What is Lindy hop?
Lindy hop is a social partner dance that originated in the late 20s in Harlem, New York. Its most distinct feature is an improvisational and social nature. It’s an African-american artform which originated out of the conjuncture of many pre-existing jazz dances.
If you want to know more, the Archives of Early Lindy Hop by the Frankie Manning Foundation is a wonderful place to start!
Whitey's Lindy Hoppers dancing to the song 'All God's Chillun Got Rhythm'.
Dancers: Dorothy Miller, Johnny Ennis, Leon James, Norma Miller, Snookie Beasley, Willa Mae Ricker, Ella Gibson and George Greenidge.
Lindy Hop Classes
Levels
Experience in terms of time is not always a good indicative of which level you should join, so please be authentic about your easiness with the requirements asked: when listing a step in a class level description, we expect students to not only know of it, but to be comfortable enough with it that it can be built on.
Newcomers
Where you learn the basics! This level is perfect if you are new to the dance.
Duration: 1 trimester
Improvers
Required to join: comfortableness with triple steps, kick steps, change places, tuck turns, circles, promenades, slingshots, hand to hand.
Duration: 1 trimester
Progressers
Required to join: comfortableness with swing outs, circles, tandem, hand to hand, break aways, change places, tuck turns, promenades, slingshots, texas tommy.
Duration: 1 trimester
explorers
Required to join: moderate experience in social dancing, comfortableness with swing outs, swing out variations, circles, tandem, hand to hand, promenades, slingshots, texas tommy, break aways, change places, tuck turns, sugar pushes, and some footwork variations.
Duration: Not defined (change of class is decided by both students and teachers).
challengers
Required to join: vast experience in social dancing, broad step vocabulary, easiness with rhythmical variations and comfortableness with swing outs, swing out variations, circles, tandem, hand to hand, break aways, change places, tuck turns, sugar pushes, diverse footwork variations, and solo jazz steps.
Duration: Not defined (change of class is decided by both students and teachers).
Playhouse
This class is directed to those with a vast previous experience who want to work intensively in their dancing and do not require extensive external help in creating rhythms, steps, and feeling at ease while social dancing at different tempos. In this class, our teachers and guests guide training where students will learn complex combos, work on their dance technique and improvisation, and create on their own.
Duration: Not defined (change of class is decided by both students and teachers).