about it. If a skill (e.g. turning, footwork) still requires effort to be done well or you can't produce the results 100% reliably, it hasn't quite been mastered, yet.

If you check the guidelines, you most likely won't have a full match of your skills and the ones listed. This might be because you learned skills in a different priority or you skipped some lessons. In any case it should give you a good idea of where you are. If you miss too many skills of one level, you should go to a suitable, lower level where you will learn the skills that are required for the higher level. Higher levels of course include the skill sets of the lower levels.

Skill Requirements Guidelines Slow Balboa

For the Slow Balboa levels you need to consider your general Balboa skills and your slow dancing skills.

Slow Balboa Beginner/Intermediate

This level is for dancers that are comfortable with the Balboa basics. You don't need to have any experience in Slow Balboa. For an easier start we recommend you to take the special Slow Balboa introduction class on Saturday before the party. If you are on a higher Balboa level, but have difficulty with slow dancing this level would suit you well, too.

Slow Balboa Intermediate/Advanced

This level is for dancers that dance Balboa at a solid Intermediate/Advanced or Advanced level. If you have no experience with Slow Balboa we recommend you to join the special Slow Balboa introduction class on Saturday before the party.

Skill Requirements Guidelines Balboa

Balboa Beginner

The teachers will start right from the beginning and build up the material and difficulty. There is NO prior knowledge required. The beginner track is also recommended for the dancers who want to refresh their Balboa basic knowledge and skills.

Balboa Beginner/Intermediate

Body Control: You have developed a good balance and don't need to hold on to your partner for balance.; You have relaxed leading arms and hands and don't squeeze your partner with your left or right hand.; You can keep a steady pulse, also on the slows.; Your hip stays in position and doesn't move forward or backward when you change direction in your basic.
Lead & Follow: You can lead the difference between quicks and slows.; You can dance the basic on the spot and travelling.; You can Add-Lib the basic with multiple slows and quicks.; You can lead/follow Single Time (down holds) and Double Time (up holds) and can mix them.; You can use a stretch lead for redirection.
Vocabulary: You can lead/follow: Single Time and Double Time Basic, Add-Libs (quicks and slows), Come Around, Lollies, Out And Ins.
Performance: You can keep your head balanced and can resist looking down at your feet.; You can smile while doing the moves.

Balboa Intermediate

Body Control: You balance your body on the ball of your foot and have relaxed toes.; Your ankles are relaxed.; Your feet stay nicely together.; You perform your kicks naturally and effortless.; You naturally step over your heel or toe when needed.; You are able to use counter body movement.; You pivot on your feet when you turn your body. You keep your feet together and don't create a plow position.; You control your turns.
Lead & Follow: You relax again after the leading impulse.; You can vary your closed position between square and v-position and connect well in closed position with various partners.; You move, accelerate and slow down by yourself without pulling or pushing on your partner; You can lead/follow compression and stretch.; You can switch effortless between Pure Bal and Bal-Swing in a dance.; You can dance a full song only Pure Bal or only Bal-Swing.; As a leader you keep pace and don't run around your partner.; You keep your hips tendentially towards your partner.; You can switch between towards, neutral and away couple connection and use it accordingly in Pure Bal and Bal-Swing.
Vocabulary: You can lead / follow Single and Double Time Basic, Throw Out, Inside Turn, Texas Tommy, Outside Turns, Reverse Turn, Twist Breaks, Paddles, Crab Walks.; You can do footwork variations like Shuffles and Kicks.
Performance: You are able to follow the basic structural changes of a song and use your face to express the music.; You can hit major breaks in the music.

Balboa Intermediate/Advanced

Body Control: You have developed a good posture and can keep your body in alignment in Pure Bal and in Bal-Swing.; You can differentiate between Single Time and Break Time.; You are utilizing your free arm.; You can do forward and backward turns equally on each foot and are able to do multiple turns.; You can switch your pulse between steady, light/heavy, upward-stress.; You create the movement from your body instead of your feet.
Lead & Follow: You create the connection with your partner by moving your body center.; You are able to lead/follow sway, diagonal, straight, circular and box basics.; You can fine tune the amount of stretch or compression you are using.; You are able to lead slides.; You are able to lead/follow hesitations and direction inversions.; Your comfort zone for dancing relaxed and on time is at least from 140 to 220 bpm.
Vocabulary: You can combine moves to create various combinations and blend those seamlessly.; You can do footwork variations like Fans, Toe Turns, Hesitations, and Kick Ball Changes.; You can Add-Lib your Bal-Swing moves.; You can shuffle and multi-shuffle on various beats.; You can play with rhythmical changes.
Performance: You can dance a full song without having to reset the dance in between.; You are able to follow the flow of a song and use your steps to express the music.

Balboa Advanced

Body Control: Your body stays in continuous flow. Your dancing has no edges or start/stop moments.; You are able to exchange directions in the basic on the slows or on the quicks.; You can stress/accent various parts in your basic or the music.; Your body is relaxed, but toned enough for the task.
Lead & Follow: Your comfort zone for dancing relaxed and on time is at least from 120 to 280 bpm.; You can lead between single, double and triple time footwork in Pure Bal and Bal-Swing.
Vocabulary: You can mix Single, Double, and Triple time in your Pure Bal and Bal-Swing footwork.; You can add extra kicks, flicks, fans, etc. to spice up your Pure-Bal and Bal-Swing footwork.; You are able to incorporate slides in your solo footwork.
Performance: You can play with dynamics in your dance.; You vary your breaks (stops, accents, turns, dips, slides).

Balboa Mastery (where to go to)

Body Control: You can sway, lilt or snake your Pure Bal movements to create exceptional flow.; You can micro-shift your pulse to create a straight, driven or a laid-back feel and look.; You can syncopate your footwork in all possible places.; You have created your own style of movement that fits your body.
Lead & Follow: Your comfort zone for dancing relaxed and on time is outside of 120 to 280 bpm.; As a follower you are able to delay your reaction of a stretch or compression to add a layer of personal dynamics.; You can lead/follow quick direction changes. Unknown moves don't surprise you.; You are able to lead/follow figures that incorporate slides and unusual rhythmical changes.; You are able to fine-tune your leading using lateral leading or your following reacting to lateral leading.
Vocabulary: You have your own styling.; You create your own moves.; You can mix various footwork stylings in your basic.
Performance: You can hit small things in the music (micro musicality) without disturbing the flow.; Your partner has a satisfying smile after each dance.

Keep in mind that even the best dancers constantly strive to improve skills and learn new skills. When we met Willie Desatoff, one of the world's best original Balboa dancers, he was in his late 70s with decades of experience. Still he was excited to tell us that he just recently found out how to improve the drag of his foot to make it look more rhythmical. So never stop improving. Learning something new is an amazing feeling.

Skill Requirements Guidelines Shag

Shag Beginner

For this level there are no requirements. You will learn the Shag Double Rhythm Basic with different footwork variations and some fun elements. This class is also good for you if you have a little knowledge about Shag already.

Shag Intermediate

Body Control: You have developed a good balance and don't need to hold on to your partner for balance.; You have relaxed leading arms and hands and don't squeeze your partner with your left or right hand.; You can keep a steady pulse; Your hip stays in position and doesn't move forward or backward when you change direction in your basic.
Lead & Follow: You can lead the difference between quicks and slows.; You can dance the basic on the spot and travelling.; You can use a stretch lead for redirection.
Vocabulary: You can lead/follow: Basic on the spot and travelling, travel in Side by Side Position, Basic Turn, Change Places, Breaks
Performance: You can keep your head balanced and can resist looking down at your feet; You can smile while dancing.

Shag Advanced

Body Control: You balance your body on the ball of your foot and have relaxed toes.; Your ankles are relaxed.; You perform your kicks naturally and effortless.; You are able to use counter body movement.; You pivot on your feet when you turn your body. You keep your feet together and don't create a plow position.; You control your turns.
Lead & Follow: You relax again after the leading impulse.; You connect well in closed position with various partners.; You move, accelerate and slow down by yourself without pulling or pushing on your partner.; You can Add-Lib the basic with multiple slows and quicks.; You can lead / follow compression and stretch.; Your comfort zone for dancing relaxed and on time is at least from 150 to 240 bpm.
Vocabulary: You can lead/follow common steps like Sailor Step, Shag Rocks, Shag Kicks, Skater Knot, Breaks; You can do various footwork variations like Pull-Kicks, Kick-Pulls, Toe-Klicks, or Double Kicks.
Performance: You are able to follow the basic structural changes of a song and use your face to express the music.; You can hit major breaks in the music.

Shag Higher Levels up to Mastery (Where To Go)

Body Control: You have developed a good posture and can keep your body in alignment; Your body stays in continuous flow. Your dancing has no edges or start/stop moments; You are utilizing your free arm.; You can do forward and backward turns equally on each foot and are able to do multiple turns.; You can switch your pulse between steady, light/heavy, upward-stress.; You create the movement from your body instead of your feet.; You can micro-shift your pulse to create a straight, driven or a laid-back feel and look.; You have created your own style of movement that fits your body.
Lead & Follow: You create the connection with your partner by moving your body center.; You can fine tune the amount of stretch or compression you are using.; You are able to lead slides.; You are able to lead/follow hesitations and direction inversions.; As a follower you are able to delay your reaction of a stretch or compression to add a layer of personal dynamics.; You can lead/follow quick direction changes. Unknown moves don't surprise you.
Vocabulary: You can mix in Triple Time Basic; You can slide your basic (e.g. inside or outside scissors); You combine moves to create various combinations and blend those seamlessly.; You can vary the styling of your footwork; You can play with rhythmical changes.; You create your own moves.
Performance: You can dance a full song without having to reset the dance in between.; You are able to follow the flow of a song and use your steps to express the music.; You can play with dynamics in your dance.; Your partner has a satisfying smile after each dance.