Frequently Asked Questions
Most questions that we receive on a regular basis can be answered by information that is already on our Web site. But if you haven’t found the answer you need, check here! If we still haven’t answered your question, send us an email.
Q: I know some East Coast Swing. Which of your classes is right for me?
A: We recommend either our Lindy Hop 101 class or Swingout Seminar. If you want to brush up on your East Coast basics as well, take 101. If you are a more experienced East Coast Swing dancer, you will also do fine in our Swingout Seminar, in which we teach and focus on the basics of Lindy Hop. Find out more on our Classes page >>
Q: Do I have to have a partner to take any of your classes or come to any of your dances?
A: No! No partner is required. In our classes, we rotate partners, so even if we have more of one gender than the other, everyone will get to participate. Plus, dancing with everyone will make you a better dancer more quickly. You don’t need a partner for our dances either. Lindy Hop is a social dance, so you should be dancing with everyone!
Q: What is the Lindy Hop and how is it different from East Coast Swing or what I learned in my Ballroom class?
A: Long story short: the Lindy Hop is the grandfather of all swing dance. Arthur Murray modified the Lindy Hop to make it easier for the general public to learn, and thus East Coast Swing was born. This version of swing continued to modify into today’s Ballroom Swing. We teach the original: it’s less rigid and is very high energy! Learn even more about the history of Lindy Hop >>
Q: What is the age range of people who attend your classes and dances?
A: We have had participants who are anywhere from high school age through their 70s! The most common age range of our students is 20s – 50s.
Q: What should I wear?
A: Whatever you are most comfortable in. Jeans, khakis, skirts – whatever floats your boat. Ladies, if you wear a skirt, be sure to wear bloomers or Spanx underneath! We recommend casual dress for our classes and most of our dances. For weekend dances, especially if there’s a band, we recommend that you dress a little nicer. If we recommend vintage for a dance, we’ll note it in the event information.
Q: What kind of shoes should I wear?
A: The type of shoes often depends on the type of floor you will be dancing on. However, in general, we recommend flat, smooth-soled shoes for beginners. We do not recommend that you purchase actual dance shoes until after you have completed Lindy Hop 101. Dance shoes are an investment, so you want to be sure you'll be committed to dancing the Lindy Hop before spending the money. If you’re ready to invest in shoes, we recommend Aris Allens.
Q: Where can I buy dance shoes?
A: We recommend Dancestore.com, which is owned and operated by swing dancers, for swing dancers. Dancestore is an Aris Allen retailer. Aris Allens are our favorites!
Q: What kind of floor does the venue have?
A: The gym at Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church has a hardwood floor. Crews Road Rec Center has a hardwood floor. Both floors have a moderate slickness, and real dance shoes are great on these floors. The Galleria Caribou Coffee has ceramic tile flooring, which is slick. Smooth-soled shoes are great on this floor. You can wear your Aris Allens here, but they might be a little too quick.
Q: Nobody ever asks me to dance. What should I do?
A: Get proactive and ask someone to dance! Especially in a scene like ours, which is follow-heavy -- there are a lot of ladies – you cannot be timid if you want a dance.
Q: Can I take private lessons with you?
A: We do offer private lessons but request that you attend one of our group lessons, If you are a beginner. For more information, visit our Private Lessons page >>
Q: Do you have a mailing list?
A: Yes, we do have an email list, but no snail mail at this time. Visit our Home page and click the email list box to sign up now >>
Q: What is the best way for me to find out about upcoming dance events and classes?
A: Visit our Web site regularly, subscribe to our RSS feed for regular updates (orange icon above), and/or sign up for our email list on our Home Page >>
Q: What is RSS?
A: RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It is a quick way to stay abreast of the latest news on your favorite Web site. In order to subscribe to an RSS feed, you must have an account with an RSS aggregator. We recommend Google Reader. Once you have an aggregator, just visit our site and click on the orange and white icon in the top right corner of any page. It will be added to your aggregator. Need more help with RSS? Check out the Help section on Google Reader.
Q: Do you ever teach anything other than Lindy Hop? I want to learn…[Tango, Salsa, Blues, etc.]?
A: We only teach the Lindy Hop and related dances (Balboa, solo Charleston, partnered Charleston, etc.) Periodically, we will offer Blues classes. For any other class that is Ballroom-related (Tango, Salsa, etc.), please contact a local ballroom instructor.
Q: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?
A: What do you think? Email us your answer!