Learn to Dance

There is absolutely no experience (not even a partner!) needed when you join us for lessons here at the DSDS.

All that we ask is that you come with a smile, an open mind, and wearing clean indoor shoes with non-marking soles.

~DAlking Swing is a safe space~

We care about your safety and comfort. If anyone, regardless who, is making you uncomfortable, please come tell a staff member , executive or volunteer.

As these are semi-public lessons, we reserve the right to ask anyone to leave if they are disrupting the event, the enjoyment of our attendees or any other reason that we deem reasonable.

FALL Lessons 2019

We've got some wonderful lessons to keep that autumn chill away, and you don't want to miss them. Join us at the First Baptist Church at 1300 Oxford Street for lessons and social dances. As always, you don't need to bring a partner or have any experience in dance, so come on!

Date: Every saturday! (with some exceptions)

Time: 8-close

Price: $5

location: 1300 Oxford street

Come learn to swing dance! Every week, a group of wonderful dancers welcomes you to learn and dance with them. The night begins with a half-hour introductory lesson, followed with dancing to some great swing music until we’re tired--all for only $5!!

No dancing experience or partner required, so come learn to swing, meet some friendly people, and dance the night away with us!

Please bring non-scuffing indoor shoes, and keep scented products to a minimum.

- - - - - - - - - -
Doors open at 6:30pm
Drop-in Beginner lesson 8-8:30pm
- - - - - - - - - -

You can invite your friends to the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/dalswing/events/

Back to top

Date: NOv 9-Dec 14 (5 WEEKS; Nov 16 off)

Time: 6:30-8

Price: $45 ($23 for repeaters)

location: 1300 Oxford street

Want to try a partner dance? Are you an absolute beginner with little or no experience? Trying to get some exercise while just having a blast? Lindy hop is a wonderful, joyful dance for all ages! This dance comes to us from the ballrooms of Harlem where Black dancers and musicians pioneered this incredible art form.

Please join us for a 6-week progressive series where you will be introduced to lindy hop fundamentals (no partner or previous experience required!). In this class, we will start from square one, going step by step to get you moving with some confidence and rhythm on the dance floor. We will cover basic 6-count and 8-count moves, including tuck turns, promenades, send outs, and swing outs.

For an example of lindy hop, watch us at summer waterfront dancing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuqRQWcUJ44

You can invite your friends to the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/dalswing/events/

Back to top

DROP IN Registration

Please note that for progressive classes, if you can not attend all of the classes in a series, please email dalswing@gmail.com to see about partial attendance.

Date: NOv 9-Dec 14 (5 WEEKS; Nov 16 off)

Time: 6:30-8

Price: $37 ($18 for Repeaters)

Location: 1300 Oxford Street

Have you taken Lindy 1, or have done a lot of social dancing and want to work on your swing outs and Charleston? Please join us for a 5-week progressive series where we will take your dancing to the next level, no partner required. In this class, we will work on improving your swing-out technique expand your ability to connect to the music and our partners, and show you cool variations for both swing outs and basic 6 count moves. We will also speed the music up and introduce you to partnered Charleston, an energetic and exciting style of moves. At the end of these classes, you will be dancing to a larger range of music tempos, and will have more tools to express yourself on the dance floor.

Back to top

December Module is Fast & Slow Lindy

Dates (3 classes): Weds Dec 4, 11, 18
Time: 7:30-9:00 pm
Location: Dalplex
Price: $23
Prerequisite: Lindy Level 1a & 1b/Lindy 2-Must be comfortable with swing outs.

Often in classes, we end up practicing things at a steady even tempo, but there’s so much more to dancing than the medium tempo of 150 bpm (beats per minute). Do you ever say to yourself, “Oh I don’t want to dance this one...it’s too slow!” or “...it’s too fast!” In this class we will stretch the extremes of Lindy hop from slower blues tempos up to rip-roaring 200 bpm+ of the great jam sessions. Technique is key to mastering these two ends of the Lindy hop spectrum, so learning slow will help us when things get fast, and vice versa. Learn all kinds of tricks and skills for having a great dance, no matter what the speed.

Note: While this is a three-week class is not explicitly progressive, it is encouraged to do all three classes as a whole series if possible

Back to top

Blues dancing classes are back this fall -- Got the blues so bad! 

Location and time: 1313 Hollis St, 7 pm to 8:30 pm Thursday nights

Dal-Kings Swing is happy to announce that blues dancing classes are back this fall. Classes are designed for all levels, with something for everyone interested in moving and improvising to blues music while improving their repertoire of strategies and moves to make the dance interesting.

(Classes are progressive, so dancers are encouraged to register for the 6-week set.

Drop-ins are possible for dancers with previous blues experience: cost $10 per lesson to drop in.] 

Session A: September 12 to October 17 – I think I got the blues

This session will focus on partnering techniques and dance dynamics.

Session B: October 24-November 28 - Got nuthin’ but the blues

This session will focus on quality of movement, musicality, and improvisation.

Cost per 6-week session: $30 students, $45 community members

What is blues dancing? Blues dancing is a relaxed partner or solo dance that responds to the rhythms and emotions of blues music. It includes a family of dances created in African American communities for social dancing to blues and jazz music, from the late 19th through the 20th century. Rooted in African movement, blues dancing values improvisation, rhythm, and fun. Over the last several decades, a vibrant blues dancing community has grown in many parts of the world, from the birthplace of the blues in the US south, to festivals in Europe, to clubs in East Asia.  (For more on blues dancing, check out Blues Dance New York or Laura Chieko’s pages http://bluesdancenewyork.com/what-is-blues/  http://www.laurachieko.com/blues-idiom-dances/ )

Back to top

Check the Dal King’s Swing website registration page to register. http://www.dalswing.ca/registration/

Past Modules

• Charleston

• Big Apple

• Shim Sham

• Peer-led Practices

• Musicality and Rhythm

Not sure if you want to make the leap? Check out our weekly swing factory for a drop in lesson!