What: 6-week beginner series for members of the LGBTQIA+ community
When: Mondays from 8:15pm until 9:15pm starting on June 3rd, 2024
Class Dates: June 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, July 1st, 8th
must attend first class to participate
Where: RVA Swing dance studio, 6114C Lakeside Ave Henrico VA 23228
Instructors: Mattie Kelly & Sydney Bernstein-Miller
While Mattie Kelly began dancing Lindy Hop in 2013, she fell in love with swing dancing long before that (specifically, while watching Swing Kids in her high school World History class). Since then, it has gloriously taken over her life, and she's pretty happy about that.
Instructors: Mattie Kelly & Sydney Bernstein-Miller
Format: Rotating Partner (no partner required)
Pre-requisites: none!
Cost: Sliding Scale of $30 to $90 per person for the 6 week series (choose your price at registration)
About the class:
Pre-requisites: none!
Cost: Sliding Scale of $30 to $90 per person for the 6 week series (choose your price at registration)
Advance registration & pre-payment is required.
About the class:
👉🏾🌈Please note: this session is especially for folks in the LGBTQIA+ community. We ask that you only sign up for this class unit if you are a member of the queer community. 🌈👈🏾
If that does not apply to you, we invite to check out our many other studio classes.
Learn the basics of partnered swing dancing in this 6 week series. No partner is needed, but advance registration is required. Be sure to sign up early, as these beginner units sell out every single time Mattie offers them!
High heels are not recommended, and shoes with less grip will make this dance a bit easier (ex: Keds or Toms with smooth soles).
Because each class will build on the material in the previous class, registration is for the whole series only. New students without prior experience in this specific dance style must attend the 1st class in order to participate in subsequent classes.
A note on dance partners: we are offering this class in a standard Rotating Partner format. Students will change partners throughout class (even those who come with a partner). This helps everyone learn the art of social dancing and provides all students with equitable access to dance partners.
A note on dance roles: Swing dancing is basically a team sport consisting of two players. You'll be asked to choose whether you'd like to learn as a "follow" or as a "lead" at registration. This is to help us make sure we have a good lead/follow balance in the class. If you don't have a strong role preference, you can indicate that also, and we can assign you a dance role when you arrive, based on the balance of the class. Both roles are equally fun, and also equally challenging. Learn more about dance roles in this handy video!
What is Swing? What is Lindy Hop?
Lindy Hop is the original swing dance (and often the terms "Swing" and "Lindy Hop" are used interchangeably). It was invented by Black Americans in Harlem's Savoy Ballroom in the 1920s and 30s and reflects the energy and excitement of the hard-driving swing music popular at the time.
Lindy Hop is the original swing dance (and often the terms "Swing" and "Lindy Hop" are used interchangeably). It was invented by Black Americans in Harlem's Savoy Ballroom in the 1920s and 30s and reflects the energy and excitement of the hard-driving swing music popular at the time.
About your instructor:
An educator by profession, Mattie knows that it takes more than technical skill to be an effective teacher. She is adept at meeting people where they are and encouraging growth from any skill level. As a teacher, Mattie is candid, adaptable, and the right amount of goofy.
Outside of the classroom, you can find Mattie solo dancing in most situations-- whether it's improvising on the social floor, practicing drills in the studio, or choreographing and performing with her teammates. If you really want to get her going, ask Mattie about her favorite version of Splanky.
(photo credit: Jerry Almonte)
Register Online:
this class is full
put your name on the wait-list
we will contact you if another student cancels their registration
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Registered students:
Once you hit submit, our registration system sends out an almost instant confirmation email with all your information. Didn't receive one? Please check your spam folder first, then contact us at RVAswing@gmail.com. (You will also get a PayPal receipt once your credit card payment is complete, sent from PayPal).
Venmo payments should be sent to @Erica-Vess (3132 if prompted)
