Teaching beginners to swing dance: A 60-minute guide

Swing dancing is a fun and energetic dance style that is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. It is a great way to get exercise, meet new people, and have a good time.

Recently, I developed a class that introduces swing by utilizing a progression of swing dances. We started with single-step swing, the simplest form of swing dancing. Once the participants had mastered the basics of single-step swing, we moved on to double-step swing (basis of the Bop) and then triple-step swing (basis of east coast swing and Carolina Shag).

I was amazed at how quickly the participants learned the different swing dances. Within 30 minutes, most of the participants were practicing the dance confidently.

Here is a brief overview of the progression of swing dances that we used in our class:

• Single-step swing: This is the simplest form of swing dancing. It consists of one step in each direction, followed by a rock step.
• Double-step swing: This is a variation of single-step swing where you take two steps in each direction, followed by a rock step.
• Triple-step swing: This is the most complex type of swing dancing. It consists of three steps in each direction, followed by a rock step.

I believe that the key to our success was in the progression of swing dances. By starting with single-step swing and then moving on to double-step swing and triple-step swing, we were able to build on the skills that the participants had already learned.

We also made sure to keep the class fun and engaging. We used upbeat music and encouraged the participants to dance with each other.

In the second half of our swing dance class, we had the dancers partner up and taught them the open and closed position. We also introduced the basic double step and triple step swing patterns in the open position. The open position is the most common position in swing dancing where the partners stand facing each other with their arms extended between them. The closed position is a more intimate position where the partners stand close together, side by side with their arms connected.

We also talked to the dancers about the follower's frame and social dance etiquette. The follower's frame is the way that the follower holds their body while dancing. The follower's frame should be relaxed and open, with their shoulders and hips aligned. This was also a great time to introduce social dance etiquette.

Social dance etiquette is important to follow to ensure that everyone on the dance floor has a safe and enjoyable time. Some basic social dance etiquette tips include:

• Be aware of your surroundings and avoid bumping into other dancers.
• If you make a mistake, don't worry about it! Just smile and keep dancing.
• Be respectful of your dance partner.
• If you're not having fun, don't be afraid to take a break.

Here are some additional tips for teaching beginners how to swing dance:

• Start by teaching the participants the basic steps without music. Once they feel comfortable with the basic steps, you can start practicing with music.
• Use upbeat music that is easy to dance to.
• Encourage the participants to dance with each other. This is a great way for them to practice their skills and have fun at the same time.
• Be patient and encouraging. Learning to swing dance takes time and practice.

I hope this blog post has inspired you to try our progression of swing dances. 

If you want to learn more then join us for our latest series of classes being held at the Colonial Heights Moose Lodge #1783 or get in touch with us either here in the comments or on one of our social media outlets!