Black Mountain Blues Festival | Belfast
A weekend of blues dance workshops and two nights of live blues music in Belfast.
Black Mountain Blues Festival brings together dancers, musicians, and audiences for a full weekend of learning, live music, and social dancing. Rooted in Belfast’s vibrant blues scene, the festival offers a welcoming space to connect, move, and experience blues music and dance together.
✯ A weekend of blues dance workshops (partner & solo)
✯ Two nights of live blues music and social dancing
✯ International guest teacher and Belfast-based musicians
✯ A live talk exploring blues music, culture and dance
✯ A welcoming, community-led festival atmosphere
What to Expect
Black Mountain Blues Festival is built around live music, social dancing, and connection.
Live music sits at the heart of the weekend, creating space to listen, dance, and share the experience together.
Workshops offer the chance to explore both partner and solo blues, with the overall focus on a relaxed, welcoming, and inclusive atmosphere.
Black Mountain Blues Festival is a new festival rooted in Belfast, bringing together a weekend of blues dance workshops and two nights of live blues music.
Belfast has a rich and thriving blues music scene, with a strong community of musicians and regular live performances across the city. From intimate venues to established local artists, blues music continues to be played, shared, and celebrated here. Frequently recognised as a leading UK city break and a globally trending destination, Belfast offers a unique mix of culture, history, and creativity, making it an ideal setting for a blues festival grounded in connection and community.
This first edition brings together dancers, musicians, and audiences to share in blues music and dance in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Across the weekend, participants can learn, listen, and connect through workshops, social dancing, and live music.
The festival builds on a growing local blues dance community and creates an opportunity to connect Belfast with dancers and musicians from across Europe and beyond.
Each evening of the festival centres around live blues music and social dancing, creating a relaxed and welcoming space to connect, move, and enjoy the music together.
On Friday, we open the weekend with a live talk led by Dexter Santos, exploring blues music, culture, and dance. This will be followed by live music from Gareth Hughes Blues Band and social dancing.
On Saturday, the festival continues with an evening of live music from Lee Hedley Blues Band and social dancing.
Evening events are open to both dancers and non-dancers. Whether you want to take to the floor or simply enjoy the music, everyone is welcome.
Across the weekend, the focus is on creating a friendly and inclusive atmosphere where live music, learning, and social dancing come together at the heart of the festival experience.
Workshops take place across Saturday and Sunday, offering a balance of learning, creativity, and social connection.
The programme is designed to support a range of experience levels, with a clear structure across the weekend.
Full Pass: Mixed Level (Afternoons)
Each afternoon includes two 1.5-hour workshops, open to all levels (Lough, Ridge & Summit Trails), with a mix of partner and solo blues.
Participants will explore movement, rhythm, connection, and musicality in a relaxed and supportive environment. No partner is required.
Sunday afternoon will include the opportunity to learn the Hound Dog solo blues routine, led by Dexter Santos.
Full Pass Plus: Intermediate only (Mornings)
Each morning includes one 1.5-hour workshop designed for experienced blues dancers (Summit Trail) who are ready to develop their technique and musicality further.
These sessions focus on partnered blues and offer a more in-depth exploration of connection, structure, and expression within the dance.
A full timetable will be released in advance of the festival.
Workshop Track Guide
Lough Trail
You’re not a complete beginner to blues dancing. You’ve attended a blues fundamentals course (or plan to over the summer) and have started blues social dancing. You’re ready to develop your skills, build confidence and explore greater connection and musicality.
Ridge Trail
You’ve been dancing blues regularly for around a year or more through classes and blues social dancing. You’re comfortable with the fundamentals, beginning to play with different rhythms and can dance across a range of tempos. You’re ready to strengthen your technique, confidence and creative choices.
Summit Trail
You’re comfortable in your blues dancing and have been dancing regularly for a number of years. You vary your rhythms and are beginning to adapt across different blues styles (Chicago Triple, Latin Blues, Struttin’, Texas Shuffle, etc…). You move fluidly on the social dance floor and have a strong understanding of blues aesthetics and partnership. You’re ready to refine your technique and focus on artistic growth.
Not sure? Choose the route that feels exciting rather than comfortable.
Dexter discovered blues dancing in 2005 and was immediately drawn to the rhythms and sounds of the music. The emotional depth and range, from the gritty to the smooth and the gut-wrenching to the joyful, gave new inspiration and direction to his dancing.
With a background in ballroom and Lindy Hop, Dexter has studied with and collaborated alongside leading figures in the global blues dance community. He is widely recognised as one of the most respected and engaging instructors on the international scene.
As a teacher, Dexter aims to inspire dancers of all levels while honouring the cultural roots and historic identity of blues dance as an art form. He travels internationally, sharing his passion through classes that are engaging, thoughtful, and accessible.
A particular favourite is the Hound Dog routine, often described as the “Shim Sham of Blues.” This solo blues choreography, danced to Big Mama Thornton’s song of the same name, has been taught and performed with dancers across four continents.
A range of ticket options will be available to suit different interests and experience levels across the weekend.
Party Pass
Access to both nights of live music, social dancing, and the festival talk.
Full Pass (The Lower Slopes Route): Lough, Ridge & Summit Trails
6 hours of workshops across the weekend (partner and solo) plus all evening events.
Full Pass Plus (The Summit Route): Summit Trail only
9 hours of workshops including The Lower Slopes & Summit Route workshops plus all evening events.
Tickets will be released on Monday 1 June 2026.
Early bird tickets will be available for a limited period until Sunday 28 June 2026, or until sold out.
We recommend booking early to secure your place and allow time to plan travel and accommodation.
Capacity will be limited to maintain a comfortable and social learning environment.
Afternoon workshops and evening events will take place at Belmont Bowling Club, East Belfast.
Morning workshops will take place at Dance Addiction Studios, East Belfast.
Both venues are a short distance apart, and Belfast is a compact and walkable city, making it easy to move between locations across the weekend.
Festival dates
Friday 2 October 2026 - Sunday 4 October 2026
Tickets on sale
Monday 1 June 2026
Early bird tickets
Available from Monday 1 June 2026
Limited availability, ending Sunday 28 June 2026 or when sold out
We recommend booking early to secure your place and allow time to plan travel and accommodation.
Further programme details will be released in the lead-up to the festival.
Black Mountain Blues Festival is for:
Blues dancers from Belfast and across Europe and beyond
Blues music lovers who want to experience live music in a social setting
Dancers from the wider dance community who are curious to explore blues
Anyone interested in music, movement, and connection
Ever wanted to visit Belfast? We warmly welcome dancers from across Europe and beyond to join us for a weekend of music, movement, and connection.
Evening events are open to all, with no previous dance experience required.
If you’re new to blues, this is the perfect time to get started. In the lead-up to the festival, our Sunday Blues dance classes offer a chance to build confidence, connect with others, and take part in the festival weekend.
Black Mountain Blues Festival recognises the African American roots of blues music and dance.
We aim to create a space that respects and acknowledges the cultural origins of the art form, while supporting learning, listening, and understanding alongside participation. Blues is more than movement — it is music, history, and lived experience, and we approach it with care and respect.
Safer Spaces
We are committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for everyone.
At the festival, we ask all participants to:
- Treat others with respect and care
- Be mindful of boundaries in both social and partner dancing
- Communicate clearly and listen to one another
- Contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere
Unwanted or inappropriate behaviour will not be accepted.
If something doesn’t feel right, we encourage you to speak to a member of the organising team. We will listen and respond appropriately.
As a community-led festival, we all share responsibility for creating a space where people feel comfortable, included, and able to take part.
Our Funders
About
Newsletter Signup
Stay connected with our latest events, stories and ways to get involved.