Class Descriptions

Austin Lindy Hop

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We teach Lindy Hop and several related Swing dances: East Coast Swing, Balboa, Shag, and "Westie Lindy." All of our classes build from our three "building blocks:" Basic Swing, "Swindy Hop," and Lindy I, respectively. We encourage students to re-take any class they do not feel they have mastered before moving on to the next level.

Listed in the order you should take them, each class offers the following material:

	Basic Swing: All newcomers to Austin Lindy Hop should begin here, even if they have some experience elsewhere. We not only cover basic, 6-count, "East Coast Swing" patterns and moves, but also fundamental principles that will prepare you to learn more complicated moves more easily. You will also be able to dance with anyone socially after taking this class. Basic Swing is taught as a progressive series, with each class building upon skills learned in previous ones. To be fair to all students in these classes, all students should begin Basic Swing at the start of each session, not mid-session.
	"Swindy Hop": (prerequisite: Basic Swing) This class replaces "Swing II" and is unique to Austin Lindy Hop. It provides the missing link between Basic Swing and Lindy Hop. In "Swindy Hop," we develop further swing patterns and movement short of doing a Lindy Hop swing-out, but that prepare you for the subtleties of the basic Lindy Hop moves. Not just for recent grads of Basic Swing; any Swing dancer can learn something from this class. Swindy Hop is taught as a progressive class, where each class builds on the previous classes.
	Lindy I (Pre-requisite: "Swindy Hop"). This class focuses not only on the basic Lindy Hop moves (Swing-out from open and closed position, Lindy Circle, and variations on the Swing-out) but also further develops the style of movement that makes your dancing look and feel good. Lindy I is taught as a progressive series, with each class building upon skills learned in previous ones. To be fair to all students in these classes, all students should begin Lindy I at the start of each session, not mid-session.

Lindy II Series: A-H (Pre-requisite: Lindy I). This class series is the heart and soul of becoming a solid, competent Lindy Hopper. For those who have mastered Lindy I, the Lindy II series teaches more moves, variations on those moves, and develops the theories of Lindy movement. Each lettered part in this series (A, B, C, D, E, F, G & H) focuses on a different subset of Lindy Hop moves that all Lindy Hoppers should know: Charleston, Balboa, Shag, and West Coast Swing. As such, each lettered part will be different from the previous lettered session.

A: Lindy Moves

Lindy Moves is the session where we offer a slew of moves. Moves, moves, moves, and more moves: many of them that break free of the swing-out pattern. We will go into the difference (and similarity) between linear and circular moves.

B: Charleston and Lindy Hop

Developing from the basic Charleston pattern into back/tandem Charleston, flying Charleston, and other Charleston patterns that are all lead-follow oriented.

C: Fast Lindy

Developing the ability to dance to not just fast, but outrageously fast tempos. Too many Lindy Hoppers learn and limit their dancing to moderate to medium tempos, and don't know what to do to make it work when the tempo gets fast.

D: Balboa and Lindy Hop

Developing the basic Balboa patterns and going into more intermediate Balboa moves. Not your grandpa's Balboa....

E: Shag and Lindy Hop

Developing the basic Shag patterns and going into more intermediate Shag moves.

F: Slow Lindy

Developing the ability to Lindy to slower tempo music. Slower tempos can add to your ability to improvise, add some "groove" into your dancing, and add some "swank" to your style.

G: "Westie Lindy"

Adapting Lindy Hop patterns to non-swing music (Funk, Rap, Hip Hop, Rock, Soul and even Country music) by demonstrating the similarities and differences in the music, style of movement, and approaches toward partner dancing.

H: Lindy Hop Musicality

Developing the often misunderstood and much ignored concept of dancing musically. All of our classes emphasize musicality in certain fundamental respects, even in ways that our students might not be aware. However, this session takes the concept by the horns and develops a finer appreciation for the music we dance to, why we dance certain steps in certain ways, and how to match your dancing to the music that is playing so as to get the most out of the dance. We have two sections of Lindy II: at 7:00 and at 8:15. We are also short on follows, so we especially encourage follows to drop in and join us for this class.

Z: Modern Music

Somewhat a "Westie Lindy II" class, this class further adapts Lindy Hop patterns to non-swing music (focusing more upon Funk, Rap, Hip Hop, and Rock), which is becoming more and more popular at Lindy Hop dance events.

Although the series builds upon itself, it is not designed to be cumulative from the previous one; thus, each lettered course session can be taken out of order. Students should complete all letters in this series (in any order) or have instructor approval before moving on to Lindy III.

Lindy III (not offered currently) (Pre-requisite: entire Lindy II series or instructor approval). A "masters" class for those who want to face the challenge of becoming a stellar dancer. This class is new every session, and will help people with 6 months to 6 years of dance experience. We also hope that this class evolves into a seminar-style class as it progresses into a place where advanced dancers can share ideas with each other with the guidance of our Instructors. To be fair to all students in this class, please ask an Austin Lindy Hop instructor if you are ready for this class.

Basic Swing, "Swindy," and Lindy I must be taken as a series, beginning at the start of each session, because each class builds upon skills learned in previous classes. Those who are interested in joining in the middle of the series may do so at the second class if they have attended any free lessons or with the Instructor's approval.

Lindy II and Lindy III can be taken as a drop-in, although they should also be taken as a series to get the most out of the class. The entire Lindy II series must be taken in full in order to adequately prepare you for Lindy III.

Individual classes are only $8 each. A 6--week series of 6 classes costs only $40.

Note: Partners are not required at Registration.

You do not need to have a partner to register for or to take any of our Group Lessons. Although couples are definitely welcome and encouraged, very few people actually register with a specific partner, and nobody should use that as an excuse for not learning how to dance. Even if registering with a partner, all students will need to rotate partners in class so as to learn solid social dance skills that will make sense when dancing with anyone in the country, not just here in Austin. A large part of the fun of social dancing comes from dancing with different people, anyway.

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