Swing dancing?

Question

My friend and i are planning on trying to learn how to dance the jitterbug, the lindy hop, swing..
how long do you think it will take,
what do you think is a good price for private and group lessons, and
what is the traditional wear for swing dance..
thanks!

Answer 1

I think swing is fun and easy to learn. But you will need some consistent effort in order to succeed. I'd say, you should dance it at least 3 times a week, that includes lessons and practice, or you will be forgetting stuff from lesson to lesson and it will become frustrating.

I'd say the best approach is to start with group lessons because they are chaper, and later you can start taking private lessons. In group lessons, you will learn the basic principles and a few basic steps. After you tried it for awhile, you will have a lot of questions, a lot of places where steps don't work out well or don't feel comfortable. This is the time to take private lesson and ask all your questions and get your technique corrected. The price for group lessons varies from $8 to $15 in my area. Whether or not the price is "good" depends on how much you are learning. For privates, I think $65-$80 is a typical rate. Strangely enough, good instructors vs bad instructors doesn't make a lot of difference in price. You could be getting really bad lessons for $70 or you could be getting really good ones for the same price.

If you are consistent with 3 times a week schedule you will be able to dance and enjoy it in about 2 months. It will take you another few years to master it and become really good at it.

Traditional wear for swing dance. First of all, you will need dance shoes. Look up "swing dance shoes" on any search engine. As for clothes - girls typically wear a knee-length full circle skirt (or a dress with a similar skirt) and a nice top. Don't forget to wear some inner wear because your skirt will fly and that's expected. Guys wear high wasted pleated pants and a shirt. If you don't have this kind of clothes at the start, just wear something comfortable to your classes. Jeans will probably be too stiff, somethign more comfortable.

Answer 2

I an only answer how long it will take to learn. Not long.

Swing dancing is easy to learn with lessons. The key is that you are otherwise familiar with any kind of dancing and enjoy the music. If you're a girl, you really have to be with a guy that picks it up easy. There are basic patterns and moves that you can pick up in just a couple lessons. From there you just need to practice with your partner and make stuff up on your own. You definitely don't need a lot of lessons, and group lessons are fine.

Well, I guess I'll answer more. Price? Depends on your area, so it's hard to say. I was looking for another type of dance lessons (I know how to swing, but I wanted to learn some more formal stuff for my wedding next year), and lesson packages were a couple hundred bucks for 3 or 4 lessons. But I'm in main line Pennsylvania, and who knows what it will be like where you are. When I learned to swing dance, it was from people I knew in high school, so I didn't pay anything. But that was a big time for swing dancing and we had clubs and stuff.

As for traditional dress? I'm not a fashion guy, but the important thing for girls is a dress that's not too short that you show off your *** while you're swinging your legs around and not too long to get in the way. The dress should come to just a tiny bit above the knee.
Dress for guys? Dress pants and collared shirt. You're looking at stuff people wore in the 1940s, so it's post-world war II kind of stuff. Suspenders would be appropriate for a guy.

Answer 3

Swing is alot easier to learn and to look decent when dancing socially. Salsa takes more time to learn and to really be able to move your body to the music. There are also alot more salsa clubs out there than swing clubs. I'd say learn a little bit of swing to get used to just dancing in general. Then move on to Salsa.

Answer 4

Group lessons are cheaper than private ones. If you are in UK watch Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night. Good luck

Answer 5

well since swing dancing is different from other types of dances and is very difficult... it will take a while to learn. im learning it right now in college. its really hard, needs a lot of pratice. and if you wanna good pro with it... good luck!

Answer 6

i recommend.... if you are just starting... you should get a dvd on swing danceing... they are cheap on amazon.com... in the video you will get a feel for what to wear and if you would like to go to lessions and try doing it in front of people....dvds cheaper than lessions at a studio

Answer 7

wear what U want, if you've got good co-ordinational skills and are athletic probably not long

As Meatloaf sang two outa three ain't bad;-)

Answer 8

Hello i am Mexican and i like you country

Bye