Cross-step waltz – Fusion Weekend with Alena
Date: 28.02-02.03.2025
Location: Erlangen, Germany
Join us for an unforgettable Cross-Step Waltz Workshop with the incredible Alena, traveling from Krakow to share her expertise!
Workshop Highlights:
- ~6 hours of dance classes
- 3 social dances to practice and enjoy
- No dance partner required – we’ll rotate partners during class and you can dance with everyone at the parties
- All activities held at Yamuna, Erlangen
- Limited hosting spots available – you can request one during registration!
Perfect for Beginners:
This weekend is designed for people with no prior experience in Cross-Step Waltz. Together, we’ll build a solid vocabulary of movements and techniques, making this easy-to-approach dance both fun and accessible for everyone.
Come join us for a weekend of learning, connection, and joy!
The event is organised by the Das co-kreative Netzwerk e.V.
ABOUT CROSS STEP WALTZ
The Cross-step Waltz (CSW) is a modern couple dance that stands out within the waltz family as a dance being adaptable to a wide range of music. Emerging from early 20th-century dances like the Boston waltz, tango, blues, and foxtrot, it combines elements of each, creating a fluid and adaptable style. What sets CSW apart is its ability to allow for individual expression, with dancers putting their own personal touch on each movement. Although it fell out of popularity for a time, CSW was revived in the 1990s at Stanford University and has since spread around the world.
The main difference between Cross-step Waltz (CSW) and Viennese waltz lies in their movement and style. Vienesse waltz follows a smooth, circular “box” step pattern with continuous, flowing motion around the floor. In contrast, CSW incorporates a “cross-step”, creating a zig-zag pattern that allows for more flexibility, personal expression, and easier direction changes.
If you have background in other dances you are welcome to dance them also at the parties.
Here you can get some inspiration how CSW looks like:
If you are looking for more inspiration about the dance here is a playlist with a lot of CSW videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbkxikNsNHVynYYsUfGdljiOoEhO0o3zanh1cBw1u718
ABOUT ALENA
Alena started teaching dance as a teenager so she could have dance partners 
Starting with balfolk and fantasy dances, she has danced in different periods of her life Irish and Scottish sport and folk dances, historical ballroom dances (countrydances, quadrilles, waltzes ect), balfolk, blues, tango, fusion. She is also an organizer and co-organizer of dance events of various levels, from small parties to international balls and festivals – for example Bal Jane Austen, Krakow Dark Fusion, BalMostFolk (1ed) historical reenactmet and LARP’s balls and souiree. Alena regulary conducts various dance workshops for dancers cross-step waltz, historical ballroom dancing, balfolk, fusion. Her main goal as an instructor is to help everyone enjoy dancing. Since 2019 she has been involved in teaching and spreading cross-step waltz in Western Europe. There is a regular CSW group in Krakow (Poland), and individual workshops have taken place in Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Belgium and the Netherlands. Alena likes cross-step waltz for the fact that anyone can start dancing at the first workshops. At the same time, even most experienced dancers always have room to develop and invent their own variations. “There are no mistakes – there are variations.” – the main rule of cross-step waltz!
Friday, February 28:
19:00 – 20:00 – Fusion Dance Introduction Class with Alena
Kick off the weekend with an easy-to-approach Fusion dance class. Everyone is welcome, no experience needed!
20:00 – 00:00 – Fusion Dance Night
Dive into a night of dancing with dancers coming from different dances . A perfect way to connect and enjoy the start of the weekend!
Saturday, March 1:
14:15 – 15:45 – CSW Class with Alena (All Levels)
Learn and explore Cross-Step Waltz concepts with Alena, perfect for dancers of all levels!
16:00 – 17:30 – CSW Practica with Alena
Practice the concepts learned earlier, get personalized feedback, and prepare yourself for the exciting social dance night.
20:00 – ~01:00 AM – Big Cross-Step Waltz & Fusion Dance Night
An unforgettable night of dancing with a mix of Cross-Step Waltz and Fusion music, tailored to the dance styles our attendees already know.
Sunday, March 2:
14:30 – 16:00 – CSW Class with Alena (All Levels)
Deepen your understanding and skills in Cross-Step Waltz with Alena’s guidance.
15:30 – 20:00 – Tea Dance
Wrap up the weekend with an afternoon of dancing and cake! Bring something to share with fellow participants and enjoy a cozy, social end to the event.
A Weekend of Cross-Step Waltz and Fusion Dancing
This weekend is designed for dancers from a wide variety of dance backgrounds, as Cross-Step Waltz (CSW) is still new to the Erlangen community. To make it accessible and enjoyable, we’ve structured the event as a CSW-Fusion Weekend, dedicating Friday entirely to Fusion dance while focusing more on CSW for the rest of the event.
What is Fusion Dancing?
Fusion dancing brings together dancers from different styles to improvise and connect over a wide range of music. From Alena’s experience, participants often enjoy dance nights the most when they can mix CSW with other styles. That’s why Friday’s session is about building a shared understanding of Fusion, giving you the confidence to ask anyone to dance when non-CSW music is played.
You can find here an example of a CSW inspired Fusion dance: https://youtu.be/qJedirTECT8?si=fgvWe2qRHJJeCmI7
A Cozy Weekend in One Space
The entire weekend will be hosted in one location, allowing us to create a welcoming atmosphere tailored to our needs. We’ll bring decorations, tea, coffee, and small snacks to keep the energy up. We also encourage you to bring snacks and drinks to share, making it a collaborative and vibrant experience.
What is Social Dancing?
The weekend will be focused on social dancing, creating an open and welcoming environment where everyone can dance together in a joyful atmosphere. No fixed dance partner is required, so you’re free to ask anyone to join you on the dance floor. The emphasis is on having fun and enjoying the rhythm, with no competitions or pressure—just pure dance enjoyment and connection.
Everything will take place at the Yamuna – Tanz & Yoga in Erlangen. In case you are interested in hosting you can register for in the registration form.
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- Class Friday: 10€
- Class & Practica Saturday: 30€
- Class & Tea Dance Sunday: 30€
- Dance Nights Friday and Saturday: 10€ per night
- Please note: Please also register for the dance nights
We have at the moment no reduced price for people with low income, but you are welcome to reach out to us and we will find a solution.
You can register without a dance partner. During classes we will rotate dance partners.
An individual registration is required.
If you have registered and are unable to attend for any reason, please inform us as soon as possible.
Do you have any questions, ideas or suggestions? Please let us know and send an email to: blues(at)boogie-woogie-club-nuernberg.de