Frequently Asked Questions

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Yes! We offer multiple beginner sessions throughout the year so that new dancers can learn the basics and experienced dancers can strengthen their foundation in the fundamentals. Each class series will list the skill level and outline what we plan to cover during the session. 

No, you do not need a partner to join our classes! If you do have a partner, that’s great — but we ask everyone to rotate and dance with different partners throughout the class. In this style of dance, you'll be interacting with many people, which helps you build adaptability and connection skills.

We recommend wearing athletic/comfortable clothes that you can move around in! There are bathrooms, so if you need to change before class starts, that is completely fine. You may want to bring layers so you can adjust to the temperature of the studio.

Shoes are required to preserve the health and safety of yourself and others. This is not a dance where being barefoot is appropriate. We ask that everyone bring a clean pair of shoes to change into, as street shoes are not allowed on the dance floor. Wear comfortable shoes with just the right amount of traction — not too slippery, but not too sticky either. We don’t recommend heels over 2 inches, stiff boots, flip-flops, or open-toed shoes that aren’t secure. Very grippy soles can also put stress on your ankles and knees. Feel free to bring a couple of shoe options to see what feels best on our dance floor! We highly recommend checking out Fuego, as they are a company specializing in making dance sneakers.

Our dance classes typically run for 90 minutes, with the last half hour being an instructor-guided practice session where you can work on what we learned in class or social dance.

 As a partner dance, Lindy Hop has a leader role and a follower role that are unrelated to gender.
We recommend you pick whichever role sounds best to you, as each offers a unique dance experience!

• Leaders create the structure and direction of each dance. They decide which moves to lead and when, providing the "bones" or foundation of the dance.
• Followers respond to those cues in real time, adding their own flair and interpretation that can change the initial plan of the leader in unexpected and creative ways.
• Think of it like this: the leader writes the thesis, and the follower edits nd enriches it.

We recommend choosing one role to start and sticking with it for all classes in our four month class schedule — it’ll help you build confidence and comfort in the dance.

Go to social dances! We’ll be hosting social dances, and there are also plenty of events throughout the Northeast — in places like Boston, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and more. Social dancing is where everything you learn in class really comes to life. We also recommend practicing your steps at home. Even just a few minutes helps you feel more confident and allows us to cover more material during class.

Another hugely important tip: listen to swing music! Lindy Hop is deeply connected to the music it was created alongside. The more you listen to swing, the more familiar you’ll become with its rhythms, phrasing, and energy — all of which directly influence how we dance. It’s one of the best (and most fun) ways to grow as a dancer, even outside of class. 

We understand that classes and events can pose as a financial challenge, and we want to make dancing accessible.

We do offer volunteer opportunities that can help offset the cost of classes. If you're interested, feel free to reach out — we'd love to find a way to get you dancing with us!