Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started?
Any lesson noted as “beginner, “open level,” or “101“ will start you from the ground up - no experience or partner is required! We try to have the option to pre-register available, but more often than not, participants can just drop-in.
What classes should I take?
You can find more info on the specific styles and how the classes are leveled here. Know that, depending on where we are in the series, we might not be recapping content from prior weeks.
How old do I have to be?
We welcome anyone over 18 years of age to participate. Sometimes we'll be holding an event at a venue that requires attendees to be 21, and we will let you know if/when that is the case. We always ask that anyone under 21 obey Wisconsin law and refrain from consuming alcohol at our events.
Do I need to bring a partner?
No! Swing is a social dance. We rotate partners as part of the lessons to get you accustomed to dancing with different people throughout the night. Both leads and follows should feel comfortable asking anyone to dance. Don't have a partner for the current song? Get your solo dance on. Anything goes!
What do you mean by Lead and Follow?
In social dancing, one of the partners is called the lead (the person who lays out the structure of the dance and often initiates moves) and the other is the follow (the person who responds to and elaborates on what is lead). Both roles are extremely important, require different skills, and work together to create the dance. We encourage everyone to place themselves in the lessons wherever they feel the most comfortable and not choose based on gender. More and more dancers these days are learning both roles and becoming "ambidancestrous," and we think that's awesome — so choose your role at will or mix it up as the night goes on!
What should I wear?
You'll see all sorts on our social floors. From jeans and t-shirts to cocktail dresses — remember, it's a physical activity, so whatever you're comfortable wearing is probably fine. Most folks keep it pretty casual — even more so for lessons and workshops.
Know that the room can warm up pretty quickly once everyone is moving, so layers that can be removed are helpful as well as a change of shirt (or two) if you're prone to sweating. Spins and twists can cause skirts to be air born, so a pair of shorts or leggings underneath can be helpful. Sometimes we have costume or theme nights and, while everyone is encouraged to dress up, it's never required to do so.
What about shoes?
You don't need specific or expensive dance shoes to participate. Again, comfort is key. Swing is a fast and energetic dance with lots of spins and turns - very high heels, heavy treads or little ankle support (like sandals/flip flops) can lead to injuries and are not recommended. Any pair of clean, low traction, comfortable shoes will do. Keds or Converse are some easily acquired choices - or any good cobbler can add a suede sole to a pair of shoes. Some venues (Daync Studio, for example) do not allow street shoes worn on the dance floor, so it's good to have a dedicated pair of shoes for such occasions or plan to dance in socks.
Do you offer private lessons?
CCSwing doesn't offer private lessons directly, but some of our teachers do. Prices vary from teacher to teacher based on their experience, size of group, distance to travel, etc. We're happy to help put you in touch with someone to get private lessons set up. Head over to our private lessons page for more information and to fill out a questionnaire. If you're looking for tutoring, catch us after classes at our open practice.
This was so much fun! Where can I find more dancing!?
All over the world! For more events in and around Southeastern Wisconsin, check out Milwaukee Stomp, a community curated calendar with a wealth of information on local socials, lessons and live music. When you’re traveling, just Google the city name and “Lindy Hop” or “Swing Dance” and you’re likely to find the local scene. It's a fantastic way to make new friends. Welcome aboard!
Check out our code of conduct for more tips and information on what to expect at our events.