Swingin’ Denver grows the swing dance community through offering fun & dynamic classes,
Welcome
WELCOME TO SWINGIN’ DENVER!
We’re an organization focused on collaborations and partnerships celebrating swing dance and music culture! Your best resource for finding us in the Colorado community will be our calendar.
Here at Swingin' Denver we value reflecting on Lindy Hop's history, its present, and how it's transmitted from one generation to the next. Lindy Hop and other Black American social dances exist on a continuum where the figurative lights were kept on by the Black Harlem community for 100+ years. They're the reason why organizations like ours exist and we’re so grateful we have swing dancing and music in our lives!
Like Black dance instructor, Taylor Madgett, shared in a class we took - "Black social dances have names" and we believe it's important to keep echoing this fact. Our classes and marketing materials reflect the names Black creators gave their dances and students get to learn how to express these dances’ values by bringing themselves into the dance, enjoying the velocity of celebration with one another.
Classes
WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST SWING DANCE CLASS
Learn Lindy Hop and Charleston, Black American social dances that emerged during the swing-era! Swing dances, such as Lindy Hop, are joyful, free spirited, and liberating as dancers, new and old, express call-and-response, improvisation and mutual reciprocity on the dance floor. Check out more information on the history of these dances here.
At this time, our only class offerings are through our special events like our Swingin’ Under the Stars series or unique pop-up workshops.
While Lindy Hop and Charleston are partnered social dances we encourage people to come by themselves, with a friend or a partner. We rotate during our longer format classes and workshops so that you have a chance to meet and dance with many different people.
We do kindly ask that you refrain from wearing fragrances and scented products when attending classes and our special events at Swingin’ Denver. Perfumes, cologne, and scented lotions can trigger severe respiratory reactions in some people. Thank you!
Beginner Lindy Hop
$60.00
(Classes are currently suspended and you can browse our other offerings on our calendar)
Learn to Lindy Hop from the ground up! Sign up today and learn the dance that sprung from Black American culture in Harlem during the 1920s-40s! No experience or partner required for our monthly series.
Monthly classes are currently suspended. Wednesdays, 7:45 - 9:00 p.m. at The Savoy at 2700 Arapahoe Street in Five Points, Denver.
Pre-register online for $60 per person per 4-week session which includes entry to our monthly dance. If registering for you and a partner, please include their full name when registering. $20 per person to drop-in.
You’ll learn the building blocks of Lindy Hop with your experienced instructors. Think swingouts, circles, tuck turns, maybe some Charleston sprinkled in, a dash of improvisation, some history, lead and follow technique, all danced to lots of great swing music!
Since we offer the option of rotating partners and coming without a partner, and there is still inherent risk of contracting COVID, all participants will be required to wear a fitted mask, preferably a KN95 or something similar. No exceptions will be allowed.
If you are sick, please stay home. If you test positive with COVID, follow the CDC’s guidelines before returning to class and please notify us.
For more information concerning COVID mitigation policies and other details, click HERE. Monthly dance party schedule here.
Dance Parties!
Your best resource for attending our dance parties will be our Calendar. At this time, Swingin’ Denver is focused on collaborative partnerships featuring live music or great DJ offerings. If you’d like to collaborate with us or ask a question, please Contact Us!
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
We're here to help make learning Lindy Hop as fun and friendly as possible. Here are some things to know before you begin:
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All classes are held at The Savoy at 2700 Arapahoe in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. MAP
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Yes, you can join the second week of a series! But be aware that the class will be covering material faster than in the first week due to the progressive nature. You cannot join after the second week for Beginner Lindy Hop, so you’d have to stay tuned for our next session!
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You do not need to bring a partner. We rotate partners in all of our classes so that students get experience dancing with a variety of people. We have found that by rotating our students learn much faster. You may also choose to come with a partner and not rotate.
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Click here to join our newsletter and definitely follow us on Facebook.
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We currently offer Beginner and Intermediate levels.
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The term “Swing” refers to a number of different dance styles that evolved in the swing era and are rooted in swing music. In our Beginner class we start with Lindy Hop with maybe some Charleston mixed in. In later levels or workshop offerings, we’d like to offer other dance styles like Balboa, Collegiate Shag, or more Vernacular Jazz. We teach a variety of swing-era dances such as Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Balboa. While each of these dances are distinct, today most swing dancers are familiar with and dance all of them.
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Lindy Hop is a casual dance, and it’s also quite athletic. We suggest comfortable clothes that you can move around in, and non-marking flat shoes that will stay on your feet (open backed shoes or flip flops don’t work well.) Followers don’t generally wear heels in Lindy. If you have leather soled shoes, maybe bring a backup option in case you think the floor is a bit too slick.
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Preregistration isn't mandatory, but you do get a nice discount by preregistering online. Plus, we have limited spots due to COVID mitigation. Otherwise, we accept cash and most major credit cards at the door. We cannot accept checks.
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We have created a handy guide to the expected etiquette at all of our events. Following these simple guidelines will help ensure everyone has an enjoyable time.
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While dancing in crowded venues it is easy to get sweaty. Most dancers bring an extra shirt or two to change into as the night goes on as dancing with someone who has sweated through their clothing is unpleasant. Also consider bringing deodorant and breath mints to stave off personal odors. If someone is particularly smelly, speak to one of the instructors or staff and they will delicately approach the issue with the person.
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Some of our instructors do offer private lessons. Please email info@swingindenver.com.
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We will likely re-evaluate once the six metro Denver counties achieve green level on this dashboard.
Music
Whether you’re just looking for a little music to practice your dancing with, or you’re building a growing collection, here are some tunes to help get you started.
Some of our favorite swing era artists include Chick Webb, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller, Lionel Hampton and many more!
Our favorite Colorado bands include Jeremy Mohney, LAPOMPE, Odessa Rose, Summit Hot Seven, SmokeTones Swing Band, and Uptown MessAround.
Our favorite national swing bands include Jonathan Stout, Michael Gamble, Mint Julep Jazz Band, Brooks Prumo, Gordon Webster, Shake ‘Em Up Jazz Band, and others.
There is also this website created by swing dancers that allows you to generate your own playlist for a variety of vernacular dance styles like Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa and more.