Class Levels

Three groups

Get ready for ticket day by knowing exactly what level you should register for.

Level Types

Gnarabup

Like the calm bay of Gnarabup beach, these classes are aimed at intermediate dancers (Levels 1 and 2).

About you: By the time BDS rolls around, you’ll have been dancing regularly for 6 months -5 years. You've learned how to swing out and can flow between 6 and 8-count rhythms/moves (e.g. tuck turn, circle, charleston basic). You may have done some variations on those (like texas tommy, tandem charleston). You know about pulse, connection, and movement principles. You can communicate your moves with success as a lead, or can pick up them up as a follow. You have begun to explore rhythms, variations, and solo jazz steps. You've probably learned the Shim Sham.

You would like to improve your dancing at any speed, dance with more musicality and add new moves, rhythms or style to your dancing. You want to improve in all aspects of dance, such as dance history, musicality, partnering, self-expression and dance floor skills.

Injidup

Injidup beach is known for its intense swell and explosive waves. These classes are aimed at advanced dancers (Level 3).

About you: you’ve been dancing for a long time now (likely five+ consecutive years). You comfortably add on complex rhythms, and express musicality and styling in your dancing. You are not afraid to use different rhythmic variations and you can dance fluently at fast and slow tempos without losing your centre. You can step into your alternate role (lead or follow) as needed. You listen to the music and interpret it. You understand the dance as a three-way conversation. You also know elements of Solo Jazz and can transfer them to partner dancing. You can dance solo jazz choreographies like Tranky Doo, Trickeration, and/or the Big Apple.

You want to learn more rhythmic variations and deepen your musicality, extend your vocabulary, and expand your knowledge of the history and values of the dance. You want to work on your improvisation and be able to express yourself in a freer and more personal way on the dance floor.

Auditions may be used for this level based on registration numbers.

Boranup

The towering treetops of Boranup forest stretch over 60 meters into the sky. Like the top of the canopy, this level is aimed for at the most experienced dancers at the festival (Levels 4+).

This is an audition-based level.

About You: Not only have you been dancing for many years now, you have probably also taught locally in your area. You attend festivals near and far whenever you get the chance and have likely competed in the past. You have learned other swing dances, like Blues, Balboa, and Shag. Your dancing is fluid in high (180+ bpm) and low tempos (<100 bpm). You can comfortably lead, follow, and solo jazz alone. You are recognised by your teachers and other high-level dancers as an advanced dancer.

You want to deepen your exploration into the dance and learn alongside peers at a similar level to you. Learning this dance has extended beyond the moves for you - you want to learn from the teachers in a way that is likely to challenge you physically and mentally.

Ticket Selection

At ticketing - get ready to select your level above AND your role.

If you are an ambi dancer (dance both roles) and are registering as such, please make sure you are comfortable dancing both roles in the level you have selected.