How to Teach a Child to Swing Dance
Swing dancing is an exciting and fun dance that rose to popularity in America in the 1920s and 1930s. Swing dance is still widely performed today. Children often love any form of activity where they get to move, so swing dance is a wonderful activity for them. Follow some steps to teach a child swing dance and provide hours of fun for both you and the child in your life.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Do a little research on the history of swing dancing. Remember the children are inquisitive and will be more interested the more information you have about swing dance.
-
2
Watch other individuals perform swing dance. Go to a dance club with your partner or a friend and watch social swing dancing to get a feel for the vibrancy and different forms of the dance.
-
-
3
Take a basic swing dancing class yourself before attempting to teach the child to swing. Learn basic steps and safety precautions so that you can ensure both your safety and the child when teaching them the steps.
-
4
Sit down with the child and pick some music that they would like to learn to swing to. Clear a large area so you and the child can have freedom to dance and be free of obstructions that could cause harm.
-
5
Show the child what you've learned or even watch a tape of some swing dancers to get the child interested in swing dancing. Let the child experiment and guide them; let them experiment with their own way of doing the moves and be less directive.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Invite some of the child's friends over and give them a swing dance theme party. Play swing music and decorate in 1940s style and encourage them to dress up.
Teach the dance to kids by teaching them the different styles of swing; Lindy Hop and Jitterbug are typically fun dances to learn simply because of the names of the dance.
Do not attempt intricate pick-ups or throws with a smaller child as they could be injured.
