Rochester Swing-In
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
- Are there lessons at the Swing-In?
- Is the Swing-In a good place for beginners?
- Is the Swing-In just for beginners?
- Do I need a partner?
- Should I wait to complete a specific swing dance class (like Swing 1) before coming to the Swing-In?
- What type of music do you play?
- What is the Swing-In's atmosphere like?
- How many people attend the Swing-In?
- What is the leader to follower ratio? Are there enough leaders?
- Is the Swing-In affiliated with St. Thomas Church?
- Why do you charge an admission Fee?
Answers
Q: Are there lessons at the Swing-In?
A: The Swing-In is a social dance, and we do not provide formal lessons. However,if you just want to try Swing Dancing before signing up to take lessons, Esther Brill does provide a half hour mini "survival" lesson at 8:00PM on the first Thursday of the month. This will give you a quick introduction to Swing dancing so you can try it out. Also, there are typically people at the Swing-In that are willing to help get new dancers started by showing them some of the basics. After trying it out, and having a great time, many newcomers go on to take lessons. There are several instructors locally that provide Swing Dance lessons.
TopQ: Is the Swing-In a good place for beginners?
A: Yes! The Swing-In offers a great atmosphere for beginners. It is a very friendly and casual atmosphere. The crowd is just the right size, so newcomers are not overwhelmed, but feel very welcome and comfortable. And like any skill, you will only get better at dancing if you practice and do it frequently. This is especially true in the beginning until the dance becomes ingrained in you and your muscle memory. The Swing-In also provides beginners the chance to dance with more experienced dancers, which can only help them improve.
TopQ: Is the Swing-In just for beginners?
A: Absolutely not. The Swing-In is a social dance in which dancers of all experience levels are welcome. Regular attendees include dancers just starting out to multi-year veteran dancers, and every level in between.
TopQ: Do I need a partner?
A: No partner is necessary. In fact, most of the attendees of the Swing-In come solo. People readily ask each other to dance (including newcomers). Dancing with a variety of people is more fun then dancing with a consistent partner, and is also one of the best ways to improve as a dancer, as well as learn. And being asked to dance is simply an invitation to have a dance; it does not carry any other overtones or expectations that one might feel if being asked to dance when at a club or bar.
TopQ: Should I wait to complete a specific swing dance class (like Swing 1) before coming to the Swing-In?
A: Not at all. The best way to learn a new skill is to practice it straight away. You will get far more out of your classes, and be able to remember what you learned, if you immediately go out and use your new skills. Most dance instructors would agree that the students that do best in their classes are the ones that go out and try the new skills and moves they learned immediately. Some of the best dancers on the social dance floor are those that started going to weekly dances after their very first lesson of their first class. Moreover, subsequent lessons are easier if you've practiced what was presented in the previous week's lesson.
And as mentioned above, dancing regularly, with a variety of people, is the best way to learn and improve as a dancer. Do not worry about "not knowing enough moves." Everyone at the Swing-In was a beginner once, and everyone there loves to see and welcome new dancers to the dance community. You can still have a very enjoyable dance with someone even if you only know the basic step and one move.
Besides, isn't the reason you are taking dance classes so you can go out and dance? Come join us. Trust us, you'll have fun.
TopQ: What type of music do you play?
A: We play music from CDs, and occasionally have a live band come and preform. (See the Special Events page for any announcements.) The music consists mostly of a variety of both contemporary & classical jazz and big-band music, along with an occasional fifties/sixties "sock-hop" song, modern rock song, and blues song. The styles & tempos of the music played is predominantly appropriate for East-Coast Swing (a.k.a. Jitterbug) and Lindy Hop. However, an attempt is made to play an occasional song that is appropriate for West Coast Swing and for Balboa. The last song of the dance is always waltz (a common tradition at Swing Dances around the country).
TopQ: What is the Swing-In's atmosphere like?
A: It is a very friendly and casual atmosphere. Newcomers routinely comment on how welcome they were made to feel, and how friendly everyone was to them. (Note that on the occasional nights when we have a live band, the atmosphere is more "busy", but still friendly. Some newcomers have said that typical non-live-band-night, versus a special event night, is a better choice as a first night for beginning newcomers. See the Special Events page for announcements of when there are live bands.) The Swing-In gives you a place to go social dancing without the down sides of the dance club or bar atmosphere. There is no smoking or drinking of alcoholic beverages at the Swing-In.
TopQ: How many people attend the Swing-In?
A: The number of attendees vary depending on the time of year and other events happening that week. It typically ranges from 20-40 people.
TopQ: What is the leader to follower ratio? Are there enough leaders?
A: We are very fortunate that we are typically very close to having an equal number of followers and leaders each week, giving us a near perfect 1:1 ratio. There are some weeks that there may be a few less leaders then followers, however most leaders are conscientious enough of the situation that they ask a follower that has just sat out a dance to dance the next dance. We are fortunate to not have the drastic shortage of leaders that is common in some dance communities around the country. You will not see 2:1 or 3:1 follower to leader ratios that are unfortunately common elsewhere.
TopQ: Is the Swing-In affiliated with St. Thomas Church?
A: No. We merely rent the space at the church, which has a nice hardwood floor.
TopQ: Why do you charge an admission Fee?
A: The admission fee goes primarily to pay for space rental. The money also pays for new CDs and other expenses related to the dance. The Rochester Swing-In is a nonprofit organization.
Top