What is swing dancing like?
It is social dancing. It is meeting people. It is enjoying great music. It is improvising and making mistakes. It is having fun. And it’s a competitive art. Check out the What Is Swing? and Video Clips pages for more info!
I have two left feet and have never danced before in my life. Can I still learn to swing?
Yes! Anyone with feet, no matter how mismatched, can learn and enjoy swing dancing.
Do I need to sign up with a dance partner?
No, we will rotate partners frequently so that you’ll get to practise with everyone. Dancing with different partners is encouraged, as it will help you learn. Social dancing is an activity you enjoy with many different people. We will also do our best to ensure an even lead-follow (i.e., men-women) ratio so you always have a partner to practise with.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear comfortable clothing that you’ll be able to move and sweat in, and a pair of indoor/clean shoes that won’t leave dirt or marks on the floor (or dance in socks). Since you’ll be dancing with others, you may want to use breath freshener and deoderant.
Will I learn those tossing and flipping moves I’ve seen in movies? Aerials are generally not taught in our classes because they are actually only done in performances and competitions with regular partners; if attempted in social dancing, it can result in injuries to yourself, your partner, and the dancers around you.
I’m not sure if I’ll be comfortable with social dancing. Should I be concerned about inappropriate behaviour from the people I dance with?
Besides the contact of normal dance positions, there’s nothing you have to do just because you’re swing dancing. When it comes to body contact, everyone has different comfort levels and boundaries. What’s okay with one partner may be inappropriate with another, depending on the dancers and their familiarity with each other. We encourage dancers to be considerate and respectful of their dance partners. Inappropriate behaviour is rare in the swing dance scene, but if it happens in our class, please talk to an instructor and we’ll dispatch the offender promptly.
I’m ready to go dancing outside of classes! Is there anything I should know?
You don’t need to have taken many lessons to enjoy social dancing. For information on swing dance events, check out the Links page. You may also find the Social Dance FAQ useful.
