Swing & Blues Weekend in Santa Fe, NM
Overview
Breaking Bal, episode 1, was a swing and blues weekend in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Santa Fe Swing Dance Society (SFSDS) was excited to welcome Desiree Roffers and Ross Blythe for a swing and blues dance weekend! There were workshop classes, live music, and social dance parties.
Instructors
Desiree Roffers has loved dancing her whole life. At the age of four, she began learning Irish Dance. Soon after, she was competing around the country and started teaching dance in early middle school.
Around 2002, Desiree switched her focus to swing dancing and began studying Lindy Hop, Blues, and Balboa. Desiree continues to travel to swing dance events around the world to learn, teach, and compete. Desiree especially loves balboa because of its circular momentum, close connection, and intricate footwork.
She has received balboa awards from events across North America. Desiree has three graduate degrees in education and provides training for teachers in Chicago public schools. She is currently working on her PhD in Instructional Technology.
In 2011, Desiree started Chicago Balboa Underground and she remains dedicated to growing the swing dance scene in Chicago and across the globe. As an instructor and swing dance organizer, Desiree values inclusive practices, trauma-informed approaches, and social justice.
Ross Blythe is a favorite on the social floor for his rhythmic play and clear lead allowing for effortless follow expression, Ross inspires his partners and onlookers alike. His movement background in martial arts and sport fencing affords him a grounded strength and athletic balance, giving rise to precise, secure changes between shapes and directions.
Ross was drawn to the blues idiom because of its emphasis on personal expression in relation to a partner and the breadth of tempo and style within blues music. As a teacher Ross builds layered classes to challenge all levels, balances technique with application, and chooses appropriate music to support each exercise.
Met with overwhelming competitive success, Ross has placed 1st at a number of contests within the last two years: BluesSHOUT 2015 Open Strictly (Chicago, IL), North Star Blues 2016 JnJ (Minneapolis, MN), Austin Blues Party 2016 Social JnJ (Austin, TX), and Sweet Molasses Blues 2016 Advanced JnJ (Boston, MA).
Schedule
Friday, November 8th
Friday Evening
Location: Odd Fellows Hall
| Time (PM) | Description | Who? |
| 7 – 8 | soul & swing lesson (beginner-friendly) | Silke & Bandi |
| 8 – 9 | welcome dance party w/ DJ’d swing, soul, & blues music | DJ Ashley |
| 9-9:10 | instructor demo & celebration circle | Desiree & Ross |
| 9:10 – 10:10 | welcome dance party w/DJ’d swing, soul, & blues music | DJ Kara & DJ Jen |
| 10:10 – 11 | welcome dance party w/DJ’d swing, soul, & blues music | DJ Emma |
Saturday, November 9th
Saturday Daytime
Saturday Evening
Location: Paradiso
| Time (PM) | Description | Who? |
| 7:30 – 8:30 | swing lesson (beginner-friendly) | Mike & Emma |
| 8:30 – 9 | social dance w/ DJ’d music | DJ Mike |
| 9 – 10 | social dance party w/ live music | Burque Jazz Bandits |
| 10 – 10:25 | mix & match competition | DJ Ross, competitors |
| 10:25 – 10:30 | celebration circle | DJ Ross, volunteers & organizers |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | social dance party w/ live music | Burque Jazz Bandits |
| 11:30+ | announce competition winners | competitors |
Sunday, November 10th
Sunday Daytime
Sunday Evening
Location: Dance Station
| Time (PM) | Description | Who? |
| 8 – 8:30 | DJ music | DJ Ashley |
| 8:30 – 9:30 | farewell dance party w/ live music | Silver Sky Blues Band |
| 9:30 – 9:45 | DJ’d music | DJ Ashley |
| 9:45-11+ | farewell dance party w/ live music | Silver Sky Blues Band |
Venues
1125 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87505
Friday evening social dance
Saturday workshop lessons
Sunday workshop lessons
Bands
Based out of Albuquerque, NM, the Burque Jazz Bandits bring fun danceable music inspired by 1920s-40s swing jazz, with toe-tapping rhythms, sizzling instrumentals, and passionate vocals. Formed in the local swing dance community, their shared love of jazz brought the Bandits together. Visit the Burque Jazz Bandits’ website for more information.
The Silver Sky Blues Band is a blues band based out of Albuquerque, NM and plays regularly in Santa Fe, NM. Enjoy some of their music on the Angry Roadrunner YouTube Channel.
DJs
Emma Underhill is the head DJ and a Santa Fe favorite. She has a background in jazz vocal performance, and she is a Balboa addict.
Ashley Cohen Conner is from Arizona. She has been dancing for almost a decade, focusing on Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag (Collegiate and Carolina!), and Solo Jazz. She started DJing at local weekly venues in Mesa, Arizona, and quickly learned that she loved sharing the music she enjoyed with fellow dancers. She particularly loves Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Roosevelt Sykes, and Helen Humes. Ashley has DJ’d all over Arizona, most notably at SWINGdepenDANCE, Phoenix Lindy Exchange, and BadAZ Balboa. Additionally, she has DJ’d across the southwest for LA Jitterbug, Downbeat Swing, Salt City Stomp, SwingDanceVegas, Summer Swing Fest, Hot Jazz Jamboree, and Boise City Swings. She is excited to add Breaking Bal to that list and can’t wait to share her sets with you!
DJ Mike Garcia is a long-time Santa Fe based swing dance scene leader, dance instructor, and DJ. We’re blessed to have him in our community and on our team.
DJ Jen Delk resides in Denver, Colorado (formerly of Austin, Texas). Background in Blues, Balboa, and Lindy Hop. Teaches locally and nationally.
DJ Kara Fabina from Colorado Springs, CO. Background in Blues, Fusion, and Lindy Hop. Teaches locally and nationally.
Staff
Email our staff at breakingbalboa@gmail.com
Emma Underhill – Housing, Scholarships, Volunteers, DJs, Competition, and Safe Spaces
Josh Pritts – Registration, Instructors, Social Media, Infographics, Website
Silke Maietta-Hatch – Venues, Bands, & Instructors
Bandi Chorh Khalsa – Advisor
Galen King – Competition
Christin Oberman – Emcee, Merchandise Design
Amado Pena III – Flyer Design
Safe Spaces Policy
Breaking Bal is brought to you by Santa Fe Swing Dance Society (SFSDS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for local swing dancers to learn, perform, and dance socially. SFSDS is firmly committed to the goal of making educational and social dance spaces inclusive, welcoming, and safe for all dancers in our community, regardless of their demographic identities.
For this workshop weekend, we ask that all dancers in attendance respect the following guidelines:
- Above all, be kind to every kind!
- Ask for consent, explicitly and verbally, before touching another human. This applies both on and off the dance floor. If anyone tells you they are uncomfortable with specific types of touch in dance, respect their choice.
- Respect everyone’s right to self-determination. Ask questions rather than making assumptions. We will provide lead, follow, and switch ribbons at the event, but regardless, it never hurts to ask someone what role they prefer in dance instead of making an assumption based on your perception of their gender presentation.
- Demonstrate respect for every body type, every skin color, every ethnicity and nationality, every gender presentation, every sexuality, every age group, every form of neurodivergence, and every experience level. If you are unable to respect the differences of others, you may be asked to leave.
- Please respect our dance spaces. We will be dancing at three different venues throughout the weekend, each of which takes care and hard work to maintain. Wear clean dance shoes, pick up after yourself, and observe the policies of each venue (for example: Odd Fellows Hall is a dry space; alcohol or drug use of any kind is strictly prohibited there).
- Be conscious of the space that you occupy and prioritize floor craft. Mistakes can happen on the dance floor; if/when they do, please take time to check and make sure your fellow dancers are unharmed.
- Please abstain from wearing strong fragrances in perfumes, skincare products, etc. These fragrances may contain chemicals that can cause other dancers to experience migraines, fatigue, and other unpleasant symptoms.
- Give us feedback! If you observe or experience something that makes you uncomfortable, please don’t keep quiet about it. Your report to a member of our safe spaces team will make our community safer for everyone.
Throughout the weekend, members of our safe spaces team will be wearing white ribbons on our wrists, necks, heads, etc. If you have any concerns, questions, or reports to make, please do not hesitate to approach us. Your voice matters and we are here to support you!
Santa Fe Swing 