Next 6-week sets of classes starts: 30th April
Includes: Level 1, 2 and 3 lindy hop
Next FREE taster classes: 23rd April
TIMETABLE:
| CLASS | TIME | VENUE | ||
| Taster class | Wednesday 7:30 pm | St Michael’s School Hall (249 Durham St) | ||
| Lindy hop Level 1 | Wednesday 7:30 pm | St Michael’s School Hall (249 Durham St) | ||
| Lindy hop Level 2 | Wednesday 6:30 pm | St Michael’s School Hall (249 Durham St) | ||
| Lindy hop Level 3 OR Performance troupe routine class OR Balboa or blues open or solo jazz intermediate classes | Wednesday 7:30 pm | Level 2 Dance Studio, Papa Hou Centre, 12 Hereford St |
Class details
Our regular Wednesday night classes are usually 6 week sets of lindy hop (the style most people think of when they think of swing dancing), at levels to suit everyone. We occasionally incorporate classes in a range of other swing-era dance styles, including blues, balboa, solo Charleston, Collegiate shag, and many more. These styles are both excellent fun in their own rights, or to incorporate into your lindy hop. A basic understanding of other styles will make you a better, more versatile dancer, plus they are just fun, so we like to include them when we can.
You do not need to bring a partner to any of our classes, as we rotate partners during class.
You should wear comfortable clothes you can move around in, and flat/very comfortable shoes – swing dancing is an active dance!
Registration
There is no need to register for the taster classes – they are free, no obligations.
To register for our regular classes, please click the big green button at the top of this page. The class costs are:
Full set = $75 ($60 student/gold card)
Casual class = $16/class ($13 student/gold card)
Multi-level freebie – we encourage those registered for level 2 or 3 to join a lower level class for free, to help you recap/consolidate, or even try the other role. This also helps our newer dancers to get the hang of things by dancing with more experienced peeps in class with them. Please note that we reserve the right to ask you to step out of a lower level class if needed due to numbers/ratios.
Level guidance
Level 1
Absolutely no experience necessary! Our lindy hop beginners classes are in two 6-week long sets – A and B. These include some different material and some repeated, in order to ensure everyone gets a solid grounding in the fundamental footwork styles for lindy hop (8-count and Charleston) to help you handle anything the social dance floor might throw at you! Come learn the basics of this fun dance style and we’ll have you up on the floor in no time. Lots of people are worried about their “two left feet” but if you can walk you can dance and maybe even if you can’t walk! Your teachers will break down the steps in an easy to learn format, and have you social dancing from week 1, and really getting the hang of it by week 6! A great way to meet new people and keep yourself active! If you’ve already done the first set, you’ll have some idea already for the second half of your next set (although we do try mix it up a bit), but this is a chance to really consolidate your technique and style before making the jump up to level 2.
We generally require people to do both sets before moving up to Level 2, but you’re welcome to repeat them as many times as you like if you are still building your confidence. We also encourage you to start coming social dancing – it really is the best way to get better (even if it is a bit scary at first!).
Level 2
Level 2 has a larger range of level dancers, but dancing with people with more and less experience than you do is really the best way to become an awesome social dancer that everyone wants to dance with, so let’s see this as a feature!!
To get the most out of this level and be of a similar level to the other dancers you need to be at a level where you are confidently social dancing the basic level one moves at a range of speeds and footwork patterns. For most people this will be after at least two level 1 sets. If you have attended less than this but have been doing a lot of social dancing and/or have extensive background in other styles then get in touch with us to check if it’s okay to move up.
There are five 5-week sets in our level 2 + syllabus, each based around one of the main footwork patterns of 8-count, 6-count or Charleston. The aim is to build your vocabulary of moves, whilst focusing not just on the WHAT of the moves, but also the WHY and the HOW, to help you become a great lead or follow (or both!) on the social dance floor! We rotate through these sets, teaching you fun new moves, some styling, and really start to work on the underlying techniques of how you make it all work on the social dance floor. We hope at this stage that you’re coming out social dancing with us regularly because it’s so much fun!
You can repeat these multiple sets as many times as you need/want to make sure you are very comfortable with the material before moving to the next level. Different teachers will approach the material in different ways so you can still gain a lot from repeating a set and moving up too soon can be detrimental to your progress.
Level 3 (and other classes such as performance troupe)
These classes are held at a different venue and do not run every set. These classes are aimed at those who have been dancing for long enough to rock out to a bunch of different tempos and can comfortably social dance with most people in the scene. You should be able to mix moves of different counts and be very comfortable with the concepts of lead and follow! You are starting to think beyond steps and ready to develop ‘how’ you dance and you want to develop your dance to being music/feeling driven rather than steps driven. In level 3 we cover a wide range of content at the teachers’ discretion including more advanced techniques or applied concepts, interesting moves, partnership, musicality, connection etc. In performance troupe we will look at learning fun choreographies and/or performance technique.
The move from Level 2 and Level 3 is based on your readiness rather than a specific number of sets. if you are feeling like you might wish to move up from level 2 then please let us know and we will get some feedback from your teachers as to whether you are ready or give you pointers about what you might want to work on. Some things we look for:
Both roles:
– are comfortable social dancing a range of the moves from the level 2 syllabus including some 6 count, 8 count (particularly swing outs!) and Charleston
– understands and can apply basic techniques (frame, pulse, compression, balance, weight distribution, timing/rhythm, basic musicality)
– can comfortably dance up to ~180 bpm
– are capable of appropriate floorcraft and dance safety (for themselves, their partner, and others on the floor)
– are aware of social dancing etiquette (e.g. personal hygiene, appropriate ways to ask people to dance and respond etc)
Follows:
– can respond to a lead rather than anticipating the move
– are aware of misinterpretations/mistakes, but can continue dancing until resolved
– are comfortable following a range of moves including basic moves they may not have encountered before
– can remain in control of their own body
Leaders:
– can clearly signal moves to a follow including changing between rhythms
– can lead from the body rather than just from the arms
Performance troupe is usually by audition and these opportunities will be shared on the mailing list. You don’t have to do performance troupe in order to sign up for Level 3.
Level 4 lindy hop
We will run several weekend workshop days throughout the year for our level 4 dancers – with entry to these via peer-audition. If you are an experienced level 3 dancer and interested in being considered for level 4 please let us know at swingtownrebels@gmail.com.
Blues, balboa, solo jazz classes
These are run on an ad hoc basis – usually alternating with our level 3 lindy hop sets, but sometimes on additional days. Most classes will be beginner (level 1) or intermediate (level 2) – all dancers are encouraged to attend these. For the purposes of these classes, “Level 1” means you know nothing (or have forgotten most things) in the style, whilst level 2 means you’ve done a number of classes, and know enough basic moves that you are happy social dancing for at least a whole song in the style (nothing flashy required – come along to class and learn the cool stuff!). If you’re unsure, flick us an email at swingtownrebels@gmail.com to check.
Venues
Where to go and where to abandon
your car while you have fun dancing!