Styles We TeachSwing, like ballroom, is not a single dance but rather a family or genre of dances with some shared aspects. Swing Ann Arbor focuses on 3 main types of swing.Core Curriculum
East Coast Swing6 count swing, often referred to as "east coast", is a simplified, easy-to-learn swing dance which is good for beginners. It is based on a six-count step and can be danced to fairly fast music (150-200 bpm). The six-count steps are part of lindy hop, but are also known separately as variations of east coast swing. We offer a beginner east coast swing class every week. In addition, we teach a variety of 6-count moves in the Intermediate Lindy class, and occassionally offer a 3-week East Coast series. Lindy HopLindy Hop is an 8 count dance which can be a bit more difficult to learn than East Coast. But the difficulty is more than made up for by its flexibility and style. Lindy Hop can be danced to a wide range of tempos. We currently offer a 4-week Beginning Lindy series most months along with a drop-in Intermediate Lindy Hop class every week. Other DancesIn the "wild card" progressive slot, we offer instruction in a variety of other swing dances on a rotating monthly basis:CharlestonThe Charleston is probably what comes to mind when you think of the 1920's and "flappers". However, Charleston continued to evolve into the 1940's and beyond. We teach lessons in a variety of solo & partner Charleston styles. 
BalboaBalboa is very enjoyable dance for fast music (190-300 bpm). It is danced in contact with your partner, lead's side to the follow's center, and is suitable for packed dance halls. Solo JazzWe also teach various solo jazz routines & group dances such as Shim Sham and Big Apple which are occassionally done on Wednesday nights. Steps from these dances can give you lots of ideas for styling and improvisation in your other swing dancing!What We Don't TeachWe do not teach what are called aerials or airsteps. These are usually show or competition moves where your partner's feet leave the ground. They have no place on the social dance floor where you could cause someone a nice kick in the head, drop and injure your partner, or at the very least scare an unsuspecting follow who suddenly finds herself in the air. If you perform aerials on the dance floor on Wednesday nights, you will be asked to leave. A reputation like that will precede you. Airsteps are akin to gymnastics, and if you are interested you should seek an experienced instructor. |