Diversion Weekend 2024!
Denver, Colorado
February 23rd-25th
Lindy Hop, Jazz, and Blues
Classes, performances, and social dancing! No contests.
Live swing and blues music with Erica Brown and Taryn Newborne & the Real Deal! Plus special additions this year: music and culture talks, and a Vintage Vinyl late night dance party with DJ Juan V!
RSVP to our Facebook event!
Like our Facebook Page! Diversion Weekend
All passes and tickets will be available at the door!
Doors open at 6:30pm Friday night!
These passes and a la carte tickets will be available at the door.
Thank you for your continued support. Attendance to our events (besides being a fun time for you!) supports our school programming, student showcase, student teams, volunteers, organizers, and the instructors, performers, and musicians we employ.
Find our events on SwingPlanit, DanceCal, WhoFish, and WhereCanWeDanceblues
Odysseus Bailer
Odysseus is a New York City based lindy hopper and blues dancer, instructor, cultural lecturer, DJ and has been involved in the dance scenes for over 20 years. He is excited and honored to be teaching at this year’s Diversion dance event, along side one of the world’s greatest, Katrina Rodgers. Odysseus’s teaching style has transformed over the years to teach more than just dance steps, patterns and idioms to weave and include the values, practices, social context and cultural understandings behind the music and dance that continues to come out of Black American Culture. He is excited to help us all get a better understanding of the culture and a better understanding of ourselves within the dance..
blues
Katrina Rogers
Music and dancing are food for Katrina's soul. She feels the music on a very deep level and her body simply responds. Dancing has always been and will continue to be a place for Katrina loves to explore and express who she is, and she encourages everyone to do the same. She took her first Blues dance lesson in 2013 and found a piece of herself she never knew was missing. She is dedicated to learning and promoting the rich culture and history of this beautiful black art form. As a dancer, with a strong connection to musicality, she brings joy, emotion, fun, tons of sass and plenty of ridiculousness into her dances (nothing is off limits.) Katrina especially loves to play in her partnerships and wants to see what you’re bringin’-lets Riff! She has a special love of Blues with that Funky vibe (it totally compliments her quirkiness) and anything with that deep groove with high energy. You’ll find Katrina teaching and dj'ing up and down the front range and even nationally. She is committed to blending sounds and rhythms from various artists, regions and eras to keep people dancing the night away.
Lindy hop
Andrea Gordon
Andrea Gordon is a social dancer's dancer and comedian. Lover of music, rhythm, and connection, Andrea started dancing in 2006 when the lindy hop world looked much different than today, culturally and aesthetically. As a Frankie Manning Ambassador, Andrea quickly found her developing style rooted in a pulse, feeling, and groove, honoring the values of herself and Black Americans—values she deeply felt from hearing the recollections of the celebrated legends of the Savoy Ballroom.
Unwilling to ignore the challenges Black dancers faced in the dance, Andrea took a hiatus until 2020, when she stepped onto the floor for the first time in six years. Change was in the air. It reinvigorated her passion for the dance and Andrea soon began teaching on her home floor, Atomic Ballroom in Irvine, with her best friend and dance partner, Matt Richey as well as teaching and emceeing at local and national events. She's so excited to help make space for others to feel at home in this cultural dance.
LINDY HOP
Matt Richey
In 2011 Matt started dancing West Coast Swing and knew this dance was just the added excitement he needed. Soon after, he started dancing in the showcase division and brought home trophies.
Over the years, Matt has won hundreds of titles in multiple styles of swing, including West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop and Balboa. He is becoming the most recognized crossover dancer in the circuit as well as being a familiar face on the social dance floor everywhere! In 2018 Matt was inducted to the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame. As much as Matt loves swing dancing, he loves teaching and sharing his love for dancing and music just as much! He currently teaches adults and kids in several local schools and studios in Orange County.
He is known for fun loving energy, musicality, showmanship and performance.
swing dance ELECTIVES
Juan is a world-renowned swing dancer, teacher and performer specialized in Lindy Hop & Authentic Jazz.
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he has dedicated over 20 years of his life to the world of dance, and throughout this journey, Juan developed a strong connection with jazz music and has dived deep into its history and culture.
As a professional, he taught, competed and performed at the most important Lindy Hop events in the United States, Europe, Asia & Australia.
Known for his teaching methods and no-nonsense approach to technique, Juan shares in simple terms, the results of his experience in the dance.
A highly skilled and passionate dancer, Juan continues to inspire people around the world with his syncopated rhythms, intricate moves and musical interpretation.
BLUES & Lindy
Kara Fabina
Kara (she/her) is an international dance instructor based in Colorado Springs. Since 2008 she has been teaching and competing jazz, swing and blues throughout the world. Having been dancing for over two decades, Kara brings both knowledge and experience to the dance floor. She has been recognized internationally for her choreography as well as her achievements in competitions. As an instructor, she stresses connection with one’s partner, connection to the music, and intention in dancing. Her passions include studying each dance style’s rich history and culture and preparing the next generation of dancers to carry on valuable traditions.
Live Music
Live Music Friday and Saturday nights!
Taryn Newborne and The Real Deal
featuring erica brown!
Born in Memphis and raised in Atlanta, vocalist Taryn Newborne is rooted deeply in the soil of a rich musical heritage. She has often said that she loves music so much, it hurts her feelings. After years of dancing in her local Lindy Hop scene, one of the major organizers suggested that Taryn put her own band together for dances. Taryn Newborne and The Real Deal was born. She'd finally found her home, situated between her love of singing and dancing. Since becoming a regular in her home scene, Taryn has had the opportunity to make guest appearances with Michael Gamble and the Rhythm Serenaders, Paul Cosentino and the Boilermakers, Falty and the Defects, Gordon Webster. Event appearances include International Lindy Hop Championships, Beantown Lindy Hop Camp, Atlanta Lindy Exchange, Backwater Blues, Holy City Blues Exchange, Lindy Fest and many more.
Comprised of some of the most sought after musicians in the world, Taryn Newborne and the Real Deal strives to keep the dance floor swinging as hard as possible.
Erica Brown
Miss Erica Brown is a Singer, Songwriter, Recording Artist and Actress based in Denver, CO.
She has been singin’ the blues all her life and has truly seen and lived the Blues. As she shares her gifts with the world, the world has taken notice, from publications like Living Blues and Chicago Blues Guide in the US to Blues Matters in the UK, and Rootstime in Belgium.
Erica has long been a mainstay in Colorado’s Music scene. From 1998-2008, as frontwoman for the Award-winning Erica Brown Band, Erica electrified audiences all over the Rocky Mountain region with the band’s brand of searing blues rock. The band won nearly every award the region offered, including Best Blues Band (Westword Magazine) Best Underground Blues Band (Denver Post, multiple years) and The Rocky Mountain News’ Best of in the Blues Category. The band released two critically acclaimed CD’s, “Body Work” in 2000, and “Rough Cut Stone” in 2003. Erica was dubbed “Denver’s Queen of the Blues”, a moniker that was used by the Altitude Network in their concert showcase feature “OnStage”, which was broadcast to five million households in ten western states in 2005.
Special Guest Vocals
Brittney Caraway
DJs
ALL VINTAGE VINYL PARTY WITH DJ JUAN - saturday late night
For over 20 years, Juan has immersed himself in the rich world of jazz music, from the early 1930s to the late 50s and beyond. An ardent vinyl record collector and seasoned Lindy Hopper, he's set the dance floor ablaze, spreading the rhythm around, from Argentina to the far corners of the world. With experience as the head DJ at South American competitions, commanding the most demanding European socials, and enchanting late-night parties in Asia, Juan delivers a handpicked selection of killer dillers, for dancers only. If you're ready to swing into the groove, join Juan at his next DJ set in Denver, Colorado, for an unforgettable night of timeless tunes and irresistible beats.
swing & blues Dj - friday band breaks
Romeo Wong Henderson
Romeo is all about diversity, from his Amazonian roots to vernacular rhythm and blues. Coming from a multicultural background and having lived in 3 different countries, he perceives the world in a different way. His profound connection and inquisitiveness with music led him to a Lindy Hop party in 2009. This began a journey that brought this sense of shared joy and community. He actively participated in several competitions between Argentina & Brazil from 2010 to 2017 and France in 2023. His journey as a videographer and photographer has woven a rich tapestry of connections with musicians and dancers worldwide, creating a global kinship.
SWING DJ - friday late night speakeasy
Miranda Whiting
Miranda’s love for jazz began at a young age listening to records and watching old movie musicals. Her early collection of jazz music helped her meet the need for DJs at her local dance scene in South Carolina, and it quickly fueled a passion for finding songs to inspire dancers to hit the floor. Since then, she has livened up dance venues from the Southeast to New England and now calls Colorado home. She has a knack for finding the feeling of the room and playing to it as if it was tailored for each individual dancer, and she can’t wait to do the same for you.
blues DJ - saturday late night speakeasy
Vartan Khachatarov
Vartan has been passionate (some say obsessed) with blues since the first day he tried it back in 2015. Ever since, he has traveled all over the country (and Canada) to dance, compete, and DJ at every event he could find. Specializing in late night blues, he strives to create the perfect energy and atmosphere to keep the floor moving all night long.
Swing & BLUES DJ - saturday band breaks
Felicia Bode
Felicia has been teaching and DJ'ing swing and blues dancing for 15+ years. She hails from Cleveland, Ohio, organized The Cleveland Lindy Exchange for 3 years and the blues dance scene as one of the main instructors for 2 years, and is now organizing Denver's blues scene, Shimmy Shakin' Blues. As a DJ, Felicia prides herself in finding a mix of different styles of swing and blues music that you will make you never want to get off the dance floor. She can't wait to spin tunes for you at Diversion Weekend!
Blues DJ - friday late night blues dance party
Kara Fabina
One thing that you can count on from this DJ is a vast understanding of genres. Because of her background in various dance styles, Kara (she/her) brings a depth of musical knowledge appropriate for dancing. Her loves vary from House to Funk, Old School Hip Hop, Vintage Jazz, Blues and Soul. She has a not so secret adoration for mashups, and has even dabbled in beat production and mixology. With a desire to be a jill of all trades, she began Dj’ing at house parties in 2011. Since then she has gone on to DJ at local dance venues and events throughout the country. Based in Colorado Springs, she works to provide dancers with a variety of blues, swing and soul music in her sets.
Schedule
*all times and events are tentative and subject to change
THURSDAY
Shimmy Shakin’ Blues Pre-Party!
Live music with Ken Saydak!
Details HERE
Location: Mercury Cafe Denver
2199 California St Denver, CO
(not included in weekend passes)
Friday
NOTE: There will be no regular Swing Club dance on Friday night. All classes and dances will be part of the Diversion Weekend event.
Doors Open 6:30p
7p Intro to Blues AND Intro to Lindy Hop Lessons
8p Music Talk w/Erica Brown "Blues, Jazz, and Dance: We ARE the Village! A conversation with Erica Brown and Friends!”
9-Midnight - Social dancing to live swing and blues music with Taryn Newborne & The Real Deal featuring Erica Brown!
—Teacher Demos
Midnight - 2a - DJ’d Blues Late Night - Upstairs DJ Kara
Midnight - 1:30a - DJ’d Swing Speakeasy - Downstairs DJ Miranda
Saturday
Theme night with prize for best outfit! Theme: 25th Anniversary SILVER! Free choice of merchandise to those with the best “costume”!
Main Ballroom UPSTAIRS
11:00am CMDance School Program Student Showcase
12:30-1:30p - BLUES: Go With the Flow - Savoy Walk
1:45-2:45p - BLUES: It's All about Timing- Fundamental Concept
3:00-4:00p - BLUES: Hit the Hits - Do the breaks keep passing you by?
4:15-5:15p - SPECIAL ELECTIVE with Juan: Soft Shoe Tap - Taking a Chance on Love
———-Break———-
7p - SPECIAL Lecture with Odysseus
”How are Lindy Hop and Blues Black American Cultural Music and Dance Forms?”
8p - Dance Lesson: Blues for Lindy Hoppers w/Odysseus & Kara
9p-Midnight - Social dancing to live swing and blues music with Taryn Newborne & The Real Deal featuring Erica Brown & Brittney Caraway! —Performances by the Denver Diamond Dolls & the CMDance Team!
Midnight - 3a Vintage Vinyl Late Night Dance Party w/DJ Juan
Ratskellar Ballroom DOWNSTAIRS
12:30-1:30p - LINDY HOP: Missed Connections
1:45-2:45p - LINDY HOP: Pad Thai Berets
3:00-4:00p - LINDY HOP: Sharing Vibes
——————————
Midnight to 3am - DJd Blues Speakeasy w/Vartan
VINTAGE VINYL PARTY W/DJ JUAN
Sunday
Main Ballroom
10a-11:30a - Advanced LINDY HOP Intensive with Matt & Andrea
Watch - Copy - Complement
11:45a - 1:15p - Advanced BLUES Intensive with Odysseus & Katrina
Creative Spins-off on Classic Moves - Creativity & Self Expression
1:15-2:15p - Lunch Break
2:15-4:30p - SPECIAL ELECTIVE 2-Hour SWING DANCE Intensive with Juan
Rhythm Is Our Business
(15 minute break 3:15-3:30)
Sunday Night Dance Party
Mercury Cafe Denver
2199 California St Denver, CO
Live Music with Reid Poole & the Night Owls!
New Orleans Style Swing & Blues
8p-Midnight
$15 (not included in DW passes)
All classes are in the same venue and running simultaneously. You can switch between styles but we ask that you stick with a class instead of switching 15-20 minutes in as material in a class is built off of the first 15 minutes.
FRIDAY NIGHT Lindy Hop w/Andrea & Matt
Intro Swing Class: It’s All Swing!
You don't have to be married to lindy hop. It's more fun when "It's complicated".
FRIDAY NIGHT Blues w/Odysseus & Katrina
Intro Blues Class: Understanding the Foundations, to Later Break the Rules
Foundation is key to everything we do in life. If you want to be a dynamic dancer in all its facets. It begins with how well you understand and embody the foundation(s) of the dance.
FRIDAY NIGHT Talk w/Erica Brown
"Blues, Jazz, and Dance: We ARE the Village!" A conversation with Erica Brown and Friends!”
SATURDAY Lindy Hop w/Andrea & Matt
Missed Connections
Partner dancing requires connection. If no one looks for it, or only one person feels it, you might as well get a bunch of hepcats from your local jazz shelter, because you're going to do solo jazz forever.
SATURDAY Lindy Hop w/Andrea & Matt
Pad Thai Berets
Ballet is fancy; jazz ain't. They go together like Pad Thai berets.
SATURDAY Lindy Hop w/Andrea & Matt
Sharing Vibes
How to allow the tone, style, and sub-genre of the music seep into your dancing to add the texture, weight, and depth that may be missing from your dancing.
SATURDAY Soft Shoe Tap w/Juan
Taking a Chance on Love
(No tap shoes required. Leather shoes strongly recommended.) An introduction to the classic slow soft shoe routine, created by the legendary jazz tap dancers Honi Coles and Cholly Atkins. Nonchalantly stylish, this routine smoothly combines strolls, turns and slides in crystal cut precision.
SATURDAY Blues w/Katrina and Odysseus
All-Levels Go With the Flow - Savoy Walk
Learn to maintain your coolness while in line of dance. We will teach you two rhythm patterns to explore. In addition, learn turns, how to get in and out of the promenade seamlessly while adding playfulness into your partnership.
SATURDAY Blues w/Katrina and Odysseus
It's All about Timing- Fundamental Concept
We talk about rushing the beat or finding the beat, however, once we start moving it's really easy to lose it in your body. This class is all about helping you to feel and be in time with the music so you never feel lost. Set your dance up for success right from the very beginning.
SATURDAY Blues w/Katrina and Odysseus
Hit the Hits - Do the breaks keep passing you by?
Are you not sure exactly what to do? Well there is not a “one size” fill all approach to hitting the hits. In this class we will introduce you to several techniques to help you recognize when the moments are coming in the music, so you can capitalize on it.
SATURDAY Special Lecture w/Odysseus
How are Lindy Hop and Blues Black American Cultural Music and Dance Forms?
This talk is to help you understand and appreciate that Black American Culture is more than just the music and the dance that has continued to come out of Black American Communities. We will dive in to understand how the music and dance helps tell the story of us as a people.
SUNDAY Lindy Hop w/Andrea & Matt
SPECIAL 90-Minute Intensive
”Watch - Copy - Complement”
Learn fun ways to work with your partner in your social dancing. Show appreciation, admiration, and encouragement, while moving your own feet.
SUNDAY Blues w/Katrina and Odysseus
SPECIAL 90-Minute INTENSIVE
”Creative Spins-off on Classic Moves - Creativity & Self Expression “How to personalize the classic idioms dances like the Mooche, Low-downs, 4-corner, grinds, or fishtails to your body type and desired self-expression regardless of tempo or style of music.. How you doin’ rule breaker?
SUNDAY Swing & Lindy Hop w/ Juan
SPECIAL 2-Hour Swing INTENSIVE
Join us for a dynamic 2-hour session where we dive into the heart of swing dancing, exploring the essential concepts of "time keeping," "accents," "swing & syncopation," "musical phrasing," and "interpretation."1. Rhythm Is Our Business: In the first part of the class, immerse yourself in the world of rhythm variations. Learn how to master and apply intricate rhythmic patterns into your dancing, creating personalized footwork and swing-out variations. Discover the art of syncing your movements with the melody, hitting the breaks with precision, and incorporating rhythmic ideas to elevate your dance.
2. "Dancers Don't Need to Know More Steps, They Need To Know More Songs": Building on the foundation of rhythm, the second part of our class focuses on the importance of repertoire in dance. Understand how your dance repertoire can serve as a powerful tool to "illustrate" any song with your movement. Explore the connection between steps and musical expression, discovering how to seamlessly integrate your dance vocabulary with the nuances of different songs.
Saturday night theme this year: 25th Anniversary SILVER!
Person(s) with the best take on the theme will get their choice of any item from the merch table!
LIMITED EDITION DIVERSION WEEKEND MERCHANDISE!
We will have t-shirts and hoodies in limited quantities and sizes available only at the merch table during the event! (Will also have a selection of merch from our other events.)
Denver Turnverein
1570 N Clarkson St, Denver, CO 80218
Parking: The building has it’s own parking lot. If it is full, the parking attendant will provide a pass for the adjunct lot. There is also mostly free street parking on the surrounding streets, and the Fillmore lot if they are not having an event.
At this venue there will be:
Friday & Saturday night dances and late night parties
Saturday & Sunday daytime classes
Nightly Bar in Main Ballroom
TURNVEREIN PARKING: Turnverein lot surrounding building, all side streets, Fillmore lot if no concert, and the Bank of Denver 1/2 block North (get permit from Turnverein parking attendant).
Mercury Cafe
2199 California St, Denver, CO 80205
Street parking available surrounding building, some free, some metered. Lot across the street starts at only $3.
At this venue there will be:
Unofficial Pre-Party Thursday night “Shimmy Shakin’ Blues” featuring blues lesson, live music w/Ken Saydak, and dancing. $15-$30
Unofficial Post-Party Sunday night dance featuring swing lesson and dancing to live music w/Reid Poole & the Night Owls. $15
Flying Into Denver
The nearest major airport is the Denver International Airport (DIA). Check out these websites for deals on flights!
www.southwest.com – www.farecast.com – www.orbitz.com –www.kayak.com – www.priceline.com – www.hotwire.com –www.travelocity.com
Getting Around Denver
Rideshare programs like Uber or Lyft are highly active in Denver. We also have Car2GO, a convenient smart-car rental service providing over 400 2-person cars spread throughout Denver; just take it, drive it, and park it, within the designated city area (membership required). Scooters are also a popular form of travel for short distances. Downloading an app is required but choose from Bird, Lyft, Uber, and more!
RTD Buses – For public transportation, our RTD buses and light rail system are an effective and inexpensive method of getting around Denver. Check out the RTD website for a helpful Trip Planner and more details on Denver public transit.
Getting to Downtown Denver from DIA
The A-Line will get you from the DIA airport to Union Station (1.5 miles from the Studio Loft/Curtis Hotel) in approx 40 minutes. This is by far the most affordable and efficient way to get downtown from the airport. Ticket purchase required. All RTD Schedules
***VOLUNTEER SLOTS ARE CURRENTLY FULL*** YOU MAY STILL FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITLIST!
Volunteers are the face of the event! We value our volunteers and seriously cannot function without you. Help us make a fun and successful weekend and get to know your organizers and artists a little better. You will be able to sign-up after reading the following!
Important Notes Related to Volunteering:
If you would like to volunteer in exchange for a pass, please do not purchase a pass until given your promo code after being assigned shifts for the weekend.
Volunteers have the option to work part-time for a dance pass (or half off an all-access pass) or full-time for an all-access pass.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to select shifts in the first stages of volunteer sign-up, but the schedule will be locked for editing as the event approaches.
Volunteers who do not show up for shifts will not be allowed to exchange volunteer hours for passes and/or monetary compensation at CMDance events in the future.
We will accept your volunteer support and helping hands at any time, even when you are not scheduled, of course!
The commitment is 10 hours for a full weekend pass and 6 hours for a dance only pass. Shifts are available in 2-hour increments.
***Volunteer sign-up form: https://forms.gle/gAStWFYn6mVab42YA
If you have any questions about volunteering for this event, please e-mail felicia@cmdance.org
Visiting and don’t know where to stay?
There are 3 hotels within walking (or scooting) distance of the main venue.
The closest and most affordable (5-minute walk): Day Inn by Wyndham - Downtown Denver
—Keep in mind this is on the famous Colfax strip and there will be city activity and traffic noise.
The second closest and still affordable (10-minute walk): The Warwick Hotel - Denver
—Worth the upgrade and longer “commute” for the fancy.
The third closest and still affordable (15-minute walk): The Hampton Inn & Suites - Denver Downtown
—Get your Hilton Honors points (or cash them in)!
Visit our Facebook Diversion Weekend page and look for the post to find roommates to share a space and the cost! Diversion Weekend Roomies
Check these links for Hotels & Airbnb & VRBO options near the Denver Turnverein.
The Turnverein is located just off the famous Colfax strip with many many many restaurants within walking distance! Here is a MAP
Diversion Weekend Team
creative director
Caryn Carrasco
main showrunner
Reese Dewey
EVENT & volunteer MANAGER
Felicia Bode
EMCEE
Aries Reyes
As an emcee, Aries has hosted, instigated, and officiated countless celebrations. They’re often found on top of a chair: toasting births & successes, or potentially running a mean Mad Lib. They have emcee'd for Red Hot Blues 'n BBQ, bamBLOOZled, DCLX, Sweet Molasses Blues, HCBX, Blues Muse, and The Triple Step. Outside of dance events, they regularly host for Arts Caravan, a circus variety show, and have told stories for the Narrators and Stain'd Arts. In their civilian life, they learn & tutor science (ie. emceeing but with graphs) and do all the prototypical Colorado outdoor hobbies.
PHOTOGRAPHER
William Weeks
Stone's Throw Productions is a highly rated photography studio founded and run by me, Will Weeks! I specialize in portraits, events, and branding photography. I have had the pleasure of working with many different brands, organizations and amazing people since starting this journey. I am passionate about telling stories through my photos, whether that be capturing a person's essence, giving a window into their personality, or saving once-in-a-lifetime memories for you to cherish forever. I am excited to be working with CM Dance and will see you on the dance floor!
EVENT MANAGER
Sara Deckard