Shimmy Shakin’ Blues April 2026

Our next blues dance party will be a with LIVE music from the Nic Clark Band! This group is back from a bit of a hiatus, and we’re super excited to have them coming back to the SSB stage as a dancer favorite bannddddd!!!! — Make sure to mark your calendar and get out for this more rare event of the band back together– see you at the event!! ❤

Presale Class & Dance

Presale Dance Only

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Schedule

Doors open at 6:30pm. Free street parking or adjacent lots starting at only $4.

There will be a beginner-friendly blues dance lesson from 7-8pm. A dance party with live music from the band and DJ'ed band breaks will follow from 8-12.

7-8pm: All levels blues dance class
Instructors: Joe DeMers and Katrina Rogers!
8:30-11:00: The Nic Clark Band (live blues band!)
DJ: Miranda Whiting, an SSB DJ debut! (band breaks)
Special Performance by: TBA

Admission:
$15- class only ($10 student discount with ID)
$20- dance only ($15 student discount with ID)
$35- class and dance ($25 student discount with ID)

The dance is indoors, NO RESTRICTIONS: vaccine and mask optional. Please stay home if you feel unwell! Be safe, have fun! We can NOT wait to see you all and continue to celebrate the blues dance scene at The Pearl!

Joe DeMers

Joe DeMers is a champion Blues and Lindy Hop instructor from Denver, CO. He has toured the world teaching and performing from South Korea to France, Australia, Israel and all over the US. His dancing is a lovely culmination of Blues aesthetic, Jazz elements, dynamic shapes, soft close embrace connection, and Frame Matching. Frame Matching is a codified framework of partner-dance connection explained by changes in posture, tone, tension, energy and direction of energy (ΔpTed). In 2008, he was awarded the Spirit of Lindy Hop award at Camp Jitterbug. In 2013 and 2014, he won the title of International Blues Dance Champion. He is a powerhouse instructor masterfully engaging all-level dancers in class, leaving them feeling focused, guided, included, and encouraged. Check out his website at joeandnelle.com

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.

The Nic Clark Band

Nic Clark first stepped foot onto a Colorado stage at the age of 12 years old, and by age 14, he had been given an endorsement deal by the world largest harmonica maker, Hohner. Nic has gone on to grace stages all over the country including eTown and Red Rocks and has even performed on a ship in international waters. Nic has performed and worked with a who’s who list of musicians including Rick Estrin, Kid Andersen, Billy Branch, Lurie Bell, Chris Cain, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musslewhite, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and most recently collaborated and recorded with famed musician Charlie Hunter for Nic’s new album, ‘Everybody’s Buddy’, out July 2023. Between 2018 and March of 2020 Nic performed over 18 months in a row for the month Blues Dance at the Mercury Cafe as a member of the Curtis Hawkins Band. Recently, Nic won the 2023 ‘Harmonica Player of the Year’ award, voted for by the Colorado Blues Society, an award he has won many times before, He also was awarded 2024 “Favorite Songwriter” by the same group this year. Nic is also the Lead Harmonica Instructor at Swallow Hill Music in Denver, CO. For the Shimmy Shakin’ Blues performance, Nic Clark will be joined by Bob Pellegrino, Andreas Schimd & Curtis Hawkins.

DJ 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.

The Pearl Denver

You can only find SSB at Denver's one and only THE PEARL! (formerly the Mercury Café) in the upstairs ballroom. Come support the community and the new owners as they continue all of the scheduled events in the space! Come for good music, good dancing, and good people!

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schedule

Schedule

Doors open at 6:30pm. Free street parking or adjacent lots starting at only $4.

There will be a beginner-friendly blues dance lesson from 7-8pm. A dance party with live music from the band and DJ'ed band breaks will follow from 8-12.

7-8pm: All levels blues dance class
Instructors: Joe DeMers and Katrina Rogers!
8:30-11:00: The Nic Clark Band (live blues band!)
DJ: Miranda Whiting, an SSB DJ debut! (band breaks)
Special Performance by: TBA

Admission:
$15- class only ($10 student discount with ID)
$20- dance only ($15 student discount with ID)
$35- class and dance ($25 student discount with ID)

The dance is indoors, NO RESTRICTIONS: vaccine and mask optional. Please stay home if you feel unwell! Be safe, have fun! We can NOT wait to see you all and continue to celebrate the blues dance scene at The Pearl!

instructors

Joe DeMers

Joe DeMers is a champion Blues and Lindy Hop instructor from Denver, CO. He has toured the world teaching and performing from South Korea to France, Australia, Israel and all over the US. His dancing is a lovely culmination of Blues aesthetic, Jazz elements, dynamic shapes, soft close embrace connection, and Frame Matching. Frame Matching is a codified framework of partner-dance connection explained by changes in posture, tone, tension, energy and direction of energy (ΔpTed). In 2008, he was awarded the Spirit of Lindy Hop award at Camp Jitterbug. In 2013 and 2014, he won the title of International Blues Dance Champion. He is a powerhouse instructor masterfully engaging all-level dancers in class, leaving them feeling focused, guided, included, and encouraged. Check out his website at joeandnelle.com

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.

music

The Nic Clark Band

Nic Clark first stepped foot onto a Colorado stage at the age of 12 years old, and by age 14, he had been given an endorsement deal by the world largest harmonica maker, Hohner. Nic has gone on to grace stages all over the country including eTown and Red Rocks and has even performed on a ship in international waters. Nic has performed and worked with a who’s who list of musicians including Rick Estrin, Kid Andersen, Billy Branch, Lurie Bell, Chris Cain, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musslewhite, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and most recently collaborated and recorded with famed musician Charlie Hunter for Nic’s new album, ‘Everybody’s Buddy’, out July 2023. Between 2018 and March of 2020 Nic performed over 18 months in a row for the month Blues Dance at the Mercury Cafe as a member of the Curtis Hawkins Band. Recently, Nic won the 2023 ‘Harmonica Player of the Year’ award, voted for by the Colorado Blues Society, an award he has won many times before, He also was awarded 2024 “Favorite Songwriter” by the same group this year. Nic is also the Lead Harmonica Instructor at Swallow Hill Music in Denver, CO. For the Shimmy Shakin’ Blues performance, Nic Clark will be joined by Bob Pellegrino, Andreas Schimd & Curtis Hawkins.

DJ 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.

travel/venue

The Pearl Denver

You can only find SSB at Denver's one and only THE PEARL! (formerly the Mercury Café) in the upstairs ballroom. Come support the community and the new owners as they continue all of the scheduled events in the space! Come for good music, good dancing, and good people!

contests

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classes

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merch

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staff

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food

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Apr 16

06:30 pm

Shimmy Shakin’ Blues April 2026

Apr 24

08:00 am

Intercollegiate Swing Battle 2026

Sep 09

01:00 pm

2026 Annual Event Pass Sale!

Sep 18

07:00 pm

Lindy on the Rocks/Hot Night Fusion Weekend 2026!

Nov 20

06:30 pm

Hot Jazz Jamboree 2026