Sweden

Two weeks ago (17-19 September 2010), the Sweden Balboa Weekend was happening in Uppsala.

We all had a really great time there. I especially liked the atmosphere of the weekend, so the idea occured to me to write a review about the event.

Some key figures (I consider this a small workshop weekend):

• approximately 150 participants
• 4 levels = 4 groups
• 4 teacher couples

Time table of the weekend:

Friday
19.30-21.30 Registration
20.00-00.00 Welcome dance with live band

Saturday and Sunday workshop
09.00-10.00 Registration (only on Saturday)

10.30-11.40 Lesson 1
11.50-13.00 Lesson 2
13.00-14.20 Lunch
14.20-15.30 Lesson 3
15.40-16.50 Lesson 4

20.00-01.00 Evening dance with live band on Saturday
17.15-20.30 DJ dance & sandwich buffet on Sunday

What I liked:

• The class rooms and the evening party location were close together in walking distance
• The first lesson started at 10.30h – very good!
• The student groups stayed in the same room: just comfortable
• Every teacher couple were teaching two lessons in a row. I like this concept, it gives the teachers more possibilities to structure their lessons. Even the breaks could be done differently than on the time table.
• «Fika» = (sweet) snack and fruit juice between lesson 1&2 and 3&4 – that was really awesome.
• Live bands – what is better than dancing to live music!
• Sandwich bar on Sunday. Another great idea. Usually there is not that much time during these weekends to socialise. This simple idea brought everybody together for a chat and some dances at the end of the weekend.

What I would do differently:

• I would plan a longer lunch break: the classes rarely end on time, then you need time to walk to a restaurant and you need time to order and wait for the food
• Schedule the Saturday evening party until 2h (and start it half an hour or an hour later), most of us were a little bit disappointed that it already ended at 1h – okay, eventually it was 1.30h 🙂

There was no:

• … audition for higher levels, which was a courageous decision in a way but it suprisingly worked out pretty good. Well, there is still the possibility for a teacher couple to politely move a dancer in a different group if necessary.
• … Jack 'n› Jill competition. I don't want to judge that. It's always a difficult decision whether you would like to give the opportunity to compete and therewith inspire the other dancers. On the other hand it divides the flow of an evening. I can live with both situations.

These are just my personal thoughts.

Thanks again to the organizers for this wonderful weekend!