Dance Instruction

and

Performance

specializing in:

Lindy Hop

East Coast Swing

Boogie Woogie

Collegiate Shag

Balboa

Charleston

Line Dances

and

Authentic

Jazz steps

Frequently asked questions

Q - What kind of shoes should I wear?
A - Any shoes will work great, the more comfortable the better. We have had a student say: "His most comfortable pair of shoes were his work boots"… He did great!

Q - Do I have to dress up or wear vintage clothes?
A -Only if that is what you prefer to wear. The most important thing is to have fun and if dressing up makes swing dancing more fun for you, embrace it.

Q - Do I need a partner to take classes?
A - No, all of the 1NEWGROOVE classes encourage practicing the class material with your classmates, and bringing a friend is always welcomed. One of the fun parts of taking dance classes is meeting new people with a common interest.

Q - I am taking the classes with a partner and we only want to dance with each other. Do we have to rotate?
A - You never have to do anything you don't wish to do. There are some couples, brides to be, and friends that prefer to dance with their own partner. We always respect your choice to stay with your own partner. However, we found that people normally learn the material faster by trying it with different people.

Q- What is the difference between Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, and East Coast Swing?
A - Lindy Hop is the original swing dance born in Harlem in the late 1920s. It's mainly made up of 8-count patterns, but some 6-count moves can sneak in. East Coast Swing (also known as Jitterbug) is a 6-count dance that evolved from Lindy Hop. It is simpler than Lindy, making it perfect for beginning dancers to start building their lead/follow skills.

Q - Where can I swing dance in Colorado?
A - Colorado boasts a striving social swing dance scene that has a place to dance every night of the week. There are many places that offer live music or DJ's that specifically cater to swing dancers. Check out coloradoswingdanceclub.com or the Westword newspaper for a complete listing of Colorado night life.

Q - I don't have any music to practice to and am not that familiar with Swing music.
A - One of the greatest things about swing dancing is that it can be done to a wide variety of music. There are a few local radio stations that play 40's swing and jazz music. Check out KEZW AM 1430 and KUVO FM 89.3 (Denver). Take time to listen to the stations, decide what type of music you like and check the local record stores for the titles. Here is a short list of some of our favorites to use in class for instruction:

• Oscillating Rhythm - Various Artist's
• All Aboard - Indigo Swing
• Lindy Hop Heaven - Peter Davis
• Calling All Jitterbugs - Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra
• Happy Time - Junior Mance
• Be Mine Tonight - Ernestine Anderson
• Priceless Jazz - Ccarmen McRae
• Late Night Swing - Casey MacGill & the Spirits of Rhythm
• A Tribute to Andy Razaf - Maxine Sullivan
• Come out Swingin' - Steve Lucky and the Rumba Bums
• First Lady of Song - Ella Fitzgerald
• Really Swingin' - Frankie's Favorites
• Greatest Hits [Evergreen] - Bill Haley & His Comets
• Call of the Freaks - Mora's Modern Rhythmists
• Satch and Josh - Count Basie and Oscar Peterson

Q - None of my friends dance. Will I meet people or will it be strange for me to go out alone?
A - Swing dancing is a very social activity and inviting to new dancers many people go to dance venues alone and meet people when they arrive. Don't be afraid to ask someone to dance or talk to people as you already have one thing in common.