FAQ

Lindy Hop Classes

What is the right Lindy Hop Level for me?

Lindy Hop Levels
Beginner

Welcome to the world of Swing! Never danced Swing before or just took a few basic steps before? Then this ist the level for you! On this level, we work on the basics of the Lindy Hop like triple and single steps, lead and follow, and the most important moves for dancing at socials. Here is a playlist with songs especially suitable for beginners.

Prerequisites: None

Improver

Your feet start to twitch and move when you hear Swing music and you already made the first steps on the dance floor? In Improver workshops, the basics will get a deeper focus to make the experience on the Social dancefloor even better. We will work some more on the „Awesome 3some“ (Swing Out, Lindy Turn, Circle), learn new moves and take some first glances at Musicality and Lindy Charleston.

Prerequisites: Triple steps, basics in 6-count (Send Out, Bring In, Circle) and 8-count (Swing Out, Lindy Turn, Circle), having participated in a Beginner workshop or a similar class (minimum of 2 months of regular Lindy Hop dancing).

Intermediate

Still haven’t had enough of Lindy Hop? In this workshop we deepen and enhance the techniques you are already familiar with – lead and follow, flow, connection – but also fancy moves will be an important part.

Prerequisites: Participation at Beginner and Improver or similar classes (minimum of half a year of Lindy Hop dancing)

Intermediate +

Lindy Hop became a part of your life and the Socials are fixed dates in your calendar? On this level, moves are becoming more challenging, variations and improvisations are only waiting to be discovered!

Prerequisites: Participation at Beginner and Intermediate or similar classes (minimum of 1 year of Lindy Hop dancing)

Intermediate Advanced

If an addiction to Swing is becoming noticable, then this ist the level for you! On this level, we are going deep into the world of Lindy Hop: Improvisation, musicality, moves, dancing to different speeds…

Prerequisites: Participation at Beginner, Intermediate and Intermediate + or similar classes (minimum of 1.5 year of Lindy Hop dancing).

Advanced

A life without swing is just not worth it! If you know the basics by heart, are confidently dancing to music with higher tempo and are quick with picking up stuff in classes, this is the level for you.

Prerequisites: Participation at Beginner, Intermediate and Intermediate/Advanced or similar classes (minimum of 4 years of Lindy Hop dancing).

Lindy Distillery

This track is about the essence of Lindy Hop: The work on the basic and various concepts, which are crucial for Lindy Hop as a social dance. In this track, the teachers take even more time for dance technique and personal feedback.
This track is not primarily designed for the experienced dancers, but for everyone, who want to improve their dance skills in a more intensive manner and take on their learning processes in a pro-active way.

Prerequisites: Participation in an Intermediate level or similar class. The Lindy Distillery is the right choice for you, if:

  • you mastered the basics (e.g., if you participated in a Lindy Cats Intermediate class)
  • you attend social dance nights on a regular basis (at least twice a month)
  • you are willing to practice outside of class
  • you want to receive more feedback and can handle it
  • you already participated in international Lindy Hop festivals or are planning to do so

In order to take part in the Lindy Distillery you must participate in an audition!

Is the Lindy Distillery the highest Lindy Hop level?

Lindy Hop Levels
No, the Lindy Distillery is not our highest level, but on the same level as Intermediate+ to Intermediate-Advanced. The Distillery addresses everyone, who want to invest more time and energy into the dance. Therefore, it is not the level but the nature of learning is different.

Can I switch betwen the Lindy Distillery and other classes?

Lindy Hop Levels
Yes. You may switch at the beginning of each new class round into the Distillery or into another track. Acceptance into the Lindy Distillery requires participation in the audition. For the regular tracks, there is no audition.

What happens if I am not accepted into the Lindy Distillery at the audition?

Lindy Hop Levels
When you register, you have to provide a level for which you want to register. If you are not accepted into the Distillery, you may participate in the level you registered for and can participate in the audition for the Distillery in the upcoming semester.

How long last the Lindy Hop classes?

Lindy Hop Levels
Every class lasts 75 minutes. The Beginner and Improver workshops are on six mondays, all other classes from Intermediate onwards are on 12 mondays. For all other classes and workshops (Shag, Balboa, etc.) can be found in their respective description in workshops.

What is an audition?

Lindy Hop Levels
An audition is a process, where teachers can assess, if the aspired level is the right one for the dancer. Auditions can take on many forms, e.g. dancing in a group with changing partners. The teachers observe the dancers to assess their skills. For the Lindy Distillery, the audition will ensure that everyone can keep up with the pace and contents of the track.

Miscellaneous

Which music titles are well suited for dancing?

Lindy Hop Levels
We compiled for our workshop attendants well suited playlists for the various swing dances:

What’s this Lead and Follow about?

Lead and Follow
What does Lead and Follow mean?

In partnered dancing, two persons move together to the music. In contact with each other (most commonly by touch) a connection is established, which then allows to create dance moves. Thus, there are two roles in dancing: Lead & Follow

  • Lead: In this role, one person initiates the movement into different dance steps. Using a repertoire of techniques allows the Lead to communicate the move to the Follow, and tempo, movement and direction are being established.
  • Follow: In this role, the lead’s set of directions are being turned into a move. The Follows have room for interpretation and styling in executing a move. The more experience Follows and Lead have, the better they can create the dance together.
Why different roles
Why do I have to register as a Lead/Follow?

Both roles are being danced by all genders nowadays (and back then as well). If you register for a workshop, we kindly ask you to tell us which role you wish to learn. There is usually no need to register with a partner – unless otherwise noted in the worksop’s description – because we change dance partners during the course of an workshop.
We aim to provide a good balance between the number of Leads and Follows, thus, if there is a far larger interest in one role than in the other one, we will put further applicants for that role on a waiting list. Once the balance between Leads & Follows has been adjusted again, applicants on the waiting lists will be contacted about the opportunity to join in.
Registrations as a couple or rather two persons registering as Lead & Follow are exempt from this waiting list and can register anytime, as long as there is room in the workshop.

How do I register for a workshop?

Registration
Please use our registration form to sign up for one of our current workshops. The Lindy Cats do not require to bring a partner. You only need to tell us your desired role. Payment is in cash at the location.

How do I know about upcoming workshops?

When
We offer workshops continuously. You may find all current dates on our workshop page.

Where do workshops take place?

Locations
Our workshops happen at different locations. You can find us usually at the BRG Kepler or in the Tango-Baustelle. We also rent regularly other well connected locations in Graz. You can find the location for your workshop in its respective flyer.

Which shoes should I wear for Swing dancing?

Shoes
Ideal are flat, comfortable shoes which provide good support for your feet. Sneakers like Keds or Toms are very popular. The sole should be smooth made from firm rubber/plastics or chrome leather. Polished smooth leather soles are usually too slippery, while soft rubber soles are generally too sticky.

What else do I need for workshops?

Equipment
Ideally, you will bring the following items to the workshops:

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Comfortable clothes
  • Something to drink
  • A shirt to change
  • A towel to dry your face and neck

Where and when can I dance?

Practice
Graz offers almost weekly possibilities to dance to Swing music. A brief overview of the current dates in and around Graz offers our calendar. If you want to be informed monthly abound the current events, subscribe to our newsletter.

Where do Swing dance festivals take place?

Festivals
Swing dance festivals take place regularly all over the world. An overview of the huge pool of festival in Europe and beyond provides SwingPlanIt. Regularly, festivals offer discounts for registration with a partner. You may find the Facebook group Swing In Graz or BuddyMe helpful in finding your partner for the festival.