Before you read through our FAQs, we recommend that you check out this excellent article on Social Dancing Etiquette. It’s a comprehensive look at how to interact with your fellow dancers in a way that ensures a fun time for all.
1) Do I need to bring a partner?
Not at all! We rotate partners during both lessons and social dancing. Everyone is welcome to learn and practice either or both parts.
2) What if I have a partner and I don’t want to dance with anyone else?
We won’t force you to take part in the rotation system if you’re not comfortable with it. However, we do encourage everyone to rotate because dancing with a diverse group of partners will develop your skills more rapidly and completely. It’s also been our experience that people who rotate tend to get more enjoyment out of their dancing.
3) What should I wear?
We don’t recommend purchasing clothing or shoes until you have some experience with dance and have a better idea of what you want. In our classes, you won’t need any special clothing, but we do recommend the following:
- Wear clothes that are comfortable and are not restrictive to your movement (ie: long and/or tight skirts are not recommended).
- Wear shoes with flat soles (high heels are not recommended) that are secure (straps, laces, etc.), so they don’t fly off when you kick.
- You also want light shoes without a lot of traction (hiking boots are bad), so you can spin with less strain on your knees. For beginners, comfortable dress shoes (loafters or ballet flats) or sneakers without deep tread (Keds, Converse) are fine to start.
- You are not obligated to dress up. We’re very informal. Wear something that won’t make you feel self-conscious.
- Be aware of hygiene (deodorant & toothpaste are your friends), and if you sweat a lot, consider bringing an extra shirt and/or a towel.
- Bring a bottle for water.
4) What type of swing dance do you teach?
We teach Lindy Hop every week and occasionally throw in a related dance such as Charleston. Beginner lessons lessons are always drop-in format. Intermediate lessons are sometimes run as a series so we can get to more advanced concepts with a group of students. It will be advertised when that is the case. Sometimes we’ll also focus a short series on another style under the Swing umbrella such as Charleston or Balboa or take a look at line dances like the Shim Sham or Tranky Doo.
5) Where can I learn more swing dancing in Athens?
If you would like to be exposed to more/other forms of Swing check in with these groups:
6) How much does it cost?
Your FIRST NIGHT IS FREE (unless we are at the Garden, which is a donation in any amount to the Garden). After that, for any student, it’s $4 for the lesson and the dance. General admission is $6. We also sell monthly admission passes (see below).
7) What’s the monthly pass about?
It’s a way to save you money and to avoid the hassle of remembering cash every Tuesday night. Passes are for sale the first two weeks of each month, so you actually save. Students can buy a month-long pass for a reduced price of $10/month. For general admission, the pass is $15/month. This means you get in free one swing night per month and then some! (Even if you miss one week, you have still saved money!) Once you have paid for a pass your name is placed on a list and you won’t have to worry about cash for the rest of the month.
8) I had a great time at Swing Night! Where else can I swing dance?
Visit our Athens Dances and Area Dances page for information on other dancing opportunities in the Athens area. And be sure to come back next Tuesday for the next Athens Swing Night!