Swing Dance Class Series
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!
Come out to join us for swing dance classes & social dance every Thursday night!
The Doghouse typically hosts Lindy Hop dance classes as a six (6) week progressive series of lessons.
Lessons are held before the the social dance, from 7-8pm each Thursday. Class attendees
have free entry to the DJ'd social dance starting at 8:00pm each Thursday!
Are you NEW to Swing Dancing?
We suggest starting with our taster class here or join us for our beginning swing series.
Class registrations for Nov 2024 workshops are live!
You can register for Doghouse classes & workshops here.
direct link: https://doghouse.thundertix.com/
Doghouse November Workshops
For the month of November the Doghouse hosts special workshops meeting every Thursday 7:00 - 8:00pm on Nov 07, 14 & 21 (3 sessions):
7-8pm Lindy Hop Specialty: Lindy Lab with Calvin & Rebecca
7-8pm Beginning Swing Dance with Chad & Kristen
8-830pm Complimentary Taster swing dance class
Doghouse Class Series 5 will return in Jan 2025
The Doghouse's regular tuition rate is $140 for a 6-week series, and includes the DJ dance held after the class.
The upcoming Series 5 will run from Jan through mid-Feb 2025, meeting every Thursday 7:00 - 8:00pm.
Level B: Lindy Hop Specialty <TBD>
Level A3: Learn how to dance Savoy-style Lindy Hop
Drop-in & Late Arrival policy
Please review The Doghouse's policy for drop-ins/late arrivals here.
Level A3: Learn Savoy-style Lindy Hop Swing Dance
Teachers Chad Kubo & Kristen Paulin will teach you to dance Lindy Hop in the San Francisco tradition 🤩
Got 2 left feet? We supply the right feet! We teach movement over steps - once you feel the movement, the steps will follow!
This class is geared towards those new to dancing (6 months or less).
Lindy Hop Series A3 - AWARENESS
Surroundings on the floor (Floorcraft)
Kinetic Body Awareness (Learning self-efficient movement and self protection from physical harm)
Music Awareness, How to listen and what to listen for.
"Sometimes I am out of my body when I dance and bump into people. How do I become more aware?" Learn from martial arts; a master can sense danger way before it happens and avoid it!
The Doghouse’s regular tuition rate is $140 for a 6-week series, which includes admittance to the DJ dances held the nights of the class ($108 value).
Class will meet on these Thursday dates from 7/11 to 8/15/2024:
July 11, 18 and 25
Aug 1, 6 and 15
7:30-8:25 pm each Thursday (registration required)
Beginning Lindy Hop swing dance class curriculum (levels A1 - A4)
The Doghouse's "learn to dance Lindy Hop" has a rotating curriculum, from Level A1 - A4. (this content is subject to change)
Series A1
Foundation and Movement
Core Movement
Momentum
Connection
Power
"I don't need to learn basics, I know the basics! I'm already a good dancer!" Wanna bet? If your house (dance) is built on a poor foundation your house (dance) will be weak. Leading to wasted energy, poor leading, following, chronic injury for both leaders and followers. Build it right the first time,it will serve you for a lifetime.
Series A2
Communication
Whole body conversation.
The transfer momentum and rhythm to your partner.
True leading and following.
When I dance my lead/follow doesn't know what I'm trying to do?Why? Sometimes I have to give them an extra something (Push, pull, verbal clue) for them to understand what I'm doing. In Judo there is a saying,"Minimum effort, maximum result': Get rid of the extra variables in your dance! Zen Dance!!
Series A3
Awareness
Surroundings on the fioor (Floorcraft)
Kinetic Body Awareness (Learning self-efficient movement and self protection from physical harm)
Music Awareness, How to listen and what to listen for.
Sometimes I am out of my body when I dance and bump into people. How do I become more aware? Learn from martial arts. A master can sense danger way before it happens and avoids it.
Series A4
Creativity, Movement and Musicality
Jazz Moves, Syncopation and Integration with your dancing
How to create new moves on the dance tloor
What is creativity? How do I tap into it? What elements do I need to make it happen? Sign up and find out!
What can I expect from the Doghouse's beginning swing dance classes?
Lindy Hop is a sub-genre of partner dancing often danced to jazz (specifically "swing") music. Originating with the African-American community in Harlem, New York in the early 20th century, the dance incorporates a mix of different movement styles including jazz, tap, breakaway, and the Charleston dance, and is well-known for both its basic "swingout" - which transitions from open position through closed position and back - as well as it's intricate footwork & musicality.
In Lindy Hop, as in many other partner dances, one chooses the role of a "follow" or a "lead" for the duration of a given dance (switching comes later ;) - for our lessons, you'll choose one role and stick with it for the duration of the class series.
The Doghouse's beginner class series is a 6-week session with classes each Thursday. Drop-ins are allowed only on the first week. A partner is not required to register for our classes, as we will rotate partners every few minutes. A key part of progressing in Lindy Hop is to be able to dance with different people & styles; rotating partners allows the opportunity to meet different people and feel a variety of dance connections.
Among other things, you should expect to learn swing dance footwork (both 6 & 8-count), swivel technique, the "Charleston," spinning and moving to the music. As Lindy Hop is a partner dance, it's crucial to understand the communication and connection between partners so you will also learn about partner connection and leading/following techniques.
With every series, you can expect us to cover topics like...
How the $#@! did they do that?
Martial arts principles demo magic!
I can feel the "Flow"when I dance!?
Core movement (Developing Continuity between moves).
I learned all of that in one series?
Expanded movement (New moves based on basic foundational movement, making it easy to remember}.
Minimum 10-20 new moves per series.
So that's what I'm suppose to be dancing to?
Music education, dance and it's relationship to Jazz.
Whoa, that looks cool!!
Styling and Syncopation for both leads and follows.
What is the difference between 6 and 8 count?
The enigma of 6 and 8 count Lindy Hop reveled!! and it's no biggie!!
Will I learn Lindy Hop in the beginning class?
Yes, and your basics will be solid, I guarantee!
Building upon the popularity of our Calvin & Rebecca's recent Charleston workshop, the Doghouse is pleased to bring you a month-long series with Irina Semenova that will tune & perfect your Charleston!
Is your Charleston vocabulary limited to the basics, like the Charleston basic and basic in tandem position? If so, this class is for you! We'll start by reviewing classic moves, such as the airplane and tandem Charleston, and then add a fun twist to these timeless steps. Through small adjustments in footwork and styling, you’ll discover how to transform familiar moves into exciting variations that will take your dancing to the next level.
This class is perfect for those who are already confident and comfortable dancing Lindy Hop socially and includes access to our special live band event on Thu Oct 17!
Thursdays at 7:00pm | Oct 3,10,17,24,31
includes special live band event with the Cosmo Alleycats on Oct 17
The Doghouse’s regular tuition rate is $140 for a 6-week series, which includes admittance to the DJ dances held the nights of the class ($108 value).
Class will meet on these Thursday dates in October:
Oct 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
7:00-7:55 pm each Thursday (registration required)
Forthcoming: Real Life Lindy
A drop-in class catering to intermediate dancers with Chad Kubo; we hope to launch this session in Q3 2024.
Have you ever taken a Lindy Hop class and learned an amazingly fun routine that you can’t get to work on the social dance floor? As a lead, you can’t get the follow to move, or feel what you’re leading? Do you doubt your skills and get frustrated?
As a follow do you get confused by what the lead is trying to do? You feel no momentum so you’re stuck with that confused look on your face? You wonder, is it me?
Welcome to Real Life Lindy!! In our classes we take those newly learned moves and apply martial arts principle of frame, awareness, timing, connection, balance, momentum, and power. With those tools, leading becomes powerfully clear, concise and effortless, using only momentum to move your partner, not strength. As a follow you will be able to amplify with your body what the lead is leading no matter what level he is. You will flow through the movement without thinking, effortlessly using momentum. Sounds like magic? It is! It’s Real Life Lindy!
TBD each Thursday
Class registration & additional information forthcoming...