World-Class Education Made Accessible

Education is one of the foundations of the Buckeye Dance Festival.

Throughout four days, Buckeye is planning 70+ workshops, giving attendees the opportunity to learn, explore, practice and experience multiple styles of dance and movement — all in one place.

And these aren’t workshops designed only for advanced dancers.

Beginners are encouraged to jump in. Experienced dancers are encouraged to go back to the basics.

Why?

Because who you learn the basics from matters.

A basic West Coast Swing, Ballroom or Country workshop taught by a nationally or internationally recognized coach can offer an entirely different level of understanding. Connection, timing, movement, technique, communication and body mechanics can transform even the simplest pattern.

At Buckeye, beginner-friendly doesn’t mean beginner-level education.

It means world-class education presented in a way that more people can access.

See The Full Workshop Schedule

THREE MAJOR DANCE TRACKS

Dedicated workshop spaces will provide extensive education throughout the weekend in three of the largest areas of partner dancing:

WEST COAST SWING

Whether you’re taking your first steps or already spending your weekends on a West Coast Swing floor, workshops will explore the foundations and possibilities of one of today’s most popular social dances.

Topics can include:

West Coast Swing • Connection • Timing • Musicality • Partnering • Lead & Follow • Footwork • Movement • Social Dance Skills • Technique

Learn it during the day — then take it directly onto the social floor.

BALLROOM

Experience the variety and depth of Ballroom dancing with education covering dances from both the smooth/standard and rhythm/Latin families.

Throughout the weekend, attendees can experience dances including:

Waltz • Tango • Foxtrot • Viennese Waltz • Cha-Cha • Rumba • Swing • Bolero • Mambo

The goal isn’t simply learning choreography.

It’s understanding movement, partnering, connection, timing and technique from educators who coach dancers at some of the highest levels.

If you’ve never danced Ballroom before, this is your doorway in.

If you’ve danced Ballroom for years, it’s an opportunity to hear familiar information from a completely different perspective.

COUNTRY

Country dancing is much bigger than most people realize.

Buckeye gives attendees an opportunity to explore the diversity of Country partner dancing, including:

Country Two-Step • Country Swing • Night Club Two-Step • Waltz • Cha-Cha • Triple Two • East Coast Swing • Polka

Learn the fundamentals. Improve your technique. Explore connection and partnering. Then take those skills onto the social floor or into competition.

Whether you’re coming from a bar, studio, social club or competitive dance floor, there’s room for you.

AND THEN WE OPEN THE DOOR EVEN WIDER.

Buckeye isn’t about staying inside one dance community.

It’s about exploring.

Alongside our major Ballroom, Country and West Coast Swing tracks, specialty workshops will introduce attendees to additional dance, movement and wellness experiences.

Programming being developed includes:

Salsa • Bachata • Kizomba • Line Dance • Tai Chi • Yoga • Acro Yoga • Hip-Hop • Movement & Body Awareness

And more specialty instructors and experiences will be announced as we get closer to the festival.

Maybe you’re a Country dancer who has never tried Kizomba.

A Ballroom dancer curious about West Coast Swing.

A West Coast Swing dancer who wants to try Salsa.

Or maybe you’re not a dancer at all and Tai Chi, yoga or another movement workshop is your first step into the weekend.

That’s exactly what Buckeye was built for.

BEGINNER-FRIENDLY. EXPERT-LED.

Those two ideas are not opposites.

They’re actually one of the most important parts of our philosophy.

Buckeye is intentionally bringing accomplished coaches, champions, educators and specialists together and asking them to make their knowledge accessible.

You shouldn’t have to be an advanced competitor before you have access to exceptional education.

And experienced dancers shouldn’t overlook a workshop simply because it says “beginner.”

When an elite educator teaches a basic concept, you’re not simply learning another basic step.

You’re getting their understanding of why it works.

Where is the connection?

How does the body move?

What makes the lead clearer?

What makes the follow easier?

Where does the timing come from?

What separates simply doing the movement from understanding it?

Those are details that can benefit someone on their first day of dancing and someone who has danced for twenty years.

THE VALUE IS ACCESS

Imagine trying to individually travel to and take lessons from the number of instructors and specialists we’re bringing together for one weekend.

That’s where the value of Buckeye becomes different.

Instead of purchasing one workshop…

Explore dozens.

Instead of learning one style…

Try several.

Instead of traveling to multiple communities…

Meet them under one roof.

Your all-access experience is designed to let you build your own weekend.

Take Ballroom in the morning.

Try West Coast Swing next.

Learn Country that afternoon.

Step into Tai Chi.

Try Salsa or Bachata.

Discover Kizomba.

Challenge yourself with acro yoga.

Then spend the evening actually dancing what you learned.

Education → Practice → Interaction → Competition

That’s the Buckeye experience.

COME CURIOUS

You don’t have to know which dance is “your dance” before you arrive.

That’s part of the fun.

Take the workshop you already love.

Then take one you know absolutely nothing about.

Learn from someone you may normally never have the opportunity to learn from.

Ask questions.

Meet people from another dance community.

Try.

Explore.

Practice.

You might come to Buckeye for the dance you already love and leave having discovered the next one.