August 8th Main Floor classes will feature special guest teacher Catrine Ljunggren – Master dance teacher and founder and “Cat” of Cat’s Corner!

Learn to swing dance and Lindy Hop at Cat’s Corner! Have fun, meet new people, and get great exercise all at once! Cat’s Corner offers:

    • hip, expert & friendly dance instruction with Nathan, Chiara and monthly guest teachers
    • progressive format classes so you can get better each week
    • convenient and secure online class registration
    • Live Music Dance Party & Cocktails after class!

Register for classes

Next 4 week class session runs August 8, 15, 22 & 29 at Swedish American Hall, SF.

  Main Ballroom Side Room
7-8 PM Beginning Lindy Hop Monthly Series
with Nathan, Chiara & Catrine
Collegiate Shag Guided Practice
with Amy Sorenson
8-9 PM Intermediate Lindy Hop Monthly Series
with Nathan, Chiara & Catrine
Intermediate/Advanced Lindy Hop
Rachel Phillips and Kendall Lui
9-9:30 PM Beginning East Coast Swing Drop-in Class
with Nathan, Chiara & Catrine
 

Other months’ classes: July 2018 | September 2018

[wptab name=’For Beginners’]

Beginning East Coast Swing Drop-in Class

with Nathan Dias & Chiara Coombs

Class time: 9-9:30pm

This short and sweet class is designed for the absolute beginner with no previous dance experience. We start from scratch each week, covering partner dance fundamentals and introducing simple 6-count East Coast Swing, Jig Walks and Charleston steps to get you out on the dance floor and grooving to the music.

Cost: $10 per week (includes dance party admission). No registration required.

Beginning Lindy Hop Month-long Series

with Nathan Dias & Chiara Coombs
PLUS guest Catrine Ljunggren (the “Cat” of Cat’s Corner) on August 8th!

Class time: 7-8pm

In this class, you will learn the basics of Lindy Hop, the original swing dance from the 1930s that features fast footwork and addictive rhythms. You’ll learn the basic 8-count steps that every lindy hopper should know — swingout, lindy circle & charleston — plus solid lead and follow technique and a different set of beginner level steps each month. This class is a progressive series, which means we review and build steadily upon previous weeks’ material.

Previous swing dancing experience is helpful but not required. To get the most out of the class, we recommend that you are already comfortable with “triple-steps” — if you don’t know these yet, we suggest taking our 9pm drop-in swing class a few times first.

4-week series cost: $60 early registration by Monday, August 6. $65 online after the deadline. $70 at the door.
Drop-in cost: $20 per week, weeks 1 & 2 only or with special teacher permission.

Sign up for classes now

Save your spot in class!

Four Month Class Cycle (okay to start any month!)

Jan/May/Sep (A)
  • Swing out from open
  • Swing out from closed
  • 6-count tuck turn from closed
  • 8-count tuck turn from closed
  • Reverse Jerk
  • Promenade with Pecking
Feb/Jun/Oct (B)
  • Side-by-side Charleston
  • Toss Across & Yo-Yo Charleston
  • Toss Across & Yo-Yo Lindy
  • Swing out from closed
  • Swing out from open
  • Lindy Circle
  • Shimmy
Mar/Jul/Nov (C)
  • Simplified Swingouts (no triple steps)
  • Swing out from closed
  • Swing out from open
  • 8-count Inside Turn
  • 8-count Outside Turn
  • 8-count Texas Tommy
  • Lindy Circle
Apr/Aug/Dec (D)
  • 6-count turns
  • triple steps vs. jig walks
  • closed vs. open position
  • Behind-the-back Charleston
  • Side-by-side Charleston
  • Kick-through Charleston

About the Teachers

Nathan Dias : Resident Teacher, Cats Corner Founder

Nathan Dias

Resident Teacher, Cats Corner Founder

Nathan specializes in Lindy Hop, the high-energy swing dance from the 1930s and 40s, and has been teaching, performing and DJing since 2005. He started swing dancing in 1997 and lindy hopping in 2000. A regular dancer in San Francisco since 2001, Nathan enjoys the creativity and personal connection of social dancing as well as the challenge and satisfaction on working on and improving his dance.

He has taught at practically all of the local swing dance venues at one time or another, including the 9:20 Special, Lindy in the Park, Tuesday Night Jump, Rent Party and original Doghouse, and has been a featured instructor at regional workshops such as Swingin' at the Savoy, California Swingin', *Workshop (San Luis Obispo), Santa Swing (Santa Barbara), and Le Hot Sauce (SF).

nathan@catscornersf.com
Catrine Ljunggren : Cats Corner Founder, Resident Teacher 2006-2010

Catrine Ljunggren

Cats Corner Founder, Resident Teacher 2006-2010

Catrine Ljunggren is a dancer, teacher, performer & swing organizer specializing in dances of the Swing Era as well as Argentine Tango. Catrine teaches at dance camps and workshops all around the world.

Catrine is one of the original members of the legendary Rhythm Hot Shots and one of the founders of Herrang Dance Camp, the world’s largest dance camp which has been in existence since 1982. Catrine and her dance company are one of the main groups responsible for the resurgence of Lindy Hop today.

Catrine learned from Al Minns and Frankie Manning, both members of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers in the 1930’s. Catrine is known for her energy — she likes to dance fast and fly high and it is a joy to watch her dancing as she is an excellent performer and dancer. In her dance partner Elliott Donnelley she has found someone willing to attempt to keep up with her, and they are a joy to watch because they really have fun when they dance.

Chiara Coombs :

Chiara Coombs

Chiara Coombs started her swing dance journey while living abroad in Seoul, Korea. Having studied classical harp since age seven, she instantly fell in love with Lindy Hop as a new way to express herself.  She currently performs around the Bay Area as a member of the chorus girl troupe, Someday Sweethearts, and San Francisco-based group Swing or Nothing. She spends her time practicing, performing, and working part-time as an ESL instructor (while attending graduate school).

Chiara wants her students to learn to express themselves musically through the dance along with giving them a solid technical foundation. Chiara invites her students to enjoy the learning process through hard work and lots of fun!

[/wptab]

[wptab name=’Intermediate Lindy Hop’]

Intermediate Lindy Hop

with Nathan Dias, Chiara Coombs
PLUS guest Catrine Ljunggren (the “Cat” of Cat’s Corner) on August 8th!

 

Class time: 8-9pm

In this class, you will build up your repertoire of lead and follow techniques, classic lindy hop moves and styling.

Requirements:

Students wishing to join the Intermediate class must have completed our 4-month Beginning Lindy Hop program (or the equivalent) as well as a friendly level-check with one of our teachers. Students should be regular social dancers at this point, and should be able to confidently dance the steps listed on our 4-month Beginner curriculum (click the “Beginning” tab above) including 6-count turns, 8-count swingout, Lindy circle and related turns, and basic Charleston patterns. Contact the teachers to arrange a level-check and get class level advice.

4-week series cost: $60 early registration by Monday, August 6. $65 online after the deadline. $70 at the door.
Drop-in cost: $20 per week, weeks 1 & 2 only or with special teacher permission.

Register now for classes

Save your spot in class!

Intermediate Lindy Hop 6-month Class Cycle (start any month)

Jan/Jul (A)
  • Swingout Like Things: Reverse Jerk, Reverse Swingout, Half-Swingout, Slip-out, Travel Swingout
  • Charleston: Airplane, Cross-plane & Shadow
  • Footwork, Rhythm & Style I
Feb/Aug (B)
  • Mixing 6-count, 8-count Turns and Tuck Turns
  • Classic Sequences: Pecking Promenade, Curl & Points, Quick-Stop, Jump Turn, Tango, Drags
  • Spins & Turns
Mar/Sep (C)
  • Dancing Fast: Jig Walks, Charleston Swingouts & Fast Lindy
  • Charleston: Kick-Through & Hand-to-Hand
  • Footwork, Rhythm & Style II
Apr/Oct (D)
  • Swingouts, Circles & 6-counts: mixing 6- vs. 8-counts, Forward & Backward swingout technique, rotational swingouts
  • Charleston: Side-by-side, Yo-Yo, Face-to-Face and Hacksaws
  • Moving Like a Dancer
  • Musicality
May/Nov (E)
  • 8-count Turns: Inside, Outside, Finger-roll & Texas Tommy from an 8-count swingout
  • Charleston:  Tandem & Hand-to-Hand
  • Footwork, Rhythm & Style
Jun/Dec (F)
  • Tuck Turns
  • Classic Sequences: Mini-Dip, Behind-the-Back Promenade, Sailor Kicks, the Chase
  • More Spins & Turns

About the Teachers

Nathan Dias : Resident Teacher, Cats Corner Founder

Nathan Dias

Resident Teacher, Cats Corner Founder

Nathan specializes in Lindy Hop, the high-energy swing dance from the 1930s and 40s, and has been teaching, performing and DJing since 2005. He started swing dancing in 1997 and lindy hopping in 2000. A regular dancer in San Francisco since 2001, Nathan enjoys the creativity and personal connection of social dancing as well as the challenge and satisfaction on working on and improving his dance.

He has taught at practically all of the local swing dance venues at one time or another, including the 9:20 Special, Lindy in the Park, Tuesday Night Jump, Rent Party and original Doghouse, and has been a featured instructor at regional workshops such as Swingin' at the Savoy, California Swingin', *Workshop (San Luis Obispo), Santa Swing (Santa Barbara), and Le Hot Sauce (SF).

nathan@catscornersf.com
Catrine Ljunggren : Cats Corner Founder, Resident Teacher 2006-2010

Catrine Ljunggren

Cats Corner Founder, Resident Teacher 2006-2010

Catrine Ljunggren is a dancer, teacher, performer & swing organizer specializing in dances of the Swing Era as well as Argentine Tango. Catrine teaches at dance camps and workshops all around the world.

Catrine is one of the original members of the legendary Rhythm Hot Shots and one of the founders of Herrang Dance Camp, the world’s largest dance camp which has been in existence since 1982. Catrine and her dance company are one of the main groups responsible for the resurgence of Lindy Hop today.

Catrine learned from Al Minns and Frankie Manning, both members of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers in the 1930’s. Catrine is known for her energy — she likes to dance fast and fly high and it is a joy to watch her dancing as she is an excellent performer and dancer. In her dance partner Elliott Donnelley she has found someone willing to attempt to keep up with her, and they are a joy to watch because they really have fun when they dance.

Chiara Coombs :

Chiara Coombs

Chiara Coombs started her swing dance journey while living abroad in Seoul, Korea. Having studied classical harp since age seven, she instantly fell in love with Lindy Hop as a new way to express herself.  She currently performs around the Bay Area as a member of the chorus girl troupe, Someday Sweethearts, and San Francisco-based group Swing or Nothing. She spends her time practicing, performing, and working part-time as an ESL instructor (while attending graduate school).

Chiara wants her students to learn to express themselves musically through the dance along with giving them a solid technical foundation. Chiara invites her students to enjoy the learning process through hard work and lots of fun!

[/wptab]

[wptab name=’Intermediate/Advanced Lindy Hop’]

Intermediate-Advanced Lindy Hop

 

with Rachel Phillips and Kendall Lui

Class Time: 8-9pm
Series Dates: Wednesdays, August 8, 15, 22 & 29

Stretch and grow as a Lindy Hopper by focusing on important fundamentals: connection, musicality and momentum while learning and dancing more complex patterns, challenging lead and follow techniques, and impressive styling.

Required: 6+ months of Intermediate Lindy Hop classes and social dance experience, or the equivalent.
Recommended: 12+ months Intermediate Lindy Hop class & social dance experience

If coming from another dance program, check our Intermediate Lindy Hop syllabus (click the “Intermediate” tab above) to see if what you’ve covered in other classes and social dancing is comparable. In particular, we are looking for:

  • Your swingouts, lindy circle, 6-count turns, 8-count inside & outside turns, Texas Tommy and 6- and 8-count tuck turns should all be solid, fluid, and social dance worthy at medium tempos (140-170 BPM) with clean, accurate footwork
  • You should be able to dance common modes of Charleston (side-by-side, kick-through, hand-to-hand, airplane, tandem and face-to-face) along with simple transitions into and out of them
  • You should be able to incorporate some common footwork variations in your basics, independent of your partner (i.e. kick-ball-change, heel pops, Al Minn’s footwork, scissor kicks, Frankie’s footwork).
  • You should be able to dance at least a few classic lindy hop “flashy” patterns such as: Curl & Points, Mini-Dip, the Chase, Sailor Kicks, Hacksaws, Behind the Back Promenade, Quick Stop, etc.
  • You are starting to demonstrate an ability to lead and follow improvised movements not explicitly taught in class

There is no formal level-check, and student placement is by honor system.  Teachers, however, are instructed to, at their discretion, politely send unqualified students to the appropriate level. When in doubt, the best is to arrange a friendly level check with one of our teachers.

Register online today

Rachel Phillips :

Rachel Phillips

Rachel Phillips started dancing in Berkeley in 2015. She was walking through Sproul Plaza, heard the infectious music, and knew she wanted to learn the Lindy Hop! With a background in tap dancing, her favorite part about the dance is the rhythm, and she loves to play with the footwork to create new rhythms in her social dancing.

When she’s not dancing, Rachel enjoys playing board games, learning to ride horses, and reading up on the fascinating history of jazz music and dance. Or she's at the DJ booth.

Kendall Lui :

Kendall Lui

Kendall is a San Francisco native and took one of his first Lindy Hop classes at Cat's Corner. He spent most of his dance career in Davis, CA where he taught Lindy Hop and organized weekly dances. He is a technical dancer and loves exploring partnership through connection. His favorite part about swing dancing is social dancing - you'll hardly see him taking a break all night!

[/wptab]

[wptab name=’Collegiate Shag’]

Collegiate Shag Guided Practice Session

with Amy Sorenson

(Collegiate Shag dance performance at at the Warsaw Collegiate Shag Festival 2017)

Class time: 7-8pm
Series Dates: Wednesdays, August 8, 15, 22 & 29

Collegiate Shag is a partner dance that originated in the 1930s and has a history similar to other jazz and swing era dances, such as the Charleston, Lindy Hop, and Balboa. The dance is known for its hopping basic step and high energy footwork that separates it from other forms of swing and other dances that use the shag name, such as Carolina Shag or St. Louis Shag.

Guest teacher Amy Sorenson will conduct a guided practice session, helping students polish, perfect and build on material from the previous month’s classes while also helping new Shag-curious dancers get up to speed quickly.

Geared toward Intermediate dancers, but all welcome!

3+ months of Intermediate Lindy Hop classes & regular social dancing recommended.

Register online today

Amy Sorenson :

Amy Sorenson

Amy is a self-identifying Shagaholic. She is a former member of Steve Sayer and Chanzie Roettig’s LA Shag, and of Johnny “Bluejeans” Lee’s The San Francisco Jitterbugs, and is now running her own Shag team here in the Bay Area. As a method of sharing her love of dance she teaches, competes, performs, and helps organize dance events. She is very excited to be sharing her love of this dance with you as she continues on her journey to make Collegiate Shag more visible and increase its presence in the Bay Area. She hopes you will love it as much as she does.

[/wptab]

[end_wptabset]

Series class sizes are limited and often sell out. A few extra spots are also made available to our staff volunteers.

Class Pricing

Beginning Swing Drop-in Class  (9 PM, 30 min)
$10 per week. Cost includes dance party admission.

4-week Monthly Series (7 & 8PM, 60 min)

$60 early registration online by July 9th, 2018. $65 full price online. $70 door.
$20/week drop-in.

All class costs includes the 9pm Beginning Swing drop-in class and dance party admission.

Dropping in for Monthly Series Classes

Drop-ins for monthly classes allowed during weeks 1 and 2 of the series, or with teacher permission for later weeks of classes. Drop-ins are always welcome in the Beginning East Coast Swing class.

Multiple Series Class Discount:
$10 off ($5 off per class) the early registration cost when you enroll in two classes in the same month. You must meet the requirements for the higher level class to take both. Discount is automatically applied at checkout.

Register online today

Save $10 or more!

(Can’t make Wednesdays? Check out Monday Classes in the Mission!)


Progressive vs. Drop-in Classes

All of the Lindy Hop classes are progressive, with each week’s material building on the previous week’s class. Lindy Hop drop-ins are allowed for $20 which also includes dance party and 9pm lesson admission.  Please note that if you drop in to one of the classes, it may be in the middle of the class series, and you may fall behind. We recommend that you take the full series. We always offer a drop-in Beginning Swing class each Wednesday from 9:00-9:30pm.

Not sure which class is for you? Send us an email with any questions!

After the Classes

All class costs include admission to the Cat’s Corner Swing Dance Party. Stay to dance to live swing music starting at 9:30pm. The venue features cocktail bar, roomy dance floor, and great swinging ambiance. We often have surprises around 10:30pm – it could be a special performance, contest, or silly group activity — to add to the festivities.