frequently asked questions
Swing Dance & Lindy Hop
What is Lindy Hop?
Visit our What is Lindy Hop? page to find out all about this dance style.
Are there any prerequisites for your Beginner (Level 1) classes?
- No dance experience is needed, our Beginners (Level 1) is for absolute beginners
- No partner needed, you will be rotating partners in class.
- Our classes are gender neutral and we encourage all our students to try both dance roles. So please only attend if you are happy to partner with every other student in class. This means you might be dancing with men, women, in between and beyond! Old school dance for new school people, cool?
- This is an adult dance class, all attendees must be 18+
- Swing dancing is a physical pursuit and classes may at times involve rigorous activity. A good level of basic fitness and range of movement is needed. If in doubt please consult your GP before participating.
What is the difference between a Course and a Series?
A Course is a progressive 3-week program, consisting of three 1-hour classes over three weeks. You must sign up for the full course and attend all three classes. Each course costs £30.
A Series is a series of 3 drop-in classes over three weeks, separate classes but all on the same theme. Each class is different. You can attend any single class in a Series, or book all three. To take a single class in a Series, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t taken the other classes in the Series (for example, you can take the third class of a Series, even if you have not taken the first or second).
Can I drop-in to a single class of a Course?
Apologies, no. A course is a progressive program, so you must sign up for the whole course.
Can I drop-in to a single class of a Series?
Yes! A Series is a series of 3 drop-in classes over three weeks, separate classes but all on the same theme. Each class is different. You can attend any single class in a Series, or book all three.
To take a single class in a Series, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t taken the other classes in the Series (for example, you can take the third class of a Series, even if you have not taken the first or second).
Can I use 3 credits to book a 3-week Course?
Yes, you can use 3 standard credits to pay for a course, but you cannot use concession credits to pay for a course (because courses are already fully discounted).
To use 3 standard credits on your account when booking a course online, you must select each class individually:
- In the booking area, select the course you want to register for and click the “BOOK” button.
- Select the number of Adults you are enrolling, and click the “Book” button.
- When prompted to select an enrolment option, choose “Enroll only in the following classes”, then check the boxes for all three classes of the course. Click the “Book” button.
- If you are not already logged in to your account, click the “Sign in” button to access your account with your credits.
- Complete the booking. This will now take 3 credits from your prepaid package, instead of asking for a £30 payment.
What if I have to miss a week of a Course?
Don’t panic! We know sometimes life gets in the way and you might miss a class. If you miss one class in a course, the teacher will try their best to help you catch up in the next class. As we like to say, there are no emergencies in swing dancing. We’ll work it out!
Please note, there are no refunds for missed classes in any course booked, and you cannot take an alternative class to make up for the one you missed. Missed classes are forfeited.
If you need to miss Week 1, it’s probably best to defer to the next course, so get in touch to transfer your registration to the next course scheduled.
I can’t make the first class of the course! Is it ok to start from week 2?
Apologies, no. Our courses are only 3 weeks long, so it’s better to wait until the next course so you can start in Week 1.
Can I come to the first class of a course to decide if I want to take the whole course?
Apologies, no. If you want to try a single class before you commit to a Beginners course, then try our Beginners Taster Class on Wednesday evenings.
What should I wear or bring to my first class?
Just wear light, casual clothes that allow for unrestricted movement. For example, jeans and a t-shirt (or anything similar) would be perfect. We might work up a sweat, so layers you can take off are recommended. Some dancers like to dress in a vintage 1930s/1940s style, but that is not required. Just be your (comfortable) self!
This is a partnered dance, so for the sake of your partners please come in clean clothes, wear deodorant and maybe pop a breath mint!
Experienced swing dancers wear shoes with leather/suede soles. But to get started, any comfortable flat enclosed shoe (eg: trainers, loafers, plimsolls, oxfords) will be perfect. Rubber soles are fine to get started with. If you want to wear heels, we recommend a Mary Jane or T-Bar style with a sturdy heel no more than 1 or 1.5 inches high, and make sure you are already comfortable walking and moving around in them. Generally, soft-soled “jazz dance”, ballroom or tango shoes are not appropriate. Please no high heels, stilettos, flip flops, strappy sandals, slingbacks or any shoes that will scratch or mark the dancefloor. We love talking about shoes, so feel free to ask your teacher for the lowdown on the best shoes for swing dancing.