January 2023 at VMAC

With the quickly approaching New Year, comes many, many changes!

Dance off winter's chill while fulfilling those NYE resolutions with this fun-packed January! There will be more of your favorite classes, workshops, and auditions for our intensive programs. And that's not all!

Start the year off right with VMAC, and we'll see you on the dance floor!

CURRENT LOCATION

Important Update

New Year - More Changes!

VMAC Community,

Beginning Monday, January 2nd of 2023 all VMAC Classes will be held at Studio E while our 'Forever' Home is under renovation. We are very excited to host all the classes in this cozy space during the cold winter months!

This means some things will change including:

Schedule Changes
Limited Capacity - if you're taking partner classes we HIGHLY suggest you pre-register as our classes WILL sell out
Limited Lobby Space

Change can be difficult but we know we are strong, and together we will pull through until we launch into our brand-new home!

Please stay tuned for more updates!

If you do want to pre-register and reserve your spot, use this link:

vmacpdx.com/registration

WEEKLY CLASSES

UPCOMINGWORKSHOPS

Intro to Afro-Cuban 2-Hour Workshop

with Donna Mation of Vivan Los Elementos

The Cuban Orisha movement is intricately woven together with the music of interlocking drum rhythms and songs. Afro-Cuban dance is full of undulations and exciting rhythmic footwork with an energy that brings us deep into the earth. These unique movements will challenge the language of your body and its rhythmic skills. This is an intro to the movements of the Orisha including a discussion about where this movement comes from and how it influences the social dance and music of Cuba.

Accompanied by live music.

Date:

Saturday, January 14th, 2023

2pm - 4pm

Location:

Studio E

1901 SE Grand Ave

Pass:

$30 Pre-registered online

$35 at the door, on the day of the workshop

Space is limited! Pre-register here and save $5: bit.ly/afrocubanintro

Lead & Follow 3-Hour Workshop

Want to be everyone's favorite dance of the night? Want Leads or Follows to come and ask you to dance?

Come and learn the skills on how to become a clear, smooth (soft) Lead, and how to become a light, responsive Follow.

This workshop will be geared more towards Afro-Latin partner dancing but the principles can be applied to most partner dances!

Come and learn from two of the best leads and follows in Portland! Here are some things that have been said about dancing with Carolina and Jamal.

"Jamal can make anyone look good, he can even make a broomstick dance"

"Dancing with Carolina is like driving a Mercedes, it feels like she knows what I'm going to do before I know it"

Date:

Sunday, January 22nd, 2023

1 pm - 4:15 pm (This is a 3-hour workshop, with 15min intermission)

Location:

Studio E by VMAC

1901 SE Grand Ave

Pass:

$45 Pre-registered online

$50 at the door, on the day of the workshop

Space is limited! Pre-register here and save $5: bit.ly/leadandfollowworkshop

Bachata Beginner Intensive (Level 1C)

This workshop will fast-track all content covered in June in the level 1C series. While students who have not taken 1C are welcome to attend, this workshop is intended for students with background knowledge and content.

We will be reviewing and diving deep into the 1C concepts which include:

- Inside Turn

- Double Turns

- Cuddles

- All Level 1 C footwork

- Frame, Connection & Timing

Date:

Saturday, January 28th, 2023

1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Location:

Studio E

1901 SE Grand Ave.

Pass:

$45 Pre-registered online

$50 at the door, on the day of the workshop

Space is limited! Pre-register here and save $5: bit.ly/beginnerworkshops

Zouk Beginners 3-Hour Workshop

New to Zouk or looking to polish your basics? This workshop is perfect for you!

This 3-hour workshop will focus on fundamental movements students need to execute to move on to Zouk 2.

No previous Zouk experience is required and beginners are highly encouraged to come to discover the love for Zouk!

Date:

Sunday, January 29th, 2023

12 pm - 3 pm

Location:

Studio E

1901 SE Grand Ave.

Pass:

$45 Pre-registered online

$50 at the door, on the day of the workshop

Space is limited! Pre-register here and save $5: bit.ly/beginnerworkshops

NEW SUNDAY SOCIALS

As always VMAC'S Dance Socials will be in a relaxed atmosphere: daytime, all-ages, no alcohol, no judgment, no need to dress up; just tons of energy, sweat, and dancing!

Please double-check the locations.

Some Sunday Socials will be a Rose City Studio in the Pearl District, located at 1420 NW 17th Ave, and others will be at Studio E.

Check out our NEW VMAC Sunday Socials Schedule:

- 1st & 3rd Sundays: Salsa & Bachata at RCS

- 2nd & 4th Sundays: Zouk-exclusive at Studio E

- 5th Sundays: Bachata-exclusive ay RCS

Salsa & Bachata at RCS

1st & 3rd Sundays

Winter hours: 6pm - 9pm

No lesson

Salsa & Bachata

Rose City Studio:

1420 NW 17th Ave.

$10 at the door - CASH preferred (or $12 Venmo)

Zouklandia at Studio E

2nd & 4th Sundays

Winter hours: 6pm - 9pm

No lesson

Zouk-exclusive

Studio E:

1901 SE Grand Ave

$10 at the door - CASH preferred (or $12 Venmo)

Bachata ConXion at RCS

5th Sundays

Lesson : 5pm - 6pm

Social : 6pm - 10pm

Bachata-exclusive

Rose City Studio:

1420 NW 17th Ave.

Lesson + Social: $25 CASH preferred (or $28 Venmo)

Social Only: $10 CASH preferred (or $12 Venmo)

GIFT CARD SALE

Need a last-minute present?

Give the gift of dance…

Want to get a unique gift for a loved one?

start a New Year Resolution with a friend to dance in 2022?

give yourself an investment for your health journey?

support a small business?

VMAC Gift Cards are the perfect purchase this Holiday Season!

We have physical gift certificates you can buy in person at our front desk, or you can get them online too at this link: bit.ly/VMACgiftcards

SPECIAL SALE:

$100 for $ 85

$150 for $125

AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY

Building our Forever Home

The COVID - 19 Pandemic was exceedingly difficult for many businesses and communities around the world. VMAC was dramatically affected as we closed down our very social dance community and every single event that we had scheduled for 2020 and 2021.

We were still paying rent to our landlord and a very wise friend said, "You should just buy a building, the mortgage will be way less expensive than rent." We laughed it off but five minutes later, sitting in the car together, we exclaimed, yes! We should buy a building!

The obstacles were (and still are) quite large. Traditional bank funding will not lend to us due to our Pandemic Financials. Interest rates are climbing. However, we knew that if we kept looking we would find an opportunity that made sense.

And we did.

We found an incredible family who adamantly did not want the building that they've owned since 1925 to be turned into fancy and expensive condominiums. We shared with them our vision, how incredible our community is, and what this building would mean to the cultural community overall.

Through creative financing, we were able to secure our future home. As expected with a 1925 building, it needs an entire remodel! We are talking new walls, new electrical, new plumbing, new HVAC, and more; and while this is an enormous undertaking, it positions us to build the studio how we want; and what will work best for our community.

In order for this transformation to come to fruition, we need your help. The renovation and permitting costs alone are nearly $850,000. We cannot do this alone! We have three different ways you can choose to support us through this journey, and if none of these work for you, we would appreciate any shares with folks who believe in a space where dancing, joy, and growth come together.

supportvmac.com