Curricula

Dive into our approach & learn about our level structure

Fusion dance is a creative partner dance that blends movements and techniques from multiple dance styles—swing, blues, tango, contemporary, and more. It’s an amazing dance, but is uniquely challenging to learn since mixing dances requires in-depth and pre-existing knowledge.

At the Academy, we have developed a unique curricula incorporating movements and techniques from many partnered dance styles to support student’s growth into well rounded and adaptable fusion dancers.

Progressive levels guide students on a unique learning path that builds over time. Each level contains multiple classes, and each class is a 4-week series where you’ll dive deep into specific skills. Series within a level can be taken in any order.

To move to the next level, you'll need to complete all classes in your current one and take a brief assessment with one of our senior instructors. Assessments happen during regular practice sessions (practicas) and focus on making sure you have the foundational prerequisites needed to succeed at the next level. Already experienced? Contact us for a placement assessment!

Our Approach

In each level, you’ll explore concepts, movements, and techniques from our 3 “systems”: Groove, Momentum, and Walking. Within each system live a selection of dances which we pull inspiration from to create our curriculum for each class.

Groove
Groove is a fusion system inspired by Blues dances and Hip-Hop. These dances emphasize rhythmic embodiment and musical interpretation, inviting partners to play with repetition and flow in their movement. This system uses body isolations and pulse to create deep connection with the music's rhythm and texture.

Momentum
Momentum is a fusion system inspired by Swing dances. These dances utilize momentum to generate and channel energy through the body, partnership, and space. This system uses stretch and compression skills to create dynamic motion in partnership.

Smoothstepping
Smoothstepping is a fusion dance inspired by Argentine Tango and Ballroomin’ Blues. These walking system dances invite partners to travel around the floor in close embrace, allowing dancers to interpret the music with subtlety and fluidity. This dance uses heightened chest connection to create precision and elegance in partnered movement.

leveled Classes

ONE FOUNDATIONAL MONTH

designed for newcomers to partner dancing.

Learn essential movement patterns, develop lead/follow communication skills, and gain the practical confidence to participate in fusion dance socials!

  • Learn a step-touch basic with variations, simple turns, and core techniques that allow you to lead and follow while interpreting the music.

Prereqs: None, join us!

FOUR INTRODUCTORY MONTHS

Explore partnered dancing in various embraces, discover stretch & compression in partnership, and learn core moves and techniques inspired by West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Argentine Tango, and Ballroomin’ Blues.

focused on Momentum & Smoothstepping. 

Prereqs: L2

  • Linear Momentum
    Familiarize yourself with stretch and compression partnership skills in an open position as you learn slotted essentials like pushes, passbys, and more. Explore how to generate, sustain, and release linear momentum to ride the music’s rhythmic flow and speed changes. With a focus on dynamic dancing, this class offers a structured and reliable framework for learning partner dance.

    Rotational Momentum
    Discover stretch and compression partnership skills primarily in closed position as you learn ochos, merry go rounds, sendouts, and more. Explore how to create and maintain connection through rotational pathways to express rhythmic elasticity in partnership. With a focus on connection and balance, this class expands your repertoire of movement to enable new ways of interpreting the music and communicating with your partner.

    Smoothstepping (Boxes)
    Discover the art of dancing in close embrace through the foundational smoothstepping box step, teaching stepping outside partner and more, as you develop coordination, body awareness, and control. This class emphasizes fluidity, grace, and connection with both your partner and the music.

    Smoothstepping (Figures)
    Familiarize yourself with foundational figures like the chasse, promenade, and zigzag while building balance, coordination, and the ability to travel in close embrace. With a focus on musicality and connection, this class helps dancers interpret the music through playful and elegant partnership expression.

Six comprehensive months

that round out your fusion dance foundations.

Expand your repertoire by diving deeper into the Groove/Smoothstepping/Momentum trifecta, and learn how to fuse these distinct movement styles together while focusing on creating nuanced, dynamic, and musically responsive dances.

Prereqs: L3

  • Lyrical Dancing
    Enhance your ability to interpret a wide range of lyrical music through foundational concepts and movements inspired by contemporary dancing. Improve your balance and coordination skills as you learn a variety of leg displacements and spins. This class focuses on emotional expression, storytelling, musicality, and artistry.

    Momentum x Smoothstepping
    Explore the dynamic interplay between Smoothstepping and Momentum. Blending the elegance of close embrace with momentum-driven energy, you’ll learn signature movements such as colgadas, leg displacements, pop turns, and chassé variations. Improve posture awareness, balance, and refine lead/follow technique as you integrate these two modes into your dance. This class will deepen your ability to fuse modes while creating confidence and flow in your dancing.

    Momentum III
    Deepen your knowledge of the Momentum system and gain precision by revisiting and exploring movements such as passbys, ochos, and their variations. Expand your repertoire with rides, the Lindy pop turn, and triple steps. With a focus on lead and follow techniques, this class gives you the tools to start abstracting your dance and exploring its dynamics, rhythm, and spatial patterns, rather than focusing on each movement individually.

    Groove III
    Class description coming soon!

    Smoothstepping III
    Class description coming soon!

    Mode Switching (Rhythms)
    Class description coming soon!

    Mode Switching (Body)
    Class description coming soon!

monthly series

Monthly series’ that alternate between genre-specific techniques and more advanced fusion concepts, offering the highest level of fusion content offered in the Bay Area.

that diversify your fusion repertoire

Prereqs: Assessment

  • Depends on the month! Check out our Schedule page for a look at upcoming L4 classes.

other offerings

Monthly series

Each rotating theme drills essential solo movement skills and helps you develop a technical precision that elevates your fusion partner dancing.

to refine your personal movement quality

Prereqs: None! Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience.

  • Depends on the month! These classes always focus on solo body control, balance, and forging new pathways through various principles.

    Check out our Schedule page for a look at upcoming Solo classes.

Weekly drop-in

to integrate new techniques in our community of learners

Once you fill yourself with knowledge, practice it with your peers in this open practica. Ask the on-call instructors for feedback on your dancing or help figuring out specific moves.

Practicas are included in monthly passes!