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Blue Bella
San Diego's Longest Running Blues & Soul Dancing
@ LOCATION: ON HIATUS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE UNTIL A NEW LOCATION CAN BE DETERMINED
former location- Proud Mary's 5550 Kearny Mesa Rd, SD 92111
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Welcome to "Blue Bella", San Diego's monthly Blues and Soul swing dance venue, since June, 2007. Anyone who enjoys blues and soul music and dancing with someone else will leave happy you decided to join us. Feel right at home surrounded by our dancers who are warm & friendly to new and regular faces We meet every Friday at Proud Mary's in the Ramada conference center, just off of Clairemont Mesa Blvd & the 163 freeway. As you enter, you see a soulful lounge, notice the energy and fun people are having on the the dance floor, and food & drinks are reasonable. Dancers enjoy the mixed tempos and variety of music played at Blue Bella. Dancers of all levels and types are welcome. So whether you're a beginner working on basics, a seasoned Lindy Hopper, or an experienced blues and soul enthusiast, the dance floor is ready and waiting for you; the music will inspire and move you! We bring you the best and hippest DJs who "play to the floor", offering a wide range of musical styles and artists. We also present special workshops whenever possible of the best dancers in the country who teach blues, lindy, alternative tango or a combination.
Upcoming Dances: FRIDAYS
Aug. 26th, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, ...it's every Friday.

Friday, August 26th with DJs Alena & Jeffy Jeff
Special Event: Bring a friend who is a complete beginner to Blue Bella, and take the beginning class with them, and they get in FREE!
Intermediate Lesson 8:00-9:00pm (then stay to break it down or help others learn in the beginning lesson.)
All-levels Beginner Lesson 9:00-9:45pm.

Friday, Sept 2nd, 2011: Nathan James Trio!! LIVE BAND! blues and soul dancing with a DJ during the band breaks.
Intermediate Lesson 8:00-9:00pm
All-levels Beginner Lesson 9:00-9:45pm*
Live band music from 9:45pm to ~1:30am Restaurant/bar area will have the dancing, & if too full, lower lobby area will be the overflow dance area.
Intermediate Class + Practica:
$8 for Intermediate Lesson + Dance
$5 for full-time students + elementary to high school teachers.

Beginning Class + Practica:
$8 for Beginner Lesson and Dance
$5 for full-time students

"Practica" DANCE ONLY 9:45 – 1:30am
$10 Admission
$8 Full-time students
The dance will be known as a "practica" after the lessons. The dance is free if you pay for any class. Otherwise, the $7/$5 applies.

Friday, Sept 9th, 2011: Guest instructor and DJ from San Francisco: Dave Madison!
Intermediate Lesson 8:00-9:00pm
All-levels Beginner Lesson 9:00-9:45pm*
Live band music from 9:45pm to ~1:30am Restaurant/bar area will have the dancing, & if too full, lower lobby area will be the overflow dance area.
Intermediate Class + Practica: $8 for Intermediate Lesson and Dance
$5 for full-time students and elementary to high school teachers.

Beginning Class + Practica:
$5 for Beginner Lesson and Dance
$3 for full-time students (SAME price as we had at Ciao Bella, for regular dancing, only you get a class, too)

"Practica" DANCE ONLY 9:45 – 1:30am
$7 Admission
$5 Full-time students
The dance will be known as a "practica" after the lessons. The dance is free if you pay for any class. Otherwise, the $7/$5 applies.

Fridays, by Elizabeth, Alena or guest instructor tbd
DJed music 9:45pm to 1:30am

$8 Intermediate dance
$5 Beginner dance
$7 Just "practica" dance. Please pay at the table in the lobby, or Elizabeth. The restaurant also requests a 1 drink minimum from attendees. If you would like more Upcoming Dates information, please look at the "Events" page


Wow! We've had so many bands lately. Thanks so much to everyone for supporting us and these bands!!
Our 4 year anniversary party, June 10, '11 with Shay Blues Review, Feb. 4, '11 with Nathan James Trio, and our Holiday Party Dec. 10, '10 with Mercedes Moore band!! We all had so much fun & her band was incredible.

Remember, ALL dance styles welcome, including Lindy hop, West coast swing, blues, alternative tango...as long as you are polite on the dance floor, we are happy to have you join us!
General Schedule
*All Fridays of every month beginning at approximately 8:00pm for intermediate, 9:00pm Beginner. Ending ~1:00am (often later if people are still dancing and buying drinks)
$10 Intermediate dance (Beginner & practica included, $5 Beginner (practica included, BEST value), $8 Just Practica.
Dance class from 9:00 (taught by Elizabeth or guest instructors)
Blue Bella occurs on every Friday of each month.
Music
Music is usually DJ'd with an occasional live artist. In 2011, we strive to present a live band approximately once every quarter. Past DJ's include local San Diego favorites Jax, Amanda "Panda" Lorenz, Mark Shtino (aka "Firemark"), Bonnie Horvitz, Elizabeth McGuire, Carl Flores, Aaron VonderHaar, and Jan Wilcox who is best known in the SD Tango scene. Guest DJs include Dan Parshall (Knoxville), Patrick Warren (Austin), Roy Rydbeck (San Francisco), and John Croft, Matt Kelsey, Whitton Frank, Shawn D Coyle, and Ken Cirimelli from LA. Bands that have played for us include: The CJ Hutchins band played for the 1-year anniversary in June, 2008. The Fremonts played for the 2-year anniversary in June, '09, and the Nathan James trio played in Oct.'09, and the 3-year anniversary in June, 2010. Mercedes Moore band Dec 10th, 2010.
Past Workshops
Damon Stone and Liz Stone Oct. 2008 Lindy, Blues, and Soul Dancing Workshop
Click here for more info
Brenda Russell and Jay Le Roux, and Stryder Crown Nov. 2007 Lindy and Blues Technique Workshop

For more information regarding Blue Bella, including comments, questions,
private lesson inquiries, or band performances, please e-mail: