PBEX SWING & BLUES DANCE INSTRUCTION & COMPETITION

THE PORTLAND BLUES EXPERIENCE ‘PBEx’ is a dancer-run exchange event where dancers from Portland invite dancers from all over the world to join them at the Waterfront Blues Festival. They offer hospitality in the form of hosting in their homes, transportation, excursions to experience Portland, meet-ups at the festival, primarily at the Front Porch Stage, DME “Rock the Boat” Dance Cruise and After Hours events, and all night ‘Late Night’ dance parties nightly.

PBEx offers four days and nights of dancing, on and off the festival site. This year the group kicks off their action with special dance programming at the Front Porch Stage, including their ‘Bring the Heat’ dance contests. Both Wednesday and Thursday begin on the Front Porch Stage dance floor with a late-morning dance class, followed throughout both days with classes and demonstrations between acts:

The festival is offering dance fans a special package that includes:

• A 4-day Festival pass, offering early entry and priority re-entry, allowing you to come and go as you please. (Single-day passes do not offer re-entry!)Highlights on the region’s largest outdoor dance floor at the Oregonian Front Porch Stage include three dance competitions on Wednesday, July 4th, programming for blues and swing dancers all day Thursday, July 5th and Zydeco/Cajun dance programming July 6th and 7th.
• Admission to After-Hours Show at the Marriott Hotel Ballroom Friday, July 6, with Marc Broussard & Nikki Hill.
• Admission to “Rock the Boat” Dance Cruise on the Portland Spirit Saturday night, July 7

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PBEX SWING & BLUES DANCE INSTRUCTION & COMPETITION

WEDNESDAY JULY 4th
FRONT PORCH STAGE

Performances by DanceMode Production’s Rose City Sweets and Silver Slipper Sisters throughout the day, mini Dance Lessons between band sets

FRONT PORCH STAGE: Noon-2:00 pm: Journey to Memphis competition

Dance Floor: 2:00-2:30 pm:  Dance Lesson and Demonstration by DanceMode Productions


FRONT PORCH STAGE: 2:30-3:30 pm: Norman Sylvester presents Candlelight Tribute, with special guests LaRhonda Steele, Margo Tufo & more…

DANCE FLOOR: 3:30-3:45 pm: ‘Bring The Heat’: Partnered Jazz Dance Contest Prelims

FRONT PORCH STAGE: 3:45-4:45 pm: ‘Bring The Heat’: with Rent Party featuring Marilyn Keller

DANCE FLOOR: 3:45-4:45 Partnered Jazz Dance Contest Finals 


DANCE FLOOR: 4:45-5:10 pm: ‘Bring The Heat’ Funk/Soul Dance Lesson and contest Prelims


FRONT PORCH STAGE: 5:10-6:10 pm: ‘Bring The Heat: Just Friends with special guest Dante Zapata

DANCE FLOOR: 5:10-6:10 pm: Solo Dance Contest

DANCE FLOOR: 6:10-6:35 pm:  ‘Bring The Heat’ Partnered Blues Dance Contest Prelims

FRONT PORCH STAGE: 6:35-7:35 pm: ‘Bring The Heat’: Muddy Waters Tribute Band

DANCE FLOOR: 6:35-7:35 pm: Partnered Blues Dance Contest Finals 


DANCE FLOOR: 7:35-8:00 pm: Dance Lesson and Demonstration by DanceMode Productions



FRONT PORCH STAGE:  8:00-10:00 pm: Harmonica Blow-off

THURSDAY JULY 5
FRONT PORCH STAGE 

Performances by DanceMode Production’s Rose City Sweets and Silver Slipper Sisters throughout the day; mini Dance Lessons between band sets

DANCE FLOOR: 11:00-12:00 pm: Dance Lesson by Brenda Jean Russell



FRONT PORCH STAGE: Noon-1:00 pm: Becky Kilgore and The Cowhands

DANCE FLOOR: 1:00-1:20 pm: Dance Lesson and Demonstration by DanceMode Productions



FRONT PORCH STAGE: 1:20-2:30 pm: Okrapong: Ghanaian Drumming & Dance

DANCE FLOOR: 2:30-2:50 pm: Dance Lesson and Demonstration by DanceMode Productions



FRONT PORCH STAGE: 2:50-3:50 pm: Jimmy Duck Holmes

DANCE FLOOR: 3:50-4:10 pm: Dance Lesson and Demonstration by DanceMode Productions

FRONT PORCH STAGE: 4:10-5:10 pm: Mel Brown and Special Guests

DANCE FLOOR: 5:10-5:30 pm: Dance Lesson and Demonstration by DanceMode Productions



FRONT PORCH STAGE: 5:30-6:30 pm: Bayou Boys

DANCE FLOOR: 6:30-6:50 pm: Dance Lesson and Demonstration by DanceMode Productions



FRONT PORCH STAGE: 6:50-8:00 pm: Curtis Salgado & Friends

DANCE FLOOR: 8:00-8:20 pm: Dance Lesson and Demonstration by DanceMode Productions

FRONT PORCH STAGE:  8:20-9:30 pm: Billy Joe & the Dusty 45’s

DANCE FLOOR: 9:30-9:50 pm: Dance Lesson and Demonstration by DanceMode Productions

FRONT PORCH STAGE: 9:50-11 pm: McKinley Moore sings Otis Redding