Swing Dance Sydney

1. How much are classes?

A single class is $20.

Purchase online, or turn up on the night and buy a ticket at the door.

2. Where are classes held?

Club Ashfield, Games Room (floor 2), 1-11 Charlotte St, Ashfield.
(Note this is NOT Ashfield RSL or Ashfield West Club).

3. When can I start solo jazz classes?

Whenever you like! These classe are open to everyone, and the content will be adjusted to suit the people in the group that day.

4. When can I start beginner swing dance (lindy hop) classes?

Start in weeks 1 of our 4 week class blocks: Saturday 18 April, Saturday 16 May, Saturday 13 June (note this block is only 3 weeks long, with the final class on Sat 28th June), Saturday 15th August, Saturday 12th September, Saturday 31st October, Saturday 28th November

5. Why are there big class breaks in July and October?

Our manager and main teacher Sam Carroll travels overseas to DJ for huge lindy hop events each year. The biggest of these is in July in Sweden (Herräng Dance Camp), and she is often in Seoul, South Korea to DJ at events in October.

We've found it's good for our bodies to take a break when Sam's away, and when gets home she'll have lots of cool new dance stuff for us.

6. Do I have to do the whole 4 weeks of a beginner swing dance (lindy hop block), or can I just do one or two classes?

You can do as many classes as you like!

So long as you start at the beginning of the 4 week block and do consecutive classes (eg week 1, 2 and 3), it's all good. You can pay for individual classes as you go, so you can just drop in, do one class, and then head off on your international holiday.

7. What do I wear?

Comfortable clothes!

Remember that your dance partner will be touching your back and shoulders, so avoid backless dresses or shirts.

We recommend shoes that stay on your feet when you move about (so no thongs or flip flops).

If you're taking a solo dance class, be prepared to get a bit sweaty and to move your whole body. So comfortable shoes and clothes are important. We recommend trousers or leggings that allow a wide range of movement, a skirt or shorts, and light shoes like Keds or Converse.

8. How physically hard will a swing dance (lindy hop) class be?

You will work up a sweat, as we are continually moving. Beginner level classes work at lower tempos, but we aim to talk less, dance more. The movements and rhythms should be achievable for people who've never danced before.

You are ALWAYS allowed to rest or take a drink whenever you need it, and you don't ever need to ask for permission. Dancing should be fun. We never push through pain or distress. And if you've had enough for today - take a seat! We're just happy to have your company.

Please be aware though, that this is exercise, and you should avoid classes if you have existing health concerns.

9. I'm worried about sweating and grossing people out. What can I do?

Welcome to lindy hop, friend! Everyone sweats when they exercise, and the fitter you are, the more you will sweat. You might feel self conscious at first, but your teacher will be sweating, your class mates will be sweating, and no one will be grossed out.

But having a hanky in your pocket to wipe your face or a hand towel in your bag (especially if you're taking a solo jazz class), is a good idea.

We do have air conditioning, but humans exercising generate heat, and you will feel warm.

10. Do I need real tap shoes for tap classes?

Eventually, yes.

But for your first class or two, a hard soled dress shoe will do the job. You'll need a shoe with a slight heel. Soft-soled shoes like sneakers or keds will not be loud enough or hard enough.

11. Do I need a partner for swing dance classes?

No!

We rotate partners in class, so you'll be meeting heaps of people to dance with.

12. I don't want to rotate partners in class. Is that ok?

It's ok.

We're totally ok with under 18s and other peeps who need adult supervision or a support person staying with one partner.

We do encourage you to rotate in class to make new friends, and to improve your dance skills. Staying with your BFF can seem less scary at first, but most people feel a little nervous at first and will be glad to have you there.

13. What do I bring to class?

Water!

If you're coming to a solo dance or tap class, bring a bottle of water and a sweat towel or hankerchief to wipe your face. Just in case.

Our lindy hop classes are held in club function room, there's a bar downstairs, and toilets with taps nearby. But it's always a good idea to bring your own water as well.

14. Do I need any dance experience?

Nope.

Our beginner classes are designed for people with no dancing experience - we'll start from the very beginning. And just a note: we have never met anyone, in 30 years of lindy hop, who hasn't been able to pick it up. Your body wants to dance.

15. I'm LGBTQIA+. Can I dance with my same sex/queer/trans partner?

Of course! It's common to see people of the same gender dancing together (our teachers do!)
We do our best to make our parties safe for everyone, and we act quickly on any reports or if we see something dodgy happening.

16. I'm trans and worried about being misgendered or hassled. Will I be safe?

No problemo. We encourage people to put their pronouns on their name tags. Easy. And if you'd like to try out a new name with us? Why not!
We want you to be safe, and we will have your back. We try to cultivate a culture of mutual care in our classes: we look after each other.
Our teachers, door staff, and organisers do not tolerate hate talk or hateful behaviour, and will act immediately when we see or hear something. Check out our code of conduct to see our values and reporting process.

17. I'm a woman who wants to lead, or a man who wants to follow. Is that ok?

YES!

Our classes frequently have women leads teaching with women follows.

Women have always led, and men have always followed in swing dance, ever since jazz was born. We want you up and dancing - whichever role you prefer to dance!

18. I tried leading/following and I didn't like it/want to try the other role. Can I change?

Of course! If you're changing mid-class, let your classmates know so we can rotate partners smoothly. If you're not sure how this will all work, check in with your teachers.

Our teachers dance both roles and emjoy them both!

19. What's your policy on inclusivity in class?

We don’t tolerate any kind of harassment, and will act quickly to put a stop to it.

Our Code of Conduct explains our policies in detail.

We're also a queer-friendly group who welcome same-sex couples.

We try to make our classes as accessible as possible. We have students from the age of 12 to 82, with a range of needs and interests, and we really like it that way.

We really enjoy teaching, so we're happy to repeat instructions, to talk more slowly, to work with translaters (including Auslan!), to try new ways of explaining and teaching things. Just let us know if you need more from us.

A warning for folk with sensory issues: we will be playing amplified music in class, so bring your headphones just in case. Swing dance (lindy hop) classes involve skin-on-skin contact, though solo jazz dance does not.

20. I've danced salsa/west coast swing/ tango/the nutbush before. Do I have to start with the beginners class?

YES.

Even John Travolta would need to start with the beginners class.

Lindy hop has its own rhythms, musicality, connection, and technique: we cover all that stuff in our beginner classes.

21. What happens in beginner swing dance classes?

We teach beginners in 4 week class blocks, so you have can meet the fundamentals of lindy hop in a structured way, consolidating your learning as you go.

You can only start a beginners block in weeks 1. Otherwise it's best to wait a few weeks so you don't miss anything important.

Our beginner classes are a fun, friendly place to meet the basic steps and rhythms of lindy hop and other swing dances. We laugh a lot, and tell a lot of jokes.

Students rotate partners in class, and we like to take time to meet each other, and to laugh and enjoy dancing!

We work at a gentle pace, taking time to work on rhythms and partnering technique, and to be sure everyone is comfortable with the fundamentals.

We begin each class with a warm up which introduces you to fun, authentic jazz steps, and then break down the key rhythms for that class. The rest of the class is devoted to key steps and moves, and to combining them comfortably. We build social dancing skills into all our classes, allowing students lots of time to figure out how to lead and follow steps, and how to combine them in their own way, and in their own time.

We play only classic swinging jazz music of the 1930s and 40s, and of the modern day. Each class takes time to explore the timing and tempo of swinging jazz, and we look at phrasing and syncopation right from our very first lessons.

Our beginner classes are intended as a basic skills class, perfect for more experienced dancers who want to tidy up their basic rhythms or partner work, as well as for brand new dancers.

22. When can I start extender classes?

You will need to take our 4 week beginner class course at least three times before you tackle extender classes. We prefer students check with their teachers before beginning the extender classes.

Why so strict? We want to be sure everyone has the best learning experience in class. Starting extender classes too soon can be disheartening - and we want you to have fun!

23. Hey, that dancer touched me inappropriately! What do I do?

We have strict rules about respecting other dancers both on and off the floor at Swing Dance Sydney. You can read about them in our Code of Conduct.

Remember: if you don't want to dance, just say "No thank you!" and it's all good.

If someone's touching you in a way you're not ok with, let them know: "Hey, your hand is a bit low, can you move it up here, please?" And if you're not feeling safe, or if you're worried and need a second opinion, check in with one of our teachers or door managers - we'll help you sort it out!

24. Am I that dancer touching people inappropriately?

Excellent question - we're very glad you asked. Here are some tips. What do you do if someone says...

1. "No thank you" when you ask them to dance.
Be ok with that.
They could have any one of a million reasons.

2. "This is too close for me" ?
Stop!
Let them go and then ask them, "What is the right distance for you?"

3. "That hurts!"
Stop!
Say, "I'm very sorry. How could I do this better?"

Listen up and change your approach.

Most of us have to learn how to touch other humans in new ways when we start swing dancing.

We talk about these things in class: how to tell your partner you're not ok with how they're touching you, or how to ask your partner if you're touching them the right way. We talk about this in our beginner classes, and look at how to give more complex feedback in extender classes.

And we LOVE it when people ask for advice - so ask away!

We take respect for each other pretty seriously at Swing Dance Sydney. You can read about them in our Code of Conduct.

If you have more questions about this, check out our 'How to avoid sexually harassing someone' guide.

25. What is swing dancing?

We're glad you asked!

26. What happens in a private class?

Private classes are an opportunity to work on your dancing in a concentrated session tailored just for you. You can take a private class with one or two teachers, alone or with a partner.

We don't recommend taking your first taste of swing dancing in a private class. Our group classes let you experience lindy hop as a social dance - the way it was born. Everyone in week 1 of the beginner block is a total beginner. You'll be amongst friends!

In these classes we can work on whatever you'd like - a specific dance step, an aspect of dance technique, the fundamentals of jazz music, or even social dancing etiquette. Come to the session with a specific question, or ask "What can I do to improve my dancing?" and we can develop a plan for your learning.

We can also teach small group private classes, again by appointment only.

27. I want to learn to dance for my wedding. What do I do?

First of all, come along to one our group classes to see if swing dancing is for you. And because it's fun.

We teach lots of couples to dance for special occasions - from wedding dances on their wedding day, to special surprises for their families or friends. Our private classes are small, low-pressure, and lots of fun. We focus on practical dance skills, and on enjoying the connection with your dance partner.

We are happy to tailor these sessions to your particular needs, and are especially happy to work with same-sex couples.

We don't teach aerials in wedding privates, and we prefer not to choreograph routines. But we can have you relaxed and comfortable on the floor, and give you a few tricks so nonna has plenty of photo opps.

Send us an email at info@swingdancesydney.com.

28. How do I book a private class?

Send us an email at info@swingdancesydney.com, or ask us at class. It's best to send an email so we have a record of your interest.

Include your availability (when you can take a class), where you live, how many people will be taking the class, and the things you'd like to work on.