Everybody leads, everybody follows!
As of January 2023, our absolute beginner courses* will be taught with the 'ELEF' model:
Everybody leads, Everybody follows!
Why are we doing this?
*No more waiting lists!
A common issue, particularly for follow dancers.
*No need for a partner to join workshops!
Everyone gets an equal chance to join workshops.
*No more imbalance in classes!
Everyone gets the chance to dance more often, without having to stand in a 'gap' in the circle.
*More inclusivity & less reliance on outdated gender roles!
A more welcoming atmosphere for LGBTQ+ dancers.
*Improved technique!
An understanding of both roles makes a person a better dancer.
*More fun at social dances!
Being able to dance with everyone in the room, what could be more fun than that?
*Please note - at the moment, the ELEF model will only be applied to the green lindy hop courses, and the green balboa course.
The blue courses will continue with fixed roles*, and as new students join in later terms, the ELEF role will be expanded to higher levels.
*When taking the balboa blue course, it is possible to choose if you'd like to lead, follow or switch; simply inform the teachers before registering to help keep the class balance.
At this time, Lindyplus does not support a 'switch' option when registering, so you'll need to choose a role when registering onto the course, even if you intend to switch.
Apologies for the inconvenience.
The length of a course
Our regular courses are 12 lessons long, and have different colours to denote different levels. Our first courses are green. If you are interested in learning Balboa, for example, you will start with Balboa Green. If you are interested in Lindy Hop, Lindy Hop green beginners is the course to start with and will be followed by green level 2, 3, & 4.
No dancing experience?
You are welcome to join us! Check the lesson schedule - the next block of 12 weeks should be starting soon, just pick one of the courses that say: Lindy Hop green (for Learning Lindy Hop), or Balboa Green (for learning Balboa). There might be more beginner groups during the same time period, but it takes place only once a week. You should choose the day of the week for your class before signing up and that will be the group you will attend.
What to expect
Please make sure when you come to class that you are clean and fragrant – a pleasure to dance with for your partner!
If necessary, please bring a spare t-shirt and some deodorant with you. Breath mints can also be nice, if you had a particularly spicy meal!
In partner dancing we communicate with our partner via a physical connection.
Please make sure to respect each others personal boundaries: always ask if other person would like to dance and practice with you and check in with your partner if they are comfortable before and during connecting and dancing.
If someone asks you to dance or practice and you feel uncomfortable dancing with them then you don't have to do so, and it's not necessary to give a reason.
At SiR we place strong value on providing a comfortable and safe environment for our students, so we also encourage you to express any concerns you may have to your teachers, both during or outside of class.
If you would like to more about what to expect on the dancefloor, read this blog on the website of our friends at Roffaswing (and written by a Swing in Rhythm teacher).