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Learn Lindy Hop at LindyGroove!
What is Lindy Hop?
Lindy Hop is the original swing dance. Born in Harlem as a street dance, it evolved alongside the jazz music of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Like jazz, Lindy Hop is a uniquely American art form.
Hmm. Sounds… old-timey...
While Lindy Hop definitely deserves its place in history books, it is still danced today, all over the world! Modern Lindy Hoppers strive to stay true to the joyful spirit and jubilant style of vintage Lindy Hop while continuing to evolve the dance. The one constant is that Lindy Hop, a swing dance, is danced to - you guessed it - swing music!
So… it’s like ballroom dance?
Not really. Yes, Lindy is a partnered dance with a “lead” and “follow.” But unlike ballroom dances, Lindy Hop is casual> and conversational — meaning that both partners learn to improvise and play off one another. The goal of learning Lindy Hop is not to memorize a repertoire of moves, but to develop good connection and be able improvise and create fun dances with many partners
Let’s get started!
Woo hoo! Some tips to get the most out of classes:
- Music: “Swing music” encompasses many eras and styles. Check out some tunes
- Shoes: Bring comfortable FLAT shoes with slick soles that allow you to pivot and turn easily. Many dancers like tennis shoes such as Keds. If you already have flat ballroom shoes, those will work great too.
- Clothes: On any given night at LindyGroove, you’ll see people in jeans and tshirts, people dressed up for a night out — and everything in between. Lindy is an active dance, so what’s important is that your clothes allow you to move freely.
- Pro tip: You can’t go wrong bringing a change of shirts, towels, and a water bottle.
- And most importantly: Be ready to meet new people, be active, and have fun — we’ll be rotating partners often. None of our classes require you to bring a partner.
PRE-LINDY
Pre-requisites: No experience required!
Class Format: Drop-in each week
Time & Place: 7:30 - 8:30pm in the Main Ballroom
Price: Included in price of admission
You’ll learn basic footwork and get introduced to partner dancing. The class material will be the same each week, with slight variation depending on the teachers
Note: Take this class four (4) times, or until completely comfortable with the material, before signing up for Lindy 1.
LINDY 1 Presented by Sheri and Ben
Pre-requisites: At least 4 weeks of Pre-Lindy -OR- instructor approval
Class Format: Month-long progressive, starts the first Thursday of every month
Time & Place: 7:40 - 8:40pm in the Side Room
Price:
- $60/month ($70 for months with 5 Thursdays)
- Purchase online at least 2 days before the first class (by Tuesday 11:59 PM) and save $10. Online purchases after Tuesday, save $5.
- If purchasing at the door please bring cash and allow extra time to register.
- Price includes admission to LindyGroove.
Greetings, new Lindy Hopper! Here you’ll learn the Lindy Hop “basic step” — the swingout — along with new steps and variations depending on the month’s topic. A complete Lindy 1 education consists of 6 months covering Topics A, B, C, D, E, and F.
Note: This is a 6-month long series. However, if you miss a month, not to fear — that topic will come back around in 5 months!
| Topic A: Permutations |
August / February |
| Topic B: 6 Count Vocabualry |
September / March |
| Topic C: 30s Charleston |
October / April |
| Topic D: Mega-Technique |
November / May |
| Topic E: Musicality and Styling |
December / June |
| Topic F: Dancing in Closed |
January / July |
LINDY 2 Presented by Sheri and Ben
Pre-requisites: Lindy 1 Topics A thru D -AND- able to dance swingouts and swingout variations at 150 bpm
Class Format: Month-long progressive, starts the first Thursday of every month
Time & Place: 8:40 - 9:40pm in the Side Room
Price:
- $60/month ($70 for months with 5 Thursdays)
- Purchase online at least 2 days before the first class (by Tuesday 11:59 PM) and save $10. Online purchases after Tuesday, save $5.
- If purchasing at the door please bring cash and allow extra time to register.
- Price includes admission to LindyGroove.
Delve into the complexities of Lindy Hop. Go beyond the basics and explore related dances, styling, and musicality. A complete Lindy 2 education consists of 6 months covering Topics A, B, C, D, E, and F.
Note: This is a 6-month long series. However, if you miss a month, not to fear — that topic will come back around in 5 months!
| Topic A: Stay Classy - Classic Patterns |
August / February |
| Topic B: Charleston |
September / March |
| Topic C: Mega-Technique |
October / April |
| Topic D: Musicality, Improv, Conversation |
November / May |
| Topic E: Dancing in Closed |
December / June |
| Topic F: Permutations |
January / July |
LINDY CHALLENGE
Pre-requisites: Equivalent to Lindy 2 Topics A thru F -AND- able to dance swingouts and swingout variations at 160 bpm
Class Format: Drop-in each week
Time & Place: 7:30 - 8:30pm in the Main Ballroom
Price: Included in price of admission
Need some inspiration? Each week, our instructors will tackle challenging concepts to spice up your dancing. New material every class!
Note: Those who have clocked in plenty of hours social dancing will get the most out of this class.
MINI-PRIVATES
Class Format: one-on-one private lesson with a LindyGroove instructor
Time & Place: In the Lobby
Price: $5/ten minute session, book online until 6pm on lesson day or at the door
No matter what level you are, mini-privates are a great way to get personalized feedback in a friendly, non-intimidating setting. Whether it’s fixing a broken move, practicing what you just learned in class, or making sure you’re ready to move up to the next level, our instructors are eager to help.
Note: A great use of mini-privates is to social dance with your instructor.