Registration & Changing the level:
Registration: You and your partner must be registered at the same level, even if you won a full pass.
Changing the level: You can’t change the level until registration is still open. You and your partner must register for the same level. If you want to change your level, your partner must do the same, as we want balanced levels. Auditions are required for levels 4 and 5 on Friday before the classes.
Level 3
Dancing Balboa at Level 3 is an exciting place to be! It’s that sweet spot where you’ve built up a solid foundation, and you’re ready to refine your technique, expand your vocabulary, and start developing your voice in the dance. Level 3 dancers are confident with Balboa fundamentals, including:
Basic Pure Bal and Bal-Swing Transitions.
Solid out-and-in connection.
Comfortable dancing at moderate to faster tempos (up to around 180-200 bpm).
Partnering skills where you can adjust to different styles (both leading/following).
Some musicality awareness — you know how to catch breaks, vary rhythms, and adjust your energy to fit the music.
Level 3 requires at least one to two years of regular Balboa classes on your local scene and dancing on socials.
Not suitable for total beginners or beginners who have only attended a few workshops.
Total: 8 hours
Workshops: FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Audition: YES, if you want to go to a higher level.
Location: Grand Hotel Union
Level 4
Dancing Balboa at Level 4 is already a major achievement — you’re operating at a high technical and creative level, comfortable with fast tempos, improvisation, and dancing with a wide range of partners.
Tempo Flexibility: Comfortable from 190 to 250 bpm, with clean technique at high speeds. | Connection Clarity: You give & receive clear signals — you know when to lead, follow, and co-create. | Personal Style: You’re starting to develop your own flavor — maybe playful, elegant, quirky, or smooth. | Partner Adaptability: You can dance comfortably with beginners, intermediates, and other advanced dancers. | Musical Awareness: You recognize structure, breaks, and shifts in the music and respond creatively.
Total: 8 hours
Workshops: FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Audition: YES
Location: Grand Hotel Union
Level 5
Dancing Balboa at Level 5 is a huge accomplishment — that’s the top tier where only the most skilled and experienced dancers.
Requires audition.
Technique: Your pure bal and bal-swing are seamless, with precise weight shifts, immaculate posture, and effortless flow.
Refined Basics: Even your simplest down-hold basics should feel comfortable at 300+ bpm, with zero tension. | Effortless| Transitions: Switch between bal-swing and pure bal without thinking. | Personal Styling: Footwork, body rhythms, and upper body expressions that are unmistakably yours. | Partner Sensitivity: Instant adaptation to different styles within the advanced field. | Creativity & Playfulness: You’re no longer just “executing” — you’re creating and responding in real-time.
Total: 8 hours
Workshops: FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Audition: YES
Location: Grand Hotel Union