Beginner classes

Welcome! If you’ve just stumbled upon Cape Town Swing or swing dancing in general, you’re in the right place. We’re here to help you take your first steps into this joyful world of jazz-era partner dancing.

What Is Swing Dance?

Swing dancing is all about rhythm, energy, and connection—both to the music and your partner. The most popular style we teach is Lindy Hop, the king of swing dances, which originated in the vibrant ballrooms of the 1930s and 1940s. But did you know there’s a whole family of swing dances? Think Blues, Balboa, St. Louis Shag, and more!

At Cape Town Swing, we focus primarily on Lindy Hop and its building blocks to set you up for success on the dance floor.

Since Lindy Hop* originated as a vernacular dance language that was not formally taught and featured lots of improvisation, the way we teach the dance is to imbue some of its characteristics into a facilitated movement space, and to simplify it into patterns that can later be deconstructed.

Your Journey Starts with Our Beginner Courses

We’ve designed our 4-week Beginner Courses to make learning swing dance simple, fun, and accessible. You can take them in any order, and many people repeat them for extra practice. Here’s what we offer:

Lindy Hop FUNdamentals

Discover the joy of Lindy Hop! This video showcases the key rhythms, movements, and partner connection techniques taught in our 4-week beginner course, "Lindy Hop FUNdamentals." Designed to help you groove to the swing-era jazz we love, this course builds confidence and skills so you can enjoy moving to swing music with ease.

Swing Out Foundations

Take your first steps into the world of swing outs! This video highlights the core concepts taught in our 4-week "Swing Out Foundations" course, where you’ll learn the 8-count rhythm basic and develop stretchy, expressive partnering skills. The swing out is a cornerstone of Lindy Hop, and this course sets the stage for countless variations in your dance journey.

Charleston Essentials

Step back in time and learn the Charleston! This video showcases the fundamentals of "Charleston Essentials," our 4-week beginner course introducing this iconic dance style. Charleston blends perfectly with hot jazz and swing music and is a must-have in every Lindy Hopper’s toolkit.

Frankie’s Sixes

Groove to the rhythm of swing jazz with Frankie Manning’s iconic 6-count sequence! This video demonstrates the core moves and patterns taught in "Frankie’s Sixes," our 4-week beginner course. Learn the essential 6-count footwork and a fun set of moves perfect for social dancing at our events.

Lindy Hop FUNdamentals
Frankie's Sixes
Swing Out Foundations
Charleston Essentials
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Beginners need to take each of these 4-week courses at least once (many people repeat them for practice and to learn from different teachers), and to practice regularly so that it’s possible to social dance these building blocks.

Once you’re feeling more confident with all of the above, you’ll be able to join the Improver-level classes or workshops.

Pro Tip: Regular practice will help you feel confident enough to start social dancing and eventually join our Improver classes.

Please read our Class Levels page to get a better idea of the requirements for each class, and check in with one of our Teachers to get an idea of which class level you’re ready to join.

Here are some upcoming beginner-friendly classes, workshops and social events to look out for:

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8:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Social Dancing!Weekly

Cape Town Unitarian Community Centre
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Other Beginner Options

Besides our 4-week Beginner Courses, you can also take any class or workshop that's marked as Beginner, and either "drop-in" or "first-timer". Depending on the time of year, location and teaching capacity, we typically several options available, such as:

taster classes

A 20- or 30-minute introductory class, usually right before a social dance or at a party

EVENT CALENDAR

Weekend Workshops

Usually a 2 or 3-hour intensive on weekends, with a focus theme or topic

JOIN A WORKSHOP

Private Lessons

These can be requested of our teaching team, and are a great way to get concentrated, and personalised learning of swing dance foundations.

BOOK A PRIVATE LESSON

What to Expect in Class

To make the most of your swing dance journey, we recommend:

  • Arriving 10 minutes early to sign in.
  • Wearing fresh, comfortable clothes and deodorant (dancing is sweaty fun!).
  • Bringing breath mints and an extra shirt if you’re attending a longer session or social dance.

In swing, we dance in roles—leader or follower—but these roles are not tied to gender. Choose whichever role feels right for you!

Ready to Join the Fun?

Check out our Community Calendar for upcoming beginner-friendly classes, workshops, and social events. Whether you’re grooving in a taster class or tackling your first swing-out, we can’t wait to welcome you to the Cape Town Swing community.