Welcome! Portland Fusion Dance! is once again running monthly dances! We dance on the second Saturday of each month and host monthly practicas on the fourth Wednesday.
Fusion is a collaborative partner dance driven by connection, improvisation, and dancing across the boundaries of different dance styles.
Fusion invites you to bring moves from whatever dance styles you have in your pocket and weave them together with a partner, making dance more of a conversation, more focused on listening. By practicing strong technique and solid communication, we are able to open up our creativity to countless possibilities!
This is a space for dancers to practice and experiment with new concepts, moves, or sticking points. Working consistently with other dancers to build skills is one of the best ways to immediately improve your dancing!
The first hour is loosely guided workshopping, followed by an hour of open dancing. For beginners, we'll teach a concurrent 30 minute fundamentals lesson at the beginning of the night.
Our dance events start at 7pm on the second Saturday of each month. All events begin with an hour all-levels lesson, followed by a half-hour fundamentals lesson at 8pm. They are hosted at Portland Yoga Project (449 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04101).
Our practicas start at 7pm on the fourth Wednesday of each month. They are hosted at Maine Center for Taijiquan and Qigong (rear of building, 500 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04101).
All upcoming events are listed in our Facebook group and calendar:
We primarily organize via the Portland Fusion Dance! Facebook group. People also use this group to find other fusion dancers to go dance with outside of our regular fusion events.
Don't use Facebook? We have a mailing list. Subscribe below for email notifications of upcoming events!
We're always looking for volunteers to help our dances move smoothly. Door greeters get free entry for a 45 minute shift. If you'd like to be notified when we need volunteers, click here to join the volunteer mailing list.
If you have questions or want to teach, DJ, or help organize, contact us via hello@portlandfusiondance.com.
All our events are safe, inclusive, and consent-driven. We will always ask you to review the code of conduct when you check into our events. By being part of this dance community, you agree to:
Respect that gender does not align with dance role. We use the gender-free dance role terms of lead, follow, and switch and encourage all to try both roles, and especially switching!
During lessons, dance with everyone and commit to learning both dance roles. Each partner we encounter is an opportunity to learn about the dance and ourselves.
Help our community thrive and grow by asking lots of different people to dance, especially if you’re experienced. We want new dancers to feel welcomed and excited to return. Everyone is contributing to a co-created dance community.
Practice consent! When asking people to dance, check in about dance role, injuries, lifts and dips, and close embrace every time you dance with someone. Be proactive about communicating boundaries verbally or nonverbally, and check in if you’re not sure. Never give unsolicited advice unless it concerns safety.
Respect someone’s answer when you ask them to dance. We don’t feel a need to explain ourselves when we say yes to a dance; the same holds when someone says no to a dance.
Stick to partner dancing. Fusion is a partner-based dance, and the floor must remain a physically safe space. We ask that you respect the form: floor-based contact improv or acro are not appropriate.
Be mindful of the space around you. In particular if you are dancing with speed, large movements, lifts, or dips, it is your responsibility to stay aware of those around you to avoid collisions and disruptions.
Avoid strong odors. Practice good hygiene and don’t wear perfumes, strongly scented body products, or clothing that smells like cigarette smoke.
Respect our chem-free policy. If you come to the dance having consumed alcohol or drugs, you will be asked to leave.
Stay home if you are sick – with anything! Our dances are mask-optional. Please use your best judgement to care for yourself and your community.
Take ownership of your feelings of attraction or desire. While these feelings are natural, the dance floor is not the place to pursue them. Have a conversation away from the dance if you’re unclear about someone’s intentions. Never assume your dance partner is also feeling what you feel.
Be there for each other. If you see something problematic, or someone struggling, approach that person and check in with them. If you feel uncomfortable for any reason and need help handling the situation, you can always reach out to the dance organizers for help.