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What is Swing Dancing?
At Swing-Out Edmonton, we teach several dances found under the umbrella term "swing dance" - partnered and solo dances arising out of the 1920's - 1940's, done mainly to the swing jazz music of the day.
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Lindy Hop
This is the grand daddy of swing dance, the dance that dominated stage and screen during the Swing Era! Lindy Hop is an exciting rhythmic dance originating in the ballrooms of Harlem in the 1930's. Our lessons focus mainly on Lindy Hop, building a solid base of fundamentals in the beginner lessons which are refined in the intermediate series.
Charleston
The Charleston is considered the very first form of swing dance, blending the European tradition of partnered dancing with African movements and rhythms together under the influence of 1920's hot jazz. The beginner series includes an introduction to Charleston, which again is expanded upon in the intermediate series.
Balboa
Balboa developed in the 1930's and 40's on the West Coast of the United States where swing dance floors were so packed that a smaller style was needed. Balboa emerged to fill this niche with its elegant and graceful movement. It is the perfect way to dance to fast songs.
St. Louis Shag
St. Louis Shag is one of three styles of shag, the others being Collegiate and Carolina Shag. It is a fast, closed position dance that developed in St. Louis and, like Charleston, can be seamlessly integrated into other styles of dance. Swing-Out Edmonton is excited to be hosted a St. Louis Shag weekend this January 2017!
West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing is a partnered swing dance known for its elastic look and how smooth it feels. Part of what makes this dance special is that it can be done to almost any music is 4/4 time. Like Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing is danced around the world from coast to coast.
Blues
For when you want to slow down on the dance floor, Blues is the perfect answer! Blues is also known to be a very expressive and intimate dance, and is the perfect style to experiment with and be creative.
