Charleston to Swing Dance - Level 1 - Morley College Courses

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When & Where

26 April 2025 - 5 July 2025 ( 10 hours, 10 weeks )
Afternoon, Saturday
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Waterloo Centre

Quick Facts

Availability Yes
Tutor Nikki Santilli
Course Code W24DNEE01C
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

This course is designed as an introduction to social Lindy Hop, the famous African-American partnered dance from Harlem New York that sprang up in response to the new swing style of popular jazz music. Lindy Hop took the world by storm in the 1930s and was the forerunner to West Coast Swing and Jive. You will learn the two basic Lindy Hop rhythms and some steps that they can lead and follow them, and how to freestyle with them in a social dance setting, Each class will end with 15 minutes dedicated entirely to freestyle (with tutor guidance & feedback) to support your practice and your confidence to attend social swing dance events. Achievement on your course will be measured by whether you meet the following learning outcomes. At the start of the course you will have an opportunity to discuss these with your tutor and set your own personal targets, linked to the learning outcomes and future goals i.e. progression to an advanced-level course.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Dance basic Lindy Hop and Lindy Charleston figures
Freestyle these steps to music from 1930s and 1940s
Lead and/or follow these steps using partner dancing techniques
Have a basic understanding of how personal style and variations/embellishments can be incorporated while dancing with a partner
Optional: experience the dance in both roles (‘lead’ and ‘follow’)

Cost

Full fee

£95

Concession fee

£70

Click here for information on Fees, Funding and Concessions (including financial support)

Class format and activities

The class will include a warm up, simple step combinations to introduce you to the music and expand your repertoire of steps that can be danced to it. Working with a class partner to understand and execute partnering techniques Dancing suggested combinations and enjoy experimenting with your own. The class blends tutor-led instruction & demonstration with partner work among students with the tutor on hand to provide guidance and feedback. The final 15 minutes of each class will simulate a social dance with the benefit of having the tutor on hand to answer questions and give tips etc to dance partners. In order to ensure you make the best possible progress on your course, you will have regular constructive and supportive feedback from your tutor. In addition to your dance practice, study can include the use of digital resources such as film & photography, useful websites and connection with online communities of interest via social media to enhance your learning. Dance study offers a range of benefits including being an enjoyable way to increase fitness whilst enhancing wellbeing. Dance practice at Morley can also serve to enhance skills relevant for employment by means of encouraging increased confidence, physical dexterity and concentration.

Entry requirements

This entry-level class is open to all. However, a reasonable degree of fitness is required. Excellent attendance and punctuality will be required from all students. This course will include some completion of activities outside of class time, e.g. preparation of favourite exercises to share with fellow students. Photography and film recording of class activities may be used in order to aid learning. These images may also be used for publicity or marketing materials produced by Morley College, both online and in print. You will have the opportunity to either confirm or decline consent to being filmed or photographed. Please consult your doctor if you are pregnant, have any serious health conditions or a history of injury. Please inform your tutor if there is any physical activity you have be advised to avoid.

What you need to know before you enrol

Aside from Covid safety consideration, please be aware that Authentic Jazz/Swing Dance includes breakaways and jazz steps so an element of non-partnered dancing will form a part of your study.

What you need

Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. A bottle of water. Shoes: Ideally a flat or low heel. Jazz-dance or character shoes. Plimsoles or tennis shoes but no trainers or stilettoes.

What you can do next

The Jazz Age course is followed by The Swing Era course, which traces these dances into the next decade. Level 2 looks at these eras in more depth with routines of greater complexity. The Morley College dance department provides an exciting and diverse range of term-time and short course dance study provision. Please speak to your tutor, pick up a prospectus, look at our website or call the dance department for more information.

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