Social Dancing!

The term “swing dancing” refers to a variety of dance styles that originated in the 1920s and ‘30s in African American communities – particularly in Harlem, New York. They include Lindy Hop, Charleston, Shag, Balboa and others, each of which has its own unique “flavour” and character. They are mostly quite athletic and energetic, drawing inspiration from the big bands of the Swing Era that played a variety of jazz music for large crowds in ballrooms all over the country. Swing dancers ground their movement in the rhythm section of the music, emphasising syncopation, musicality, improvisation, humour and self-expression.

You do not. We rotate partners in classes, where everyone pairs up to practice for a bit, before changing partners. This way, we learn the same language to have dance conversations with lots of people. And we meet new people and build a social community.

There is an enormous treasure trove of swing music for you to discover. Classic swinging jazz from the 1920s-’40s big bands and small group ensembles should be your go-to. We’ve created a variety of Spotify playlists for you to enjoy, available from our Music page. Our DJs put many hours into sourcing, tagging and categorising swing music from the archives to play at our parties. If you love the songs they play, go up and tell them!

The best way to progress is to be consistent: attend classes regularly, practice at home (solo or with a dance buddy) and get on the social dance floor as often as you can. You’ll probably learn as much on the social floor as you will in class. Listen to lots of swing music, practice between classes, and take inspiration from Swing Era elders. You can also make a habit of trying something new each time you go to a social. It's better to build up slowly and have a good foundation of the basics, rather than being a move machine with sloppy technique.

If you have joined a multi-week course, we encourage you to attend every class, so that the group can progress as a whole. If you miss more than one class in a course, you may be required to take a private lesson (individual, pair or group) to catch up.