Lindy hop is a Black American social dance created in Harlem, NYC in the late 1920s. It’s typically danced to music from the swing era, or to modern music created in that style.
You’ve probably heard of swing dance before. Swing dancing is an umbrella term that includes lindy hop (what most people think of when they think of swing), Charleston, balboa, and many other dances that were common around that time.
The Savoy Ballroom in Harlem acted as an incubator for lindy hop in the 1930s and early 40s. The dancers we now know as the originators of the dance were there every night, all night. Many of them were recruited into Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, an elite lindy hop performance troupe.
After WWII as music and tastes changed, lindy hop fell out of the public eye. Many continued to dance, but it wasn’t as popular as pre-WWII. After the Savoy Ballroom closed in 1958, a woman named Louise “Mama Lu” Parks kept lindy hop going in Harlem with her dance troupe Mama Lu and Her Parkets.
In the early 1980s, some of the original Savoy Ballroom dancers began teaching again after meeting new dancers at a Mama Lu Parks event. Al Minns, Norma Miller, and Frankie Manning were three original Savoy dancers who began teaching again, with others following later. Through a few scenes in key cities, a renewed interest in lindy hop began to spread around the world. Now, you can find Lindy Hop in most cities across the US and the world!
We want to be very clear that lindy hop is a Black cultural art form. We work hard in our classes and dances to represent the roots of the dance and respect the culture it comes from.
Lindy hop is a Black American social dance created in Harlem, NYC in the late 1920s. It’s typically danced to music from the swing era, or to modern music created in that style.
They traveled around the world performing lindy hop and danced in movies like Hellzapoppin’ and A Day at the Races.
Have a listen to some of the music we love dancing to:
You can learn more about lindy hop by checking out these short articles:
The FAQ section offers answers to common questions about class schedules, registration, attire, and much more, helping you get the most out of your dance experience with us.
Definitely bring: a clean, comfortable pair of shoes and a water bottle.
You may also want to bring: a handheld fan to cool down between dancing, a notebook if you want to write notes about class material, extra t-shirts in case you get sweaty- lindy hop is an athletic dance!
Clothes: Whatever you feel comfortable in and can move in! It doesn’t have to be fancy.
Shoes: Shoes can be sneakers or other shoes that allow for moving around the dance floor. We find shoes that have a little more slide to them are ideal for lindy hop. Keds are popular, and so are shoes with suede or leather bottoms. We don’t recommend wearing heels to start out.
Be aware that lindy hop is an active dance. You might get sweaty! Think about bringing extra shirts and/or bring a towel. You’ll be dancing in close proximity to others, so please be aware of personal hygiene: wear deodorant, brush your teeth, etc. We all appreciate it!
Due to close proximity, please don’t wear scents such as perfume, cologne, or heavily fragranced lotion.
Our classes are on Tuesday evenings.
The Building Blocks class runs from 6:30-7:45pm, and the Foundations class runs from 7:45-9:00pm. Our classes are 75 minutes long.
From 9-9:30pm, we have an open practice where everyone is welcome to work on class material.
Our classes take place at the Slovenian National Home at 2717 W 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46222.
There are parking lots on either side of the building as well as a lot across the street. Enter through the front door facing 10th St!
No partner needed! We regularly rotate during class to make sure people learn from a variety of partners and styles.
We understand that you might be uncomfortable with rotating in class and dancing with strangers. We try to make it as comfortable as possible for you! It’s also the best way to learn lindy hop. Lindy hop is meant to be a social dance where you dance with many people throughout the night, vs staying with one partner.
If you truly don’t want to dance in a group class, we recommend trying private lessons!
In short, no. Each class builds on the one previous and we cover a lot of key concepts in the first class that are essential to the learning. If you’re looking for a different style of commitment, reach out about setting up a private lesson.
Check out the level descriptions, and if you’re still not sure where you belong, send us an email.
Yes! Our instructors offer private lessons. Please email swingerasteps@gmail.com to inquire.
Email us at swingerasteps@gmail.com.
We’ll get back to you ASAP!
This is where you begin! Lindy hop is a Black American social dance from the 1930s that’s done all over the world today. The Foundation sessions A and B are perfect for you if you’re brand new to lindy hop, have done other types of swing dancing, or want to review the foundational patterns and concepts of the dance.
You can start with session A or B – both start at the very beginning. You’ll cover different material in each session, so you need to complete both A and B before moving to the Building Blocks level.
We always encourage taking these Foundations classes multiple times!
You’ve completed both Foundations sessions with us or you’ve been dancing lindy hop for at least four months already.
You’re familiar with basic moves like swing outs, tuck turns, and promenades and you’re ready to take them to the next level.
Started dancing: 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio at the Case Western Reserve University Swing Club
Started teaching: 2012
Specializes in teaching: beginner and musicality classes
Dances: lindy hop, balboa, 20s and 30s Charleston, solo jazz, St. Louis shag, collegiate shag, peabody, blues, west coast swing, and occasionally bachata, salsa, breakin'
Rachel (she/her) fell in love with swing dancing at her very first lesson in 2012, and has since spent countless weekends traveling to learn, compete, and meet new friends from all over the country.
Best described as an exuberant, enthusiastic teacher, Rachel loves to share her passion for dance with anyone willing to learn. She specializes in Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, and St. Louis Shag, with experience in Collegiate Shag, Slow Bal, and Drag Blues.
Her primary focus is to dig into the mechanics of moveMENTS (versus “moves”) to help each person feel comfortable and safe in their body while dancing with a partner. The joy Rachel gets from dancing and teaching is infectious – you won’t make it through a class without a smile on your face!
As a DJ, she loves to play the jump blues vibes of her St. Louis hometown right alongside her favorite Count Basie classics while highlighting the modern bands you can still see live at events. Whatever it is — you can count on her to bring the energy to the floor!
