HSDS
HSDS hosts Lindy Hop classes every Thursday at Mill Kat Healing Arts, as well as a monthly dance on the fourth Saturday of the month. We also have semi-regular events at the Electric Belle. Come by yourself, or bring friends. No previous experience or knowledge is necessary!
Shuffle Shop
Charger Swing
Tips for your first Swing Dance Lesson
No matter how you slice it, most people are pretty nervous before their first social dance or dance class, mostly because it's a new experience and they don't know what to expect. Hopefully these simple tips will help make your first class or social dance the best it can be!
TIP #1 DON'T STRESS
The biggest thing to keep in mind when attending your first dance or lesson is to not stress out or be excessively nervous. Everyone (even the teachers if you are taking a lesson) had to start somewhere, everyone felt awkward at first, everyone had to figure it out at some point. So just relax and enjoy, it will make the dance way more fun!
TIP #2 WEAR CLOSED-TOE, LOW-HEELED OR FLAT SHOES
Swing dancing is typically a quick-paced, fast-moving dance that is most easily danced in closed-toe shoes that have a low heel or are flat. Anything higher than a 2in heel will make it much more difficult to dance. We also suggest that dancers avoid wearing sandals.
TIP #3 AVOID WEARING SHOES WITH GRIPPY SOLES
Many of the moves in swing dancing require the dancer to spin or rotate on their feet, so we suggest wearing shoes that will easily allow you to slide or rotate without gripping the floor too much.
TIP #4 THINGS MAY GET SWEATY SO COME PREPARED
Again swing dancing is a fast paced dance that revs up your heart rate, gets your blood pumping and often can get you sweaty. Because of this many people bring additional shirts or articles of clothing to change into to keep them fresh and dry throughout the evening.
TIP #5 ROTATION HAPPENS
Like we mentioned before, swing dancing is a social dance which means that most people show up without a partner to lessons and dances. During most lessons teachers often pair up dancers and then have the partners rotate and dance with new people throughout the lesson. This ensures that everyone gets a chance to practice a movement with a partner if the ratio of leads/follows is unbalanced. It also helps students learn the movement better since they experience many minute variations when dancing with the different partners they are paired up
TIP #6 BE SOCIAL
At its heart, swing dancing is a social dance. This means that dancers typically rotate partners and dance with new people often. Dancing with a wide variety of people not only is a great way to meet new dancers and get to know them, it's also a fantastic way to grow as a dancers since everyone has their own unique style they bring to their movements. A great rule of thumb that most dancers follow is to try and dance with at least 3 new people at every dance.
TIP #7 SHOW UP
(The most IMPORTANT one!)The number one reason that people don't succeed at swing dancing is because they get nervous and don't show up. Every dancer knows exactly what you are going through because they have all been there before. Swing dance classes and social dances are a judgment free zone. No one is going to laugh at you or embarrass you, or call you out. Everyone will simply be excited you came.
TIP #1 DON'T STRESS
The biggest thing to keep in mind when attending your first dance or lesson is to not stress out or be excessively nervous. Everyone (even the teachers if you are taking a lesson) had to start somewhere, everyone felt awkward at first, everyone had to figure it out at some point. So just relax and enjoy, it will make the dance way more fun!
TIP #2 WEAR CLOSED-TOE, LOW-HEELED OR FLAT SHOES
Swing dancing is typically a quick-paced, fast-moving dance that is most easily danced in closed-toe shoes that have a low heel or are flat. Anything higher than a 2in heel will make it much more difficult to dance. We also suggest that dancers avoid wearing sandals.
TIP #3 AVOID WEARING SHOES WITH GRIPPY SOLES
Many of the moves in swing dancing require the dancer to spin or rotate on their feet, so we suggest wearing shoes that will easily allow you to slide or rotate without gripping the floor too much.
TIP #4 THINGS MAY GET SWEATY SO COME PREPARED
Again swing dancing is a fast paced dance that revs up your heart rate, gets your blood pumping and often can get you sweaty. Because of this many people bring additional shirts or articles of clothing to change into to keep them fresh and dry throughout the evening.
TIP #5 ROTATION HAPPENS
Like we mentioned before, swing dancing is a social dance which means that most people show up without a partner to lessons and dances. During most lessons teachers often pair up dancers and then have the partners rotate and dance with new people throughout the lesson. This ensures that everyone gets a chance to practice a movement with a partner if the ratio of leads/follows is unbalanced. It also helps students learn the movement better since they experience many minute variations when dancing with the different partners they are paired up
TIP #6 BE SOCIAL
At its heart, swing dancing is a social dance. This means that dancers typically rotate partners and dance with new people often. Dancing with a wide variety of people not only is a great way to meet new dancers and get to know them, it's also a fantastic way to grow as a dancers since everyone has their own unique style they bring to their movements. A great rule of thumb that most dancers follow is to try and dance with at least 3 new people at every dance.
TIP #7 SHOW UP
(The most IMPORTANT one!)The number one reason that people don't succeed at swing dancing is because they get nervous and don't show up. Every dancer knows exactly what you are going through because they have all been there before. Swing dance classes and social dances are a judgment free zone. No one is going to laugh at you or embarrass you, or call you out. Everyone will simply be excited you came.
Etiquette and Floor craft
Easy songs to practice to!
There are thousands of songs you can swing to, but here are our top favorites!
Lavender Coffin - Lionel Hampton
Swingin' On Nothin' - Tommy Dorsey
Between a Kiss and a Sigh - Artie Shaw
Coleslaw - Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
I Beeped - Cab Calloway
On Revival Day - Lavern Baker
A Vipers Moan - Willie Bryant & Orchestra
Jump Session - Slim and Slam
All That Meat And No Potatoes - Fats Waller
My Baby Just Cares For Me - Nina Simone
Lavender Coffin - Lionel Hampton
Swingin' On Nothin' - Tommy Dorsey
Between a Kiss and a Sigh - Artie Shaw
Coleslaw - Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
I Beeped - Cab Calloway
On Revival Day - Lavern Baker
A Vipers Moan - Willie Bryant & Orchestra
Jump Session - Slim and Slam
All That Meat And No Potatoes - Fats Waller
My Baby Just Cares For Me - Nina Simone