Things You'll Need:
- Full Skirts
- Men's Dancing Shoes
- CD Players
- CDs
- Swing Dance Special CD
- Let's Swing Video
- Lindy Hop Basics Video
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Step 1
Find classes in your area by doing a search on the Internet, checking with local adult education schools, checking for fliers at a local dance, or looking in the yellow pages under dance lessons.
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Step 2
Decide whether you prefer to take dance classes run by smaller, independent local studios or those offered through larger, national schools such as Arthur Murray.
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Step 3
Wear soft-soled shoes. Beginners don't need to buy special dance shoes.
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Step 4
Dress casually. Men usually wear nice, but casual pants, and women typically wear simple skirts or dresses because they like the way the fabric twirls out as they spin.
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Step 5
Come alone if you choose. Most classes will balance leaders and partners.
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Step 6
Be prepared to be separated periodically if you bring your own partner. Students learn better by dancing with people who have different styles.
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Step 7
Realize that you don't need to be a good dancer to take a swing class. Most people can be taught how to dance. It just takes time, patience and practice.
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Step 8
Listen to swing music at home. Tap to the beat as you clean the house or wash the dishes.
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Step 9
Remember, swing practice makes perfect; once you've learned a few basic steps, practice them at local dances or clubs.
Comments
kattrix said
on 8/28/2007 As a beginner with two left feet and little confidence I can't tell you how much I'm encouraged by the member comments--and particularly by eHow Friend's # 7. Thank you thank you thank you!
Anonymous said
on 12/15/2005 I've been teach swing dancing for 8 years. You can learn the Lindy hop right away, along with, or before east coast swing. It's also important to keep in mind that east coast swing is just the 6 count portion of the Lindy hop taught with a ballroom simplicity.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Soft soled shoes are fine, hard soles, like leather, will help you slide on your butt. Arthur Murray will work just fine, as will any other studio where people devote there lives to dance.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Swing dancing is the most fun you can have standing up! I dance Lindy Hop 3 or 4 nights a week. I would like to share my thoughts on the steps from the perspective of a Lindy Hopper.
1. Adult education schools? Probably a bad choice. Most teachers who do classes at schools are really good at one type of dance and know a few steps in each of 5-10 other styles of dance. Lindy Hop is best taught by people who devote their lives to it. Try http://www.lindyexchange.com or http://www.yehoodi.com or http://www.lindyhopper.com to find the huge communities of swing dancers in the U.S. or - if you're in another country - join a forum such as the one on yehoodi.com or http://www.swingoutdc.com and ask actual swing dancers where the best dances and instruction are in your area. Lindy Hoppers are a huge hidden community in the U.S. and, frankly, in most western countries around the globe (England, Sweden, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, China, Australia, Korea, Hungary, Canada, Finland, Singapore). Usually huge herds of them roam in big cities or college towns in the U.S.
2. Steer clear of Arthur Murray - unless you are going to drop dancing like a hot potato after your wedding. I'm sure they're great for teaching how to get through that first dance at the reception.
3. Soft soled shoes? This is not basketball. Lindy hoppers are wearing hard soled shoes. You can't spin and slide on soft anything - and your knees will let you know all about it the next morning if you try. Now soft cushioning on top of the hard soles - that's what you need!
4. There was just one woman at the last dance I attended in a skirt. Skirts are reserved for Saturday nights. Most of us wear long pants, no matter how hot it is, because you can see your footwork and legwork more clearly when wearing pants.
5. Yes, come alone if you can't find a partner. I know of at least 3 regulars who actually leave their spouses at home. And if you don't have a spouse, swing dancing will probably deliver one to you if you stick with it (and you'll be ready for that first dance at the reception!).
6. Don't dance only with one partner, you'll end up looking like a dork. You don't eat at only one restaurant do you? You'd be bored to death.
7. I have seen the most flat-footed, uncoordinated people turn into kick-butt dancers. All it takes is time. And once you get it, you'll have a skill that will thrill onlookers for the rest of your life.
8. And if you can't find the beat at all - just take a beginner tap class. You'll be amazed at what the immediate biofeedback of taps on your feet will do for your ability to find and stick to the beat.
9. Practice every chance you get. And the hidden benefits are: lose weight, find a mate, you miraculously have better posture, you have an actual hobby, you acquire a skill, you get to listen to cool music, you stop watching TV every night, you make really fun friends of both sexes.
East Coast Swing is what you do for your first hour of Lindy Hop Beginner Class. Flips and jumps? The correct term is aerials. And there's no better way to spot a really stupid beginner than to see them do an aerial at a social dance. That is totally déclassé. Nobody in their right mind would bother with aerials until they have their basics practically perfect. And then only after training with teachers who have been performing them for years. Every single aerial has a trick to it, and if you just try it by watching somebody else do it you're going to get hurt (and pitifully sit in a coat at dances for months while everybody else is out having fun on the hardwood). Now get out there and tear it up!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If you're reading this, I'm glad you have an interest in learning to swing dance! I've been teaching swing/lindy hop for several years, and it has changed my life! It is absolutely too much fun and if you live in a major city, you can likely go swing dance almost every day of the week. Here are some swing dance tips...
1) While it helps to have some rhythm already, you do not need to do any kind of dance "for a year" as this site suggests to do "more complicated" dances like lindy. What you do need to do is to practice what you learn in class at social dances, and/or outside of class with others. Consider dance like learning a language. How well can you learn a language if you only take class 1 hour a week and don't speak it at any other time? If you want to learn to dance, you have to practice. Besides, practicing is fun!
2) Make sure you find a quality place to get instruction. Ask how often the instructor goes social dancing, and what venues they attend. The best instructors are generally avid social dancers, as they have skills to dance with numerous styles. Do not take class from an instructor just because they are "certified." Truth be told, the best swing dancers in the world have no certification. Find one that social dances a lot and go from there.
3) As far as "flips" goes, the proper terminology would be aerials or airsteps (lifts in some circles). I would not recommend trying to learn aerials by watching a video. There are always WAY more things that go into aerials than they can ever explain in videos, and unless you have a background in gymnastics or other movement, it is unlikely you can figure these out on your own. You'll need a trained eye to watch what you are doing and to show you a proper example. Classes for aerials are sometimes available, so consider going that route. If you must try something, insure you have some experienced people spotting you. In actuality, aerials are a lot easier to do than actually learning how to dance. And most experienced dancers are not impressed by aerials from people who can't really dance.
Have fun learning to swing...You're gonna love it!