Frequently Asked Questions
What is Swing Music?
You can learn about that in our blog article about just that very question!
What is Swing Dance?
Swing dance includes a range of vintage dances from the 1920s-40s including Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, and Solo Vernacular Jazz, all danced to swing music. Whether dancing with a partner or solo, it’s hard to wipe the smile off your face when you’re swing dancing.
What do you teach?
Mostly Lindy Hop and Balboa. These are the two most popular swing styles that are still being danced all around the world today. Beginners can join our regular weekly classes for Balboa every Tuesday and Lindy every Monday and Thursday at 6:30 pm in Newstead, and Monday at 6:30pm in Albany Creek (see schedule). Our classes are generally focused on giving people Lead & Follow skills to have magical fun, dancing socially with anyone on the dance floor. We also occasionally have special classes for other swing era dance styles such as Slow Bal, Collegiate Shag, Solo Jazz, and Blues.
What is Lindy Hop?
From Harlem, New York (on the East coast of the USA), the Lindy is the world’s most popular dance of the Swing era. A massive melting pot of jazz movement, Lindy has flashy swing-outs and Charleston kicks and is usually danced to mid-tempo swing dance tunes.
What is Balboa?
From 1930s Southern California (on the West coast of the USA), the Balboa is a closely partnered swing dance that is fun and groovy, but also subtle and refined. If you want to be able to dance to incredible up-tempo Jazz bands all night long, this is the dance for you!
Should I start with Lindy or Bal?
It’s entirely up to you. Some people feel that Lindy is easier to get started on and it’s easy to see why the style attracts so many people. Some people feel more strongly drawn to learn Balboa and you are more than welcome to start your dancing journey with Bal.
Why not both?
Why not indeed! Some people like to focus on one style hoping to get good at it faster, and the styles are different enough that this idea certainly makes intuitive sense. However we tend to believe that learning any style of dance can improve your ability to learn other styles and that cross-training can often be a net benefit rather than a detriment. CPS director, Rob Edwards, started learning Balboa 3 months after beginning Lindy Hop and he enjoyed learning them both each week from then on.
Do I need a partner?
Not at all!
Whilst it’s always fun to come with a friend, we will rotate partners throughout the class.
Do I have to rotate partners or can I stick with my own partner?
Whilst we don’t force people to do anything they are uncomfortable with, we strongly recommend that people rotate for a number of reasons. Swing is first and foremost a social activity and the primary reason we teach classes is so that people can learn to connect and dance with other humans. Couples that don’t rotate tend to reinforce each others technique flaws and it can slow down their development. We usually have a number of more experienced dancers who attend our beginner classes for free, and dancing with these people helps our beginners to progress more quickly.
If your concerns about rotating are related to COVID then we can accommodate that and you may stick with the partner you are attending with. We also encourage you to wear a mask.
What age range are your students? Am I too old to attend your classes?
We have no upper age limit!
We regularly have a wide range of ages in our classes. Whether you’re 17 or 170, it’s all the same to us as long as you are keen to get your dance on! Some of the Lindy Hop classes can be a little more energetic than others, but you can generally put as much or as little energy into the steps as you feel comfortable with. The Balboa classes tend to be less bouncy, but there can be some twisting involved. To make it easier to learn, the tempo of the dancing in classes tends to be slower than what you may have seen people doing socially to live bands. We suggest you come along and give Lindy Hop and Balboa a try!
When can I start?
Beginners are most welcome in ALL of our level 1 classes. We don’t structure the level 1 content into sequenced blocks so you don’t have to start in a specific week. Instead, our classes are presented in a drop-in style where we continuously cycle through all of the level 1 content. In each class we teach a “Basic” step and branch into moves that go with it, so you can start at any time! We also run 3-hour beginner “Crash Course” workshops that are intermittently on the 2nd Saturday of the month, so keep an eye out for those!
I have danced other styles before, do I need to attend Level 1?
Yes! Level 1 teaches the basics of Swing Dance. By level 2 we’ll assume you have the basics down and we won’t spend a lot of time revising them. If you want to fast-track your way to the next level contact us about taking some private lessons at info@cornerpocketswing.com.au
What clothes should I wear?
Whatever you feel comfortable in! Many of our dancers wear casual clothes or come straight from work, others prefer to dress up in vintage fashion. Keep in mind that dancing is exercise and you will get sweaty!
What shoes should I wear for Lindy Hop?
Flat comfy shoes are a good idea and if they can swivel and twist on the floor easily, even better! Shoes that have too much grip can be difficult to dance in and can strain the knees. Make sure that when you kick your feet the shoes can’t fly off, which is a regular problem with women’s ballet flats.
What shoes should I wear for Balboa?
Balboa dancers tend to prefer less grip than Lindy Hoppers but initially you can try doing Balboa in whatever shoes you have.
When it comes time find a better shoe for Balboa what features should I look for?
General advice for men’s Bal shoes:
- Lightweight with some flex in the sole. If the sole is too thick to bend, it is not ideal.
- A small/low heel is common in Balboa for both men and women, typically less than an inch for men and not much more than that for women. Some people prefer flat shoes and that’s ok too. We only recommend you avoid high heels.
- A smooth sole that allows for pivoting, shuffling, and sliding on the floor. If you can find a leather sole that is affordable, go for that. A suede sole can be nice to dance on, but you rarely find that and only on specialised dance shoes. The vast majority of men’s shoes (and many women’s shoes) in local shops have rubber soles, which are grippy and bad for Bal. But on the off chance, I often grab shoes off the shelf and push them along the floor to test them. Sometimes, you can get lucky and find ones that have a less grippy plastic sole, which can be quite cheap and ok (not ideal) for dancing in until you find something better. Don't get tricked by the ones that have a painted sole and are initially slidey, but then get grippy once the paint has worn off.
Some Bal blokes like to wear leather-soled loafers (like Gene Kelly sometimes wore), but they are not commonly available these days, and as they don't have laces, it can be hard to find ones that are not too tight or too loose. They pretty much have to fit perfectly, and they rarely do.
If I’ve made a class booking but I have to cancel what should I do?
If you can send us an email ( info@cornerpocketswing.com.au ) or txt message ( 0478756545 ) before class that would be helpful. Don’t stress if you don’t get a reply, our classes start on time and we won’t be waiting for you to arrive. We are pretty relaxed about moving your booking if you can’t make it, so just shoot us a message and we’ll reschedule it for you.
Is there any time when I can give tips or advice to my dance partner?
If your partner is causing you physical pain then you should let them know immediately. All other feedback and advice should only be given if it is explicitly requested at the time. If you are having difficulties with something not working please ask a teacher for help. This topic is a mine field and probably deserves an entire blog post.
I’ve been in Level 1 Lindy Hop for a while now and I would like to move up. What do I need to do?
To move up to Level 2 Lindy Hop, you need to demonstrate to your teacher that you know the basics of 6-count and 8-count Lindy Hop (especially swing-outs) and Lindy Charleston, and that you can transition between all of these styles. All of these things will be covered in our regular beginner Lindy Hop classes over an 8 week cycle. When you move up to Level 2, we strongly encourage you to keep going to Level 1 classes because the stronger your foundations are, the easier it will be to learn the trickier material taught in Levels 2 and 3. Plus, your teachers will vary the material they teach in the Level 1 classes so you will learn new moves and techniques, even if the style is the same.
If I am doing a Level 2 class can I do the Level 1 class that night for free?
Yes! Continuing to do Level 1 classes not only benefits you and your social network, but it also helps the new students if there are people in the class who are more experienced. It’s a win-win that helps foster the community as a whole! However, it is important that you do not to give unsolicited advice in class.
Who is eligible for the concession rate for regular classes?
To be eligible for the concession rate, you must have one of the following cards: Full-Time Student Card, Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
How do I cancel a class that I have booked online?
We understand that circumstances change so if you can no longer the attend the class you have booked online please message us on Facebook or email us at info@cornerpocketswing.com.au if you don’t have access to Facebook. We are able to credit purchased classes to another week or provide a refund.
Do I have to wear shoes in classes and at social dances?
Yes. To avoid the significant risk of injury to toes and feet we do require our dancers to wear shoes at all of our events. We also strongly recommend that you wear shoes at public events, such as bars where there can be tiny fragments of broken glass or splinters from wooden floors, as well as the usual risk of toes getting kicked or stepped on.
Does CPS have a policy around strongly scented deodorants or perfumes?
We request that you refrain from wearing strongly scented deodorants or perfumes, as these can trigger allergic reactions or migraines in some people. If possible, please use low-scented or hypoallergenic deodorants. Please apply deodorant before you come to the venue, and if you need to reapply, please do so outside.
Can my band play for your dancers at any of your social dances?
Maybe! If your name is Gordon Webster, Jonathan Stout, or Casey McGill you’re hired! For everyone else I have written a briefing (it’s not brief) for prospective bands. In particular we are looking for small combos of 3-5 (due to budget constraints), musicians who understand the dance music of the Swing era (1935-1946). And, in an ideal world, members of the band would be able to double as singers and swap between multiple instruments… “Gee, you don’t ask for much!”… I know right?! Sheesh!!!
What protocols does Corner Pocket Swing have in place for operating during a global pandemic?
We take the health and safety of our community seriously and we are so grateful that all of our dancers have been ready and willing to do what it takes to look after one another. The recently updated COVID-19 rules are can be found here: https://cornerpocketswing.com.au/covid-19
Does Corner Pocket Swing have a Manifesto or a Code of Conduct?
We sure do! You can find our manifesto here: https://cornerpocketswing.com.au/aboutus
Please read our Code of Conduct here: https://cornerpocketswing.com.au/code-of-conduct
If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to contact us at info@cornerpocketswing.com.au