Lindy Hop & Vernacular Jazz are art forms that were developed by Black Americans in the early part of the 20th century, which ultimately became a world-wide phenomenon for people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. In today's modern Lindy Hop scene, however, we can't help but notice that the dance floor is predominately white.
RVA Swing recognizes that, as white swing dancers, teaching dance history & honoring our dance elders is not enough: we need to actively do better to combat cultural appropriation and to work towards a truly diverse swing dance scene in Richmond. Simply put, we would like our dance community to more accurately represent the broader community that we exist in.
Beginning in 2021, we will offer no-cost mentorships to Black dancers who would like to study Lindy Hop/Vernacular Jazz. These sessions are specifically targeted at Black dance instructors who would like to add these dance styles to their teaching repertoire, and can be tailored to your individual interests and needs.
While we do seek to recruit instructors of color to teach at RVA Swing, dance professionals who participate in a mentorship are under no obligation to teach at our studio & can disseminate this material as they see fit at their own lessons & studios. Our goal is to expand the swing dance scene in our city & region. The more places for people to learn & dance, the better!
Mentorship sessions take place at the RVA Swing studio in Richmond, VA. They are typically an hour at a time once a week, based on instructor availability, but more intensive sessions could be arranged with some advance planning.
To inquire about scheduling a mentorship session, email Erica at RVAswing@gmail.com
