Which Class Should I Choose?

There are 3 factors to consider when choosing a class: the type of class, the level of instruction, and the dance being taught. See below to choose the classes that are right for you.

Drop-in vs. Progressive

We have two primary types of lessons: drop-in and progressive. Each type of lesson is offered for a variety of types of dances and at a variety of levels.

A drop-in lesson is a lesson where you can just show up. It is self-contained. You can come to one week's drop-in lesson without having been to the prior lessons; the lessons do not build on one another. Drop-in lessons are included in the price for the evening dance. (Or rather, the dance is included in the price of the drop-in lessons.) We currently offer a drop-in beginning East Coast Swing, and a drop-in intermediate Lindy Hop. See below for details on the levels and dances currently taught in drop-in format.

A progressive lesson is held as a series of lessons that build upon one another. Right now, our progressive lessons are month-long classes that start on the first day of the month. Just like you wouldn't start calculus in the middle of the semester, it's not a great idea to start a progressive in the middle of the month. The cost of the progressive lesson is separate from the cost of the drop-in classes and open dancing. We currently offer Beginning Lindy Hop and East Coast progressives as well as a "wild card" progressive.

Beginner vs. Intermediate

We tend to offer classes at two levels: beginning and intermediate. A beginner only needs to know where their feet are. They should also probably be able to find their arms. But that's it! Beginning classes are for people who've never done any dancing ever, or for people who are convinced that their dancing is embarrassing, or for people wanting to become more solid in their basics. They'll get you out on the floor and feeling confident.

Beginning classes are also for people who want to perfect their dancing essentials. This is especially true of Lindy Hop. The majority of dancers will likely need to take the Beginning Lindy Progressive multiple times before their basics are really solid.

Intermediate classes are a little more tricky than beginner classes. You should feel comfortable with the basic step of a given dance. If you want to take the Intermediate Lindy Hop class, you must first take the beginning Lindy Progressive, unless you've learned to dance elsewhere. For Lindy Hop, you would be comfortable in an intermediate class if you know how to lead or follow a swing out, a lindy circle and a tuck turn. If you don't know how to lead or follow these moves, you'll probably feel lost at best and discouraged at worst in an intermediate class.

Though most people can hang in the intermediate Lindy class, everyone's dancing quality would be improved through re-visiting the beginning Lindy Progressive periodically. The best dancers in the world still work on refining their swing out, and could probably teach a whole series on the rock-step alone.

How the Classes Work

The class usually progresses with the instructor demonstrating, explaining, demonstrating again, and the students practicing the concept.

Don't be discouraged if you don't get it in the first class, or even in a few weeks. It can take quite a while before you feel like you're not stumbling around. We all went through this awkward phase. The more people you ask to dance, the faster you'll progress.

Please try not to speak when the instructors are talking. Others may wish to hear what they are saying. This includes those sitting on the sidelines! If you are taking the lesson, please attempt to do what the instructors are teaching. There are many "right" ways of doing something but it is discourteous and disrespectful to intentionally ignore the teachers or actively try to teach your partner something different during the lesson. If you do not understand something, feel free to ask questions or bring your concerns to the instructors at the end of class.

What to wear:

Swing dancers usually wear casual clothes: t-shirts & jeans or skirts, and shoes that allow them to slide and pivot easily.

Shirt:

Cotton t-shirts usually work out best, and dress shirts are ok. Delicate fabrics and items with sequins or beads sewn on may not fare well.

Pants:

Jeans, slacks, and shorts are fine. Many dancers opt for loose, lightweight breathable fabrics.

Skirt:

Anything you're comfortable dancing, and spinning in. It should be loose enough that you can take a long step.

Shoes:

Should be lightweight and comfortable for active use. Many dancers opt for sneakers with a temporary application of masking or duct tape on the soles to facilitate turns. Dance sneakers are also a good option, which you can pick up at a local ballet supply store. Flip-flops can be difficult to keep on your feet.

Terminology:

Lead: The person, typically male, who is the leader of his/her partner for the dance. The leader has to learn not only the dance moves, but how to communicate that through the connection to the follow, and also how to listen to the follow through the connection.

Follow: The person, typically female, who follows the leader through the dance moves. This doesn't mean that the follow has to do exactly what the leader tells her to, communication in dancing goes both ways through the connection.

Connection: The physical link of communication between the dancers. In ballroom it is called your "frame" and is a more formal/stiff connection. But in swing dances, where the follow has more input, the connection is more elastic.

At the Dance

Asking for a Dance

Anyone can ask anyone to dance. Men, don't be surprised if the ladies ask you to dance. Ladies, feel free to ask the men!

Ask everybody to dance; dance with everybody! Newcomers, feel free to ask more experienced dancers to dance. Most experienced dancers are friendly and enjoy welcoming new people to swing dancing, but may not seek you out. If a more experienced dancer does ask you to dance, don't worry about being "not good enough" or "boring". They asked you to dance specifically because they want to dance with you. Part of being a good dancer is being able to have a good dance with someone of any skill level. The more different people of varying skill levels you dance with, the better dancer you will become.

Experienced dancers, try dancing with people you don't recognize: this is the best way to help all dancers enjoy a friendly and welcoming environment.

In our dance community, partners normally dance only one song together at a time. After the song is over, if you wish to converse with your partner, please move to the sidelines. Lots of people standing on the dance floor but not engaged with their surroundings can be unsafe.

Safety

Aerials and drops (moves where your partner's feet leave the floor) are unsafe and unacceptable on the social dance floor. If you perform unsafe moves on the dance floor, you will be asked to leave.

Music

We are swing dancers. So, we play primarily swing music. Although swing is a versatile dance that can be done to many kinds of music, many dancers prefer dancing to swing-era (1930's-1940's) jazz music and more modern music in this style. We do play other kinds of jazz music (jump blues, neo-swing, 1920's jazz) and the occassional non-swing song, but the emphasis is on swing-era music.

If you are looking for music to practice with or get an idea of the kind of music we tend to play, try some of the songs below -- if you need recordings, the Ann Arbor District Library has an excellent collection of jazz CDs.

Songs

Above all: have fun!