Swing Dance Class Series

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!

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!