Beginner’s Guide

Everything you need to know before your first swing dance.

What to Wear

Dress comfortably and nicely. Jeans are fine. Wear clothes you can move in without worrying about anything slipping or shifting.

Choose flat shoes, dance shoes, or light sneakers. Women can wear heels, but a low, wide heel is much easier to dance in.

For full details, see our What to Wear guide.

Your First Step: The Beginner Drop‑In Class

Every Sunday starts with our Beginner Drop‑In — no experience or partner needed.

We teach basic footwork and a few simple Swing Dancing Survival Skills that get you dancing right away. These core moves rotate weekly but are always beginner‑friendly.

Part Two introduces something new each week so you can build your repertoire, meet people, and feel more confident on the social floor.

Rotating Partners

We rotate partners throughout class. It helps you:

meet friendly dancers
learn to dance with different people
feel comfortable asking others to dance later

Most people come solo, so you’ll always have someone to dance with. If someone says no, it’s almost never personal — they might just need a break. And it’s okay for you to take a break too.

Hygiene Tips

Swing dancing is close‑contact and energetic, so good hygiene keeps everyone happy.

Breath mints or gum
Deodorant
Avoid strong foods before dancing
Bring a spare shirt (or two) if you sweat easily

It keeps you comfortable — and your partners too.

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