Who we are
Leigh & Dara are dance teachers, DJs, and event organisers, who have been sharing their love of the blues with dancers around Europe since 2010.
When these two get together, they are truly greater than the sum of their parts. Leigh & Dara mix humour, enthusiasm and terrible puns in equal measure to create fun, welcoming spaces that inspire and entertain. Wherever you are with your blues dancing, they’ll make sure you leave with a swagger in your walk and a smile on your face. If you'd like to Dance@Home with us & stay connected to the blues dance community, find out about our live & online courses here. Pssst! Hey organisers, if you're looking get in touch, find us here! For more, read Leigh's full bio & Dara's full bio |
Our Philosophy
We love the blues and we want as many people as possible to get to experience the joy of dancing. Our philosophy for getting the most from the dance is:
Bring It!
“A bad rendition of you is better than a good rendition of somebody else.”
Willie Dixon Life is all about showing up - so is dance! There's only one you and we wanna see what you've got: be your own dancer first & bring your own voice to every dance. |
Respect
“I respect myself and insist upon it from everybody. And because I do it, I then respect everybody, too.”
Maya Angelou Dance is a conversation. The thing we love most about dancing together is that we have an equal partnership; whether we’re following or leading, we both share our ideas as we connect with the music and each other. |
Celebrate
“It’s a true feeling that comes from the heart, not just something that comes out my mouth. Blues is what I love, and blues is what I always do.”
Koko Taylor We love, love, LOVE the blues. It’s the reason we dance, DJ, and run events. Blues is a family of living African American dances and musical styles with over 100 years of history... let’s celebrate it all! |
Our Projects
The Spoonful
With her good friends Shell & Sigga, Leigh is Co-Founder and Producer of The Spoonful (Edinburgh); one of the most popular blues dance events in Europe.
Fierce Sisters of Blues
Leigh trains and choreographs with The Fierce Sisters of Blues, an international collaboration with Bibi Elespini (Italy) and Sandra Thorn (Sweden)
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Quick-Quick SlowQuick-Quick Slow Valencia (a collaboration by Dara and Abbie) is bringing the first balboa and blues dance festival to Valencia, Spain in October 2022.
The Jam! Blues Festival
Leigh & Dara are excited to co-organise, The Jam! with Niclas & Sandra (Gothenburg, Sweden), which is all about getting down and showing up with a celebration of blues music and dance.
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