Man, this summer is flying by. If you have any summer dancing goals, I hope you are on your way to reaching them. If not, there is still time to get started. With one more set of summer group classes in Blacksburg, Friday Night Beginner Workshops, and one sizzling-hot dance party, August is ready to fulfill all your dancing needs!

Summer Sizzle, August Dance Party on Saturday, August 11 - read more Group Classes in Blacksburg start August 14 & 15 - read more Monday Night Workshops finish the month with a little Country-Western flair - read more Sapphire Water Bottles - an uber-cool container for your favorite beverage - read more Junior Ballroom starts back up on Friday, September 7 - read more Sapphire Ballroom is teaming up with Blacksburg West Coast Swing for weekly lessons! - read more

Dates to Remember:

Sunday, August 5 - Farmers’ Market Flashmob Practice - come on out if you want to join in
Thursday, August 9 - Farmers' Market Flashmob Perfromance
Saturday, August 11 - Summer Sizzle Dance Party with Salsa Lesson
Tuesday & Wednesday, August 14 & 15 - Blacksburg Group Classes begin
Friday, August 17 - Monthly Milonga
Monday, August 20 - Country Styles start in Monday Night Workshops

Friday, September 7 - Junior Ballroom Teens Edition begins
Saturday, September 8 - 80s Explosion Dance Party with East Coast Swing Lesson
Friday, September 14 - Junior Ballroom Tweens Edition begins
Tuesday, September 18 - Fall Sampler: Free Intro Lesson at Blacksburg Community Center
Friday, September 21 - CTAM is Free - Check out the Food Truck Rodeo
Friday, September 21 - Monthly Milonga

Saturday, October 20 - West Coast Swing Workshops with Eddie and Adela - details coming soon

Back to Top.

This summer has proven to be unique when it comes to weather, but we know that Saturday, August 11, will be hot, hot, hot!!! At least the dance floor at Sapphire will be sizzling-hot during the Summer Sizzle Dance Party.

Debbi will kick the night off with a smokin’ lesson in the Salsa, mild at first, but extra spicy by the end. And what dance is hotter than the Salsa? The lesson kicks off at 7:30 - be sure to get there early if Salsa is new to you.

After learning some tasty new moves, we’ll let the music play one of the last playlists Lane created before becoming a mommy. It’s sure to feature your favorite dance styles and some awesome new songs for your dancing pleasure. Additionally, we are working on a smoky-hot performance by Sapphire Staff and Students that will have you clapping and hand-jiving along - you don’t want to miss this one!

And since we already know it’s gonna be hot one (like seven inches from the midday sun), you need to stay hydrated. Please consider bringing your favorite water bottle or cup to the dance (or any other Sapphire event) to help reduce our consumption of disposable cups.

Especially for this dance party, we are giving away one of the new Sapphire Ballroom Water Bottles to the winner of “Dancing Chef” prize. You may be asking, “How do I win the Dancing Chef prize?” Well, it’s simple. Bring a snack to share that will knock the socks off of your fellow dancers. Then get them to vote for your dish. The dish with the most votes wins.

Can’t wait to see you there! More details about this dance and other upcoming events can be found at http://www.sapphiredance.com/events.php.

Back to Top.

It’s the last of the summer class schedule... but never fear! Fall will be right on summer’s heels beginning with a Sampler on Tuesday, September 18, and new classes in October. If you can’t wait until October (which we would totally understand) be sure to catch one of our awesome 4-week classes this month!

This month, you have a pretty unique line-up of Level 1 classes to choose from: Bachata, Viennese Waltz, and Salsa and Merengue.

Bachata, one of the many Latin styles offered at Sapphire, is the most beginner friendly option this session. Its very approachable basic allows you to get into some seriously fun moves, right from the start. If you are interested in Salsa (or Latin in general) but a little intimidated by the speed or complexity, Bachata would be an excellent place to start. Level 1 Bachata is on Tuesday evenings at 6:15pm.

Viennese Waltz is a dance that has lured many a dancer into its captivating web of grace, speed, travel, and rotation! Not the most beginner-friendly option, you will definitely want some Waltz or other Ballroom experience before taking this class. We will take it slow and break it down, but will have you spinning down the floor by the end of the 4 weeks. Viennese Waltz is on Wednesdays at 6:15pm.

Salsa and Merengue are offered in the same 4-week class because they go together like peas and carrots, like chips and dip, like milk and cookies….you get the picture! Both are standards of the Latin Club scene, so you will likely see them both at many dances. Not only does working on them together help you recognize the differences in the music, but also Salsa can be more challenging while Merengue’s simple foundation will give you a chance to have some fun with moves and technique. This class is great for beginners with a sense of adventure. Level 1 Salsa and Merengue are on Wednesdays at 7:15pm.

For those of you looking to “level up,” there are two options:
     Level 2 Swing (Single Time and Triple Time) on Tuesdays at 7:15pm
     Level 2 Waltz on Wednesdays at 7:15pm
Both are open to anyone with basic knowledge and interested in moving onward.

Whichever class(es) you decide on, we can't wait to see you there. Please feel free to contact us with questions or to register: info@sapphiredance.com or 540-382-8782. Check out the full line up of group classes at http://www.sapphiredance.com/groupclasses.php.

If a 4-week class just won’t fit into your summer schedule, you’ve gotta check out the Cheaper-Than-Movie-Workshops on Fridays... always one night, always 3 dances, and always a blast! http://www.sapphiredance.com/CTAM-Fridays.php

Back to Top.

For the first half of August both Monday night slots, 7:00pm & 8:00pm, are consumed with multi-week group classes, both of which began in July. So, if you are looking for our one-night, blast-of-information style workshop, put Sapphire on your calendar for August 20 and 27 when we end the month with two styles that are favorites in the Country Western world. It will be worth the wait.

On Monday, August 20, join in for an evening of Nightclub 2-Step and explore moves that will extend your travel.

And on Monday, August 27, get a healthy dose of Country Two-Step, full of "His & Hers" spins. It's time to take turns in your turning.

This fall, we are looking at several possibilities for Monday nights: a revisit of the recent Rumba routine - making the choreography approachable for social dancing, a series of traditional ballroom workshops, and possibly a Fox Trot routine. Let us know what you think about these ideas and what you would like to see featured in this fall’s Upper Level Mondays.

Back to Top.

It’s been awhile since we have had any Sapphire merchandise for sale, so we are super excited to have something new for you.

Sapphire is now selling high quality, stainless steel, insulated, 20 oz. water bottles with a wide mouth and a carabiner style handle... all in beautiful Sapphire blue, of course. They are perfect for carrying to all your dance classes and events. Not only will you stay hydrated, you won’t have to use all those plastic cups! These awesome water bottles are $24 each and here at the studio for you to check out. Every dancer needs a good water bottle, that will keep your drink icy cold or toasty hot for hours - you know you want one!

If you want an opportunity to win one, read about the Summer Sizzle Dance Party.

Back to Top.

Friday afternoons have been awfully quiet this summer without the awesome group of Tweens and Teens who make up the Junior Ballroom classes at Sapphire. We can’t wait to welcome them back to the studio this fall!

The Junior Ballroom program is especially for youth interested in joining the world of social dancing. The classes include a wide variety of music (old and new) and several different examples of Ballroom, Latin, and Swing dance styles. The students spend their time interacting with others their age as well as learning social and dance etiquette. These classes are tailored to the group and move at a pace that is comfortable for them. All levels are welcome, so it doesn’t matter if you have experience or not!

The Tweens Class is for ages 10-13, but can accept younger. Each session is 4 weeks long, and the first one begins Friday, September 14, at 4:00pm.

The Teens class is for older youths, starting at age 13, or younger with dance experience. Each session is 10 weekslong, and the fall session begins Friday, September 7, at 5:00pm.

Each semester ends with a dance party for students, their family, and friends. We typically have the class prepare a small performance to show off what they have learned. We also teach a lesson at the dance for everyone who comes: moms, dads, brothers, sisters, friends, and whoever else joins us! There are snacks to enjoy and open dancing to use what they have learned and lots of fun.

For more information and dates, check out the Junior Ballroom at Sapphire web page: http://www.sapphiredance.com/juniorballroom.html

Back to Top.

If you are fan of West Coast Swing you probably know that a local club, Blacksburg West Coast Swing (BWCS), was formed 2 years ago to learn, dance, and share the love of this amazing dance. If you didn’t, now you do! You can check them out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/blacksburgwcs/. This club started with just a few people, and fueled by their enthusiasm, it has grown into a thriving group of dancers.

BWCS meets weekly and typically has two lessons: one at 6:15pm for those with WCS experience and another one at 7:00pm for beginners. Then there is open dancing to practice and have fun for another hour after the lessons.

Sapphire is excited to be teaming up with BWCS and heading up the teaching of these lessons starting this semester. The first lesson will be Tuesday, August 28, and while we know the lesson will be on Virginia Tech campus, the location is TBD. Follow their facebook page or get on their mailing list for more details. Whether you already know West Coast or have never heard of it, join in to have some fun this semester!

Back to Top.

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.