The FTLOB Experience is a weekend of learning, community, and dancing that will leave you feeling connected, inspired, and hungry for more! Our attendees say they have never felt safer, more free to be themselves, or more changed by any event. Come see for yourself what it's all about! Space is intentionally limited.
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READ BELOW FOR INFO ON:
-ARTISTS
-PARTIES
-WORKSHOPS
-PASSES
-LUNCHES
-HOTEL/AIRBNB OPTIONS
-CODE OF CONDUCT
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ARTISTS
BailaMar is coming to you for the 2nd time straight from Europe to help you continue to develop your foundations, hone your style, add some flavor, and have fun while you're at it!
Since 2012 Maria and Alex spent more than 25 months living in the Dominican Republic, exploring its culture and dance.
Organizers of regular bachata camps BailaMar in the Dominican Republic.
Organizers of unique authentic bachata festival in Russia - Dominican Flow Festial.
Dance instructors in ArmenyCasa - one of the biggest Latin dance school in Russia.
Instructors and performers at bachata weekends in many Russian cities, such as Moscow, Kaliningrad, Arkhangelsk, Samara, Ryazan, Vladimir, Bryansk etc.. Teaching regular instructors courses in Moscow. Instructors, performers and judges at various Dance Festivals in Russia, Dominican Republic, USA, Poland, Spain and Ireland.
Maria has more than 25 years of dance experience and over 15 years of dance teaching. She has been working in various dance styles from classical dance to urban club dancing.
In 2008 together with Alexander she was involved into Latin American dances, such as salsa, bachata and merengue. This passion brought them to the Dominican Republic in 2012. They fall in love with this country and stayed there for a long time to explore bachata.
Later on they formed their own vision of teaching bachata and started to organize regular BailaMar Bachata Camps in Dominican Republic in cooperation with Dominican dance instructors. In 2014 they came back to Russia and started to spread traditional bachata there teaching regular and intensive courses for students of all levels and instructors, and since 2016 organizing Authentic Bachata Festival Dominican Flow Fest.
In 2018 they moved to Ireland.
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PARTIES
Friday - Cabaret Theather, downtown on Penn Ave
10pm-1:30am
DJ Jeff Shirey & DJ Tay
$5 separate cover
21+
Saturday - Arthur Murray Studio, downtown 6th St
10pm-2am
DJ Tay
$10 cover or free with full pass
18+
Performances
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WORKSHOPS
SATURDAY
11:00am-12:00PM Geometries & Variations: Part 1 (Basic shapes & variations)
In this workshop, dancers will learn a variety of Dominican basics, include the structure of basic steps and their variations in how Dominicans use them in social dancing.
12:15-1:15PM Geometries & Variations: Part 2 (breaks & turns)
This workshop continues to cover a variety of Dominican basics, including basic structural elements of Dominican bachata.
1:15-1:45PM **LUNCH** - 30 min (order ahead from a local shop, buy our $6/day light lunch, or pack from home)
1:45-2:45PM - The Greatness of Merengue
Merengue officially is part of UNESCO's Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage and is also well known for being the national music of the Dominican Republic. In this workshop, we will discover the greatness of Merengue and a variety of its styles as well as learn how to dance with different Merengue music.
3:00-4:00PM Merengue de Salon
This workshop moves us deep into one Merengue dance style - Merengue de Salon. This is an elegant and graceful way of dancing from Dominican high society in an atmosphere of rich casinos and lounges.
SUNDAY
11:00AM-12:00PM Partnerwork.
Relax and have a fun! This workshop focuses on how to be a good social dancer, including the concept of leading and following in Dominican Bachata. The structure of partnerwork in this workshop is based on the Geometries & Variations courses from the previous day.
12:15-1:15PM Bachata Shines.
One of the main ways to shine in Bachata is footwork. Let’s learn some authentic footwork!
1:15-1:45PM **LUNCH** - 30 min (order ahead from a local shop, buy our $6/day light lunch, or pack from home)
1:45PM-2:45PM Partnerwork and Shines.
In this workshop, we explore how to use footwork in social dance. We will cover the fundamentals of using footwork in couple dance as well as how to use shines without stressing your partner.
3:00-4:00PM Dance and Musicality.
It is highly recommended that you attend a Carlos Cinta musicality course before this class. Knowing the core rhythms of Bachata will help you make the connections of movements to music. With this base, we will move to the next level of musicality.
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PASSES
Loyalty Pass - flat rate $80
Student Pass - flat rate $50
Monthly discounted passes ranging from $90 to $110
At door - $125
Walk-ins - $15 per workshop
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LUNCHES
The festival includes a 30-minute lunch break each day of the festival. Lunch is an optional add-on with your pass and costs $12 for both days. You will be given a lunch ticket for each day at registration, which you can use to get your lunch. Food options will include turkey & cheese or ham & cheese croissant sandwiches, fruit & nut bars, carrots & hummus, veggies, fruits, and other snacks.
Feel free to bring your own lunch instead! There is no obligation to participate. This is just a convenience to make your weekend run a little smoother.
Lunch can also be ordered from E-Town Bar and Grille, just 1/2 a block from the studio. You should call in your order ahead of time so it can be ready for you at the start of lunch. Call: (412) 784-1720
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HOTEL & AIRBNB OPTIONS
A good quality hotel is the Comfort Inn on Gamma Drive. It is close, while still avoiding potential city traffic. The price is always reasonable and the rooms are clean. –> https://www.choicehotels.com/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/comfort-inn-hotels/pa669
Neighborhoods to check out for Airbnb:
Etna, Aspinwall, Lawrenceville, Morningside, Bloomfield, Shaler, Northside, Millvale
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CODE OF CONDUCT
Our code of conduct applies at all For the Love of Bachata events. If you feel you cannot comply, please do not attend. If your conduct violates the code and your presence or behaviors are adversely affecting the event, you will be removed and you will receive either a full or partial refund depending on the situation.
For more information, please visit: http://fortheloveofbachata.com/code-of-conduct/
