Workshops

THE LONDON

SWING CATS

Authentic Lindy Hop & Jitterbug from the 1940s

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

The Workshops

INTRO TO HOLLYWOOD

An intensive workshop designed to give you a basic grounding in Hollywood Style. All the basic moves and styling compressed into three hours. Ideal for complete beginners or for people who have done other swing styles and want to get to grips with Dean Collins’ styling.Cost: £15 per person

THE WHIP WORKS
The Whip is the classic Hollywood move but also one of the hardest to master. We start at first principles and build to develop and improve your styling, adding on the basic whip variations. Participants must have previous Lindy Hop experience. Cost: £15 per person

HOLLYWOOD PLUS 1, 2, & 3
These workshops are for more experienced dancers. Cost: £15 per person

Hollywood Plus 1: Classic Hollywood moves from the movies.

Hollywood Plus 2: More Advanced 6 count moves and footwork variations.

Hollywood Plus 3: Increasing your repertoire with more moves, footwork variations and styling.

HARLEM STYLE 1 & 2 (The Roots of Lindy Hop)

These workshops explore early Lindy Hop from the late 1920's through to the mid '30s. You will gain an understanding of the relationship between Charleston and Lindy and increase your repertoire with a series of authentic moves and combinations. Particular emphasis is on styling and technique which will increase your ability to dance fast Lindy Hop to music of the Jazz Age.

Cost: £15 per person

Harlem Style 1: The Basics

Harlem Style 2: Adding repertoire and variations

JAM MATERIAL & AERIALS

These workshops are for more experienced Lindy Hoppers who want to work on Jam material and routines. You will be working on a combination of lifts, drops, throws and flashier moves in the context of short routines which can be used in a jam environment.

Participants must attend as couples and obviously you must be fit as this workshop will be physically demanding.

Each workshop is unique as we shape the material depending on the abilities and mix of the couples attending. Cost £40 per couple

DEAN COLLINS’ SHIM SHAM
This classic jazz/tap line dance was originally choreographed by Leonard Reed & Willie Bryant in 1928. In the 1940s Dean Collins added his own flair, some cool jazz steps and extended the routine to create a dynamic dance which is challenging and fun. The Dean Collins’ Shim Sham also helps dancers to work on footwork variations and rhythmic syncopations which will add to your skills and abilities Lindy Hopping on the dance floor. Cost: £15. No Partner Required.

SOLO CHARLESTON 1 & 2

These workshops are based around the most popular dance of the 1920’s - The Charleston.

This wild and crazy dance achieved popularity after being featured in the 1923 Broadway musical “Running Wild”, but within a year it had swept America & Europe. It evolved as the dance of Ragtime and early Jazz music.

We are teaching Solo Charleston so you do not need a partner. Both workshops start with a warm up which goes through the basics so you do not need to have done the first workshop to do the second. Cost £15 per person

COLLEGIATE SHAG 1& 2

The fun and crazy college kids dance of the 1920s and ‘30s. Shag was the most popular jazz dance of the period before being overtaken by Lindy Hop in the late 1930s.It’s a relatively easy dance so both workshops start with the basics as a warm up and are non-sequential. Cost £15 per person.

Our workshops are held on Monday evenings in Central London with occasional Saturday’s in North London. We also teach related dances including Harlem Style Lindy Hop, Charleston & Collegiate Shag, as well as workshops in Jam Material and Aerials for more advanced dancers.

Workshop Schedule

Archway Methodist Church (Top Floor Hall)
Archway Close, London N19 3TD.
(Opposite Archway Tube)

Monday March 1st - The Whip Works
Monday March 8th - Intro To Hollywood

Monday March 15th - No Workshop: Hep Cats Holiday
Monday March 22nd - Hollywood Plus (1)
Monday March 29th - Collegiate Shag (2)

Monday April 5th - No Workshop: Bank Holiday
Monday April 12th - Intro To Hollywood

Monday April 19th - The Whip Works

Monday April 26th - Hollywood Plus (2)

Cost: £15 per person
Three Hour Classes( Mondays: 7pm - 10pm)
Places are strictly limited. Advance bookings only

FOR BOOKINGS

You can book in person at our weekly classes or email to reserve your place.

All email reservations are subject to confirmation

THE CHARLESTON (featuring Ginger Rogers)

COLLEGIATE SHAG (Music: Artie Shaw)

Note the dancing starts about half way through.