Dance Classes
Note that the Doghouse will be closed on Thursday, Nov 28 for Thanksgiving break.
We will also be closed for the month of December for winter break;
but we will return in January of 2025! Come dance with us in the New Year!
Class registration for Nov 2024 workshops is live!
See the Doghouse's current class series offerings here.
New to dancing?
The Doghouse offers a "taster" beginning swing dance lesson (complimentary*) at our social dances!
Details for the taster class here
* with purchase of ticket to the social dance
Series 5 runs Jan 9 - Feb 13, 2024
We will return to our regular class series in January 2025
Lindy Hop Specialty: TBD
Level B class, designed for intermediate/advanced dancers
Learn to dance Savoy-style Lindy Hop with Chad & Kristen
Level A class, designed for those new to dancing (6 months or less) - more info & registration here
The Doghouse's regular tuition rate is $140 for a 6-week series, and includes the DJ dance held after the class.
Series 5 classes will run from Jan through mid February 2025, meeting every Thursday 7:00pm - 7:55 pm.
Drop-in & Late Arrival policy
Please review The Doghouse's policy for drop-ins/late arrivals here.
Problems/Questions? Please post your questions to the #support channel on Discord.
Are you a student? Email us at classes@doghousesf.com for details re: student discounts.
The Doghouse's weekly swing dance lessons will be taught by guest teachers with a range of styles and backgrounds. Some of our experienced teachers have been social dancing and teaching for 30+ years, learning directly from the greats like Frankie Manning, Norma Miller, Dawn Hampton, and other lindy hop originators.
Zen Dance
In addition to typical swing dance lessons (intro to Lindy Hop, Lindy Fundamentals, Lindy Fluency & Musicality), we will be introducing a brand new 3D system of learning Lindy Hop called Zen Dance ©.
What is Zen Dance©?
Zen Dance is based on core movements that expand out to included all Lindy-type movement, both old and new. Rather than learning a set series of choreographed steps, you will learn connection, momentum, frame to transition - allowing you to combine all of your Lindy Hop moves into a flow state of uninterrupted, connected movement.
The intent of Zen Dance is to create a balance between lead and follow, which among other things eliminates arm leading and unnecessary anchoring. Both lead and follow are free to improvise, connect and dance to the music.
What is Flipside Lindy©?
We have created a new advanced dancing method called Flipside Lindy © (which can also be applied to many other dances!)
Combined with stealing & switching partners, we have found that Flipside Lindy can add a whole new, exhilarating dimension to Lindy Hop.
Specialty Dance Classes
At various times we intend to offer speciality dance classes include including:
Blues, Shag, Balboa, ‘20’s Charleston, Fast Lindy, Smooth Style Lindy
Musicality (i.e., dance to the music!)
Lindy Hop & African-American dance history
Jazz music history, structure and application in dance
DJ music classes for new DJ’s
Floor-craft on the social dance floor
Stealing and Switching Partners on the fly
How to create choreography
Simple Dips & tricks
Aerials Beginner/Advanced
Charleston moves
Syncopations & Styling
Dance-etiquette orientation
Out-of-the-Box subjects we hope to tackle include:
Flipside Lindy
Zen Dance System of Lindy Hop
Zen Dance principles applied in daily life
“Real Life Lindy” how to apply what you learn in the classroom to the social dance floor
Creativity on the dance floor
“Dancing around Leadership” how dance applies to the workplace and life
Basic self-defense techniques to keep you safe moving to and from dance venues