When: Saturday, March 28th, 2026 at 1pm
Where: RVA Swing Dance Studio, 6114 Lakeside Ave, Suite C
Instructors: Jess Churgin & Erica Vess
Cost: Sliding Scale of $35 - $95 per student (choose your own price at registration)
IMPORTANT: Class size is limited and classes often sell out ahead of time We strongly encourage you to register online in advance to ensure that you get a spot! Once all the spaces in the workshop have been sold, there will be no more at-the-door registration available.
About the workshop:
Never danced before? This workshop is for you!
Done other forms of partnered dance, but are new to Lindy Hop? This workshop is for you!
Never danced before? This workshop is for you!
Done other forms of partnered dance, but are new to Lindy Hop? This workshop is for you!
Current student looking to brush up on your fundamentals or learn the other role? Hey, this workshop is for you too!
Want to learn to swing dance, but can't commit to one of our 6-week weeknight units? We got you!
Want to learn to swing dance, but can't commit to one of our 6-week weeknight units? We got you!
No partner or previous experience required.
In this 4 hour workshop, Jess & Erica will introduce you to the fundamentals of Lindy Hop, the classic swing dance! In addition to learning footwork and moves, you'll learn about partner connection/communication, and why this dance is hella fun!
In this 4 hour workshop, Jess & Erica will introduce you to the fundamentals of Lindy Hop, the classic swing dance! In addition to learning footwork and moves, you'll learn about partner connection/communication, and why this dance is hella fun!
This special beginners workshop will start from zero and build from there: registration is for the entire 4hr workshop only and you must arrive at the start of the workshops (1pm) to participate.
This one-day intensive will essentially cover the same material from our 6-week Intro to Swing Dancing unit, and is a great way to jump-start your swing dance journey (or refresh your skills, if you have been away from the dancefloor for a while).
This is a standard rotating-partner group class and we will change partners throughout class (even if you come with a partner). This means no one is without a partner AND you learn the skills to dance with anyone on the social floor.
BONUS! You can also join us later that night for our monthly social dance and drop-in beginner basics lesson. This is included in your registration as a fun bonus, but is totally optional.
¿Quieres aprender bailar pero no hablas mucho inglés? Jess y Erica hablan español tambien!
(mas o menos😆) Dudas? Envié un mensaje a RVAswing@gmail.com
Weekend Schedule:
Saturday March 28th
12:30pm - doors open
1pm - Beginners Workshop Part 1
reminder: you MUST arrive by 1pm to participate
3pm - 30 minute rest break
3:30pm - Beginners Workshop Part 2
reminder! you MUST take Part 1 to take Part 2!
reminder! you MUST take Part 1 to take Part 2!
5:30pm - workshops end
(studio closed for dinner break)
6:30pm - doors reopen for our monthly social dance
7pm: Beginner Swing Lesson w/RVA Swing staff
(included with your workshop registration)
8pm: Social Dancing to DJ'd music
(included with your workshop registration)
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.
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!
Your Instructors
Erica Vess owns & operates the RVA Swing studio & has been teaching Lindy Hop, Balboa & Jazz in Richmond since 2012. Known for her patient, clear instruction and A+ joke skills, her primary goal is creating a safe, fun, & supportive learning environment for all students.
Register Online:
doors will open at 12:30pm for last-minute walk-in registrations, if we have any unsold spaces.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged to guarantee your spot in class.
Registered students: Our registration system sends out an almost instant confirmation email with all your information, including payment links. Didn't receive one? Please check your spam folder first, then contact us at RVAswing@gmail.com.
You'll also receive an email from us the week of the workshop with everything you need to know.
The following types of shoes are absolutely prohibited inside the RVA Swing studio:
- NO stilettos or other spiked heels. Not only are these inappropriate and dangerous footwear for swing dancing, they also tend to gouge and dent wood floors. Thick, sturdy dance heels are ok.
- No home-made duct tape soles. Yeah these might work great for a bit, but as you dance, you wear through the tape and leave sticky adhesive gunk for everyone else to dance on.
- No tap shoes. These shred the floor. Any tap classes offered will be soft-shoe only. :)
Shoe Policy
We spent over a month building our dance floor and we want it to stand the test of time! Help us keep it nice by following these basic guidelines:
--Please remove your street shoes in the hallway sitting area.
-- Please wear suede or leather-soled dance shoes for classes and dances if you have them.
-- If you don't own dance shoes, please bring any clean pair of shoes to change into for classes/dances. This will help us keep grit and dirt off the floor.
For Lindy Hop, we recommend flat, smooth soled shoes, athletic shoes, or other sensible, low-heeled footwear for active movement.
We spent over a month building our dance floor and we want it to stand the test of time! Help us keep it nice by following these basic guidelines:
--Please remove your street shoes in the hallway sitting area.
-- Please wear suede or leather-soled dance shoes for classes and dances if you have them.
-- If you don't own dance shoes, please bring any clean pair of shoes to change into for classes/dances. This will help us keep grit and dirt off the floor.
For Lindy Hop, we recommend flat, smooth soled shoes, athletic shoes, or other sensible, low-heeled footwear for active movement.
The following types of shoes are absolutely prohibited inside the RVA Swing studio:
- NO stilettos or other spiked heels. Not only are these inappropriate and dangerous footwear for swing dancing, they also tend to gouge and dent wood floors. Thick, sturdy dance heels are ok.
- No home-made duct tape soles. Yeah these might work great for a bit, but as you dance, you wear through the tape and leave sticky adhesive gunk for everyone else to dance on.
- No tap shoes. These shred the floor. Any tap classes offered will be soft-shoe only. :)
How to find us
The RVA Swing studio is located inside the Lakeside Towne Center, at 6114 Lakeside Ave. There is tons of free parking in the lot adjacent to the Farmer's Market pavilion, as well as behind the Towne Center building. Enter through the Towne Shops door under the RVA Swing sign and head down the hallway!
Please note that some GPS systems will send you about 2 blocks away. We recommend using our Google Maps listing for directions.
