Levels
Lindy Hop
During this class, we won't be doing a set choreography because it's all about fun and freedom on the dance floor. Each week, we start with a solo warm-up, focusing on perfecting a few authentic jazz moves. From there, we build on your dance skills by creating surprising combinations of 6 and 8 counts. These dynamic moves are not only fun to learn but also easy to apply in your lindy hop adventures!
No partner? No problem! This series is accessible to everyone, regardless of your experience with lindy hop or the lack of a dance partner. Whether you come alone or as a couple, you are warmly welcome to join and enjoy the rhythmic energy that our dance community has to offer.
So what are you waiting for? Let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of the music and join our vibrant dance family! Sign up today and let your footwork adventure begin. Let's swing together!
Are you passionate about Lindy Hop? Have you been dancing for at least 2 years and are you looking to take your dancing to the next level? Have you attended swing dance festivals and do you social dance or train regularly? This is a class aimed at students who are looking to learn beyond new figures to focus more on foundations, dynamics, rhythm, creativity, and concept classes that will help facilitate their own practice and development. Expect a good amount of references to historical footage and the original African American dancers from the era.
To join this level, you should be highly motivated, comfortable mixing different rhythms and basics, have a strong grasp of Charleston repertoire, and should be experimenting with your own styling and expression.
Learn how to dance Lindy Hop from scratch – in both roles!
Why? You get to meet and dance with more people, and you’ll become a better dancer (experiencing the “other” role will help you gain a better understanding of what’s needed in your “primary” role).
You will learn basic steps in the 6 and 8 count rhythm framework in both the leader role and the follower role.
The course is beginner-friendly, specially designed for those who have little-to-no dance experience, and for those who have danced other types of dances but want to try lindy hop.
I’m a lindy hopper and enjoy dancing as a leader or a follower
Why would I join a ELEF (everybody lead, everybody follow) class and dance Lindy Hop in both roles!
* You get to meet and dance with more people.
* You’ll become a better dancer; experiencing the “other” role will help you gain a better understanding of what’s needed in your “primary” role.
* To learn the other role without feeling observed by others.
* To choose yourself when you want to dance, with whom and in which role.
* For followers, no waste of time waiting a free leader now you can lead :)
* To have great fun.
The course is specially designed for experienced Lindy hop dancers.
This level is meant for those who are absolutely new to Lindy Hop and need to learn the basics.
In this class you will learn 6 and 8 count basics, triple steps, kick steps and charleston as either a lead or a follow.
The main aim of this course is to help students discover Lindy Hop and to give them the tools needed to have fun and go out social dancing!
Short description: For students who need to learn their Lindy Hop basics.
This mixed level brings together all groups from every intermediate level.
You’ve got a good knowledge of common Lindy and Charleston figures (e.g. swing out, tuck turn, pass-by, texas tommy, sugar pushes, tandem charleston, hand to hand charleston), and are comfortable switching between these in your dancing. You’re interested in expanding your vocabulary further, learning more about rhythm and jazz music, and becoming more independent in creating your own steps and refining your own style. Specific guidelines are given to all and there is plenty of time to exercise.
Registration with a partner is mandatory.
You’ve mastered basic 6 and 8 count figures (like the tuck turn, send out, circle and swing out), know your charleston, and have started to switch between all of these in your dancing.
During this course we will expand your vocabulary with new moves, concepts and rhythms, and will help you improve the technique of your basics.
To take this class you must have followed 5+ months of weekly classes with Apollo Swing, or another school. If coming from another school, please try to register to the level that sounds most suitable to your experience - at class, our teachers will then assess whether or not you are in the appropriate class, and reserve the right to move you up or down a level.
Short description: For students with 5+ months experience.
You’ve mastered basic 6 and 8 count figures (like the tuck turn, send out, change of place, circle and swing out), know your charleston, and can quite comfortably switch between all of these in your dancing.
During this course we will continue to expand your vocabulary with new moves, concepts and rhythms, and will help you improve the technique of your basics.
To take this class you must have followed +/- 1 year of weekly classes with Apollo Swing, or another school. If coming from another school, please try to register to the level that sounds most suitable to your experience - at class, our teachers will then assess whether or not you are in the appropriate class, and reserve the right to move you up or down a level.
Short description: For students with approx. 1 year of experience.
You’re familiar with a wide range of basics and fundamentals, and can use all these in your social dancing. You’ve begun exploring more complex rhythms and figures, and are starting to put some more of your own flair into your dancing, but you also appreciate the value of working hard on your fundamentals
During this course we will continue to expand your vocabulary with new moves, concepts and rhythms, while also spending time improving your technique and partner connection, helping you to unlock the tools you need to improvise more with your partner and the music.
To take this class you must have followed +/- 2 years of weekly classes.
Short description: For students with approx. 2 years of experience.
You social dance regularly at swing parties and have maybe even travelled to an international dance festival or two. You feel comfortable on the dance floor, and have a strong grasp of fundamentals. You are developing your awareness of swing music, and have a broad vocabulary of variations and sometimes create your own.
During this course we will continue to expand your vocabulary with greater focus on technique, rhythm, jazz music, and improvisation. If you are looking to be challenged in these areas, this level is for you.
You can join this level for several sessions until you are recommended by your teacher to proceed to the next level. But don’t worry, there is plenty to learn!
To take this class you must have followed +/- 2 to 3 years of weekly classes. If coming from another school, please try to register to the level that sounds most suitable to your experience - at class, our teachers will then assess whether or not you are in the appropriate class, and reserve the right to move you up or down a level.
Short description: For students with 2-3+ years of experience.
By invitation or audition only. Are you passionate about Lindy Hop? Have you been dancing for at least 2 years and are you looking to take your dancing to the next level? Have you attended swing dance festivals and do you social dance or train regularly?
This is a class aimed at students who are looking to learn beyond new figures to focus more on rhythm, creativity, and concept classes that will help facilitate their own practice and development.
To audition for this level, you should be highly motivated, comfortable mixing different rhythms and basics, have a strong grasp of Charleston repertoire, and should be experimenting with your own styling and expression. Students are only admitted to this class on invitation, or after successfully passing our open audition, held at the beginning of the semester.
Short description: By invitation or successful audition only.
Solo Jazz
Join Our Midday Dance and Stretching Class!
Are you looking for a refreshing break in the middle of your day? Come and join our Midday Dance and Stretching class at Apollo Swing! This energizing session runs from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM, providing the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate your body and mind during lunch.
Why Join Us?
- Boost Your Energy: Our dynamic dance routines will get your heart pumping and your spirits soaring.
- Increase Flexibility: The stretching helps improve your flexibility, reducing stress and tension.
- Convenient Timing: Perfectly scheduled during lunch hours to fit into your busy day.
- Fun and Friendly Environment: Our teacher Bara create a welcoming atmosphere for all skill levels.
The aim of this class is to move and sweat through dancing, work on our body posture, and release the tension in our muscles through slow stretches in movement and on the ground.
All levels are welcome, from beginners to advanced dancers.
The class will be given in English.
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to dance, stretch, and revitalize yourself. Sign up now and transform your midday break into a moment of joy!
This class is meant for those who are new to solo jazz, or who have a small amount of experience through their Lindy Hop classes.
In this class you will learn fundamental vernacular jazz repertoire, along with some small choreographies, and some fundamentals of rhythm and improvisation in your jazz dance.
NO PARTNER is needed for this class. Anyone can join.
In this class you will learn fundamental vernacular jazz repertoire, along with some small choreographies, and some fundamentals of rhythm and improvisation in your jazz dance.
To take this class you must have followed 5+ months of weekly Solo Jazz classes.
NO PARTNER is needed for this class. Anyone can join.
You’re familiar and comfortable with a wide range of jazz steps (Tack Annie, Apple Jacks, Fall-off-the-Log, Half-break, Full break, etc), have learned a number of vernacular jazz choreographies, and have started improvising as a solo dancer.
In this class you will work on your fundamental repertoire, while also delving into more complex choreographies, rhythms, and working further on improvisation.
NO PARTNER is needed for this class.
You’re familiar with a wide range of jazz steps (Tack Annie, Apple Jacks, Fall-off-the-Log, Half-break, Full break, etc) and feel comfortable learning choreographies without much assistance. You’ve begun exploring more complex rhythms and combinations, and are starting to put some more of your own flair into your dancing.
In this class you will learn more complex choreographies, deepen your understanding of rhythm and swing music, and will be challenged to improvise and create your own choreographies and steps.
To take this class, you should have a minimum of 1.5 years experience taking weekly solo jazz classes, or should have trained to have equivalent experience. Students with experience in other dance styles only should not register for this class.
NO PARTNER is needed for this class.
This Solo class is for anyone interested in the basics of Jazz Roots. Start with a vocabulary of steps, learn to improvise to music, to create particular rhythms, to feel good with your own movements.
This class will finally allow you to express your personal perception of the music even when you dance as a couple.
NO PARTNER is needed for this class.
This class is meant for those who are new to solo jazz classes but who either have a small amount of solo jazz experience through their Lindy Hop classes, or new students who are willing to be pushed a little bit harder as Solo Jazz Level 1 to quickly develop their basic solo jazz repertoire.
In this class you will learn fundamental vernacular jazz repertoire, along with some small choreographies, and some fundamentals of rhythm and improvisation in your jazz dance.
NO PARTNER is needed for this class. Anyone can join.
Shag
You have been taking weekly Shag classes for 2 years, you have mastered the basics and you are ready for more variations and Rhythms.
We hope to get you up on your feet, hopping to the beat, with the high energy steps of Collegiate Shag. Born in student parties and the African-American communities of North and South Carolina in the 1920s and ‘30s, this energetic dance offers an exciting way of dancing to faster swing music. In our class you will learn all the core shag steps, characterised by a relaxed upper body but crazy, kicking legs, allowing you to follow and enjoy the fastest swing tunes with minimal effort. You will learn the basics steps like single time and double time basic, Shagout, Yale, send out, change places, bring back. Don’t hesitate to jump in; our teachers will give it their all so you can learn Collegiate Shag in a relaxed and happy atmosphere!
Beginner/Intermediate:
If the Collegiate Shag basic is already in your body and you don’t have to think about it, then it is time to spice things up! In this class will add more basic steps, more breaks and more kicks. Yes, it’s time for the double-kick!
Join us and learn famous moves such as sliding-doors, Groovy-movie pass, double kicks, cross kicks and more. After this course you will easily fill any fast song on a social floor with your awesome new moves.
We are offering “Performance" classes for all ages and levels. This is the perfect class for people who want to train, improve and create. We will be getting inspired by the classic Collegiate Shag routines.
To follow this class you don't need to perform if you do not like it.
Blues
At this level, there is no need for any blues dancing experience. If you’ve already had several teasers or participated in previous jamborees, you are also welcome in this level. You will be able to consolidate your basics, and to enrich your vocabulary and explore the many genres, rhythms and tempos.
No partner is required, and everyone will get the opportunity to dance with each other in both lead and follow roles.
We will work on solo movement, but also, we will dance in couple.
Since blues dancing often involves connecting in close embrace (a body to body connection between partners) consent will be prioritized at all times. Everyone has the right to say no to a dance and that right must be respected.
At this level, you would have had a steady harvest of blues dance classes and would have taken part in several classes, workshops or festivals. The intermediate level will take your skills up to the next and you will enlarge your vocabulary and refine the basic movements. Classes will focus more on musicality and technique the different blues dance idioms. By the end of the course, you’ll have the tools to express yourself in to the solo and partnered dance, with a more extended knowledge of blues dancing aesthetic and eventually its culture and history.
Solo Blues dancing is performed without a partner, on a large variety of Blues music. No prior experience is required, but if you are a long-time or a Lindy Hop dancer, it might be an asset for mastering the movements and rhythms on slow music. Solo Blues differs from partner Blues dancing, even though performed on the same Blues music, inviting alternatively slower, sensuous, or accentuated movements on stronger rhythms.
Belly Swing
This newly introduced dance is accessible to beginners. No previous experience is required. However, Lindy Hoppers or Solo Jazz dancers who want to try out something new are encouraged to join. Inspired by the sensuous oriental Belly Dance from the Golden Era, Belly Swing will mix different styles and techniques, old and new, making links with Swing, Lindy Hop, Blues and Charleston, all the while creating a group choreography. This class will aim at exploring body awareness, body isolation, rhythm, all on different beats and various influences in the music. The newly acquired techniques will no doubt add to the individual style of each dancer.
Charleston
Charleston and fast dancing. If you've been dancing one year or just started, diving into the history and influence of Charleston on Lindy Hop is always an interesting option. Or if you want to work on your fast dancing skills, this is the class for you. We will dive into the history of what inspired Lindy Hop by looking at Breakaway and 20’s, 30's Charleston and their stylistic differences. The old timers loved adding solo Jazz steps in their Lindy hop dancing. In this class we want to focus on integrating and spicing up our Swing dancing by doing couple dancing and solo dancing. This level is suitable for beginners.