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!
5 week class session runs May 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 at Swedish American Hall, SF.
Other Month’s Classes: April 2018 | June 2018
| Main Ballroom | Side Room | |
| 7-8pm | Beginning Lindy Hop 5-week Series with Nathan and Chiara |
St. Louis Shag with Joy & PJ |
| 8-9pm | Intermediate Lindy Hop 5-week Series with Nathan and Chiara |
Int/Adv Lindy Hop 4-week Series with Joy & PJ |
| 9-9:30pm | Beginning East Coast Swing Drop-in Class with Nathan and Chiara |
[wptab name=’For Beginners’]
Beginning East Coast Swing Drop-in Class
with Nathan and Chiara
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 and Chiara
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.
5-week series cost: $70 early registration by Monday, April 30. $65 online after the deadline. $70 at the door.
Drop-in cost: $20 per week, weeks 1 & 2 only or with special teacher permission.
Save your spot in class!
Four Month Class Cycle (okay to start any month!)
| Jan/May/Sep (A) |
|
| Feb/Jun/Oct (B) |
|
| Mar/Jul/Nov (C) |
|
| Apr/Aug/Dec (D) |
|
About the Teachers
Karen Huddleston
Karen came to the Bay Area from Portland, where she regularly danced Lindy Hop and Blues. She started training in dance at the age of 3 and discovered swing dancing as a high school student. In college, she helped run the swing dance club and participated in the ballroom dance team as a member and coach for several student groups. She's an avid social dancer in San Francisco and has performed with the Someday Sweethearts and Nathan's Swing or Nothing dance troupes. Karen and Nathan recently taught their first Intermediate-Advanced Lindy Hop class at Cat's Corner, and they had so much fun that Karen decided to return for more!
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).
[/wptab]
[wptab name=’Intermediate Lindy Hop’]
Intermediate Lindy Hop
with Nathan & Chiara
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.
5-week series cost: $70 early registration by Monday, April 30. $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) |
|
| Feb/Aug (B) |
|
| Mar/Sep (C) |
|
| Apr/Oct (D) |
|
| May/Nov (E) |
|
| Jun/Dec (F) |
|
About the Teachers
Karen Huddleston
Karen came to the Bay Area from Portland, where she regularly danced Lindy Hop and Blues. She started training in dance at the age of 3 and discovered swing dancing as a high school student. In college, she helped run the swing dance club and participated in the ballroom dance team as a member and coach for several student groups. She's an avid social dancer in San Francisco and has performed with the Someday Sweethearts and Nathan's Swing or Nothing dance troupes. Karen and Nathan recently taught their first Intermediate-Advanced Lindy Hop class at Cat's Corner, and they had so much fun that Karen decided to return for more!
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).
[/wptab]
[wptab name=’Intermediate/Advanced Lindy Hop’]
Intermediate-Advanced Lindy Hop
with Joy Jing & PJ Ryan
Class Time: 8-9pm
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.
In May, challenge your partnership skills with PJ and Joy! They will be teaching you skills to help you express your true voice in the dance. Be prepared to challenge your perception of lead and follow in this class with fun exercises and moves that push the boundaries of partner connection.
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.
Joy Jing
Originally from Ohio, Joy got hooked on the improvisational energy and partnered creativity of swing dancing while living in Boston. She loves to both lead and follow, and has dabbled in almost all of the swing dances, with an emphasis on Lindy Hop, Balboa, St. Louis Shag, Collegiate Shag, and Charleston. She has been teaching swing dancing since 2014, and has won national and international competitions in Balboa, St. Louis Shag, and Collegiate Shag.
In class, Joy exudes energy and positivity, with a focus on partner connection, mutual responsiveness, and helping all dancers grow. Her style emphasizes fun, creativity, musicality, and technique.
PJ Ryan
PJ has been dancing since 2013, when he fell in love with everything swing, and he hasn't stopped moving his feet since. He brings that same love and passion to his teaching. He wants to share the things that have inspired him as a dancer and foster a sense of individual expression and creativity in his students.
[/wptab]
[wptab name=’Electives’]
St. Louis Shag
with Joy Jing & PJ Ryan
Class time: 7-8pm
Instructors PJ, Joy & other top St. Louis Shag dancers at the Nevermore Jazz Ball 2017.
St. Louis Shag is a rhythmic, high energy swing-era dance that has been rapidly gaining devotees in the modern, global swing dance scene. Originating from the rebellious youth of St. Louis in the 1930’s, it is characterized by a bouncy pulse and quick triple steps. This class will introduce the fundamental technique and shapes of St. Louis Shag, as well as ways to incorporate these movements into other partner dances.
Learn more about the history of St. Louis Shag here.
Geared toward Intermediate dancers, but all welcome!
3+ months of Intermediate Lindy Hop classes & regular social dancing recommended.
Joy Jing
Originally from Ohio, Joy got hooked on the improvisational energy and partnered creativity of swing dancing while living in Boston. She loves to both lead and follow, and has dabbled in almost all of the swing dances, with an emphasis on Lindy Hop, Balboa, St. Louis Shag, Collegiate Shag, and Charleston. She has been teaching swing dancing since 2014, and has won national and international competitions in Balboa, St. Louis Shag, and Collegiate Shag.
In class, Joy exudes energy and positivity, with a focus on partner connection, mutual responsiveness, and helping all dancers grow. Her style emphasizes fun, creativity, musicality, and technique.
PJ Ryan
PJ has been dancing since 2013, when he fell in love with everything swing, and he hasn't stopped moving his feet since. He brings that same love and passion to his teaching. He wants to share the things that have inspired him as a dancer and foster a sense of individual expression and creativity in his students.
[/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.
5-week Monthly Series (7 & 8PM, 60 min)
$60 early registration online by April 30, 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.
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.