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:
- Fun & friendly dance instruction with Nathan Dias and expert guest teachers
- No partner needed. We rotate partners frequently in class. Beginners welcome!
- Monthly Progressive format classes help you develop and grow week by week
- 4-month Beginning and 6-month Intermediate Lindy Hop Class programs cover partner dance fundamentals included essential technique & signature Lindy Hop moves, style and improvisation
- Convenient and secure online class registration
- Live Music Dance Party & Cocktails after class!
Upcoming Classes
Our next month-long class series runs March 4, 11, 18 & 25 (4-weeks)
(Last month class info here)
Main Ballroom Classes
- 7-8 PM Beginning Lindy Hop 4-week Series (spots limited, register online)
- 8-9 PM Intermediate Lindy Hop 4-week Series (spots limited, register online)
- 9-9:20 PM Beginning Swing Weekly Drop-in Class (no registration required, all welcome)
Side Room Classes
- 8-9 PM Intermediate & Advanced Special Topics – March Class & Teachers Announced Soon!
Class Costs
4-week Monthly Series: $90 early online registration. $100 full price online. $110 at the door.
Monthly Series Drop-ins: $30/class
Second class add-on: +$45/month or $15/week
Swing Drop-in Class: FREE / included with monthly class costs or dance party general admission ($15)
Note: monthly class costs are adjusted accordingly for 3- or 5-week months. See registration checkout page for official pricing.
Save $20 or more when you sign up early online!
Lindy Hop Class Program — How It Works
Start anytime with our Beginning Swing drop-in class (9–9:30 PM).
No experience needed. It’s the easiest, lowest-commitment way to try swing dancing and get comfortable on the floor. Different steps each week will warm you up for dance party!
Move into our Monthly Beginning Lindy Hop series when you’re ready.
These are progressive 4-week classes that build week by week. You can start in any month of the 4-month beginner cycle, though we recommend joining in the first week of the month.
Plan on about 4 months to solidify your fundamentals.
Most students need at least one full beginner cycle to feel confident with core Lindy Hop technique, rhythm, and classic moves.
In these classes, 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.
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.
Four Month Class Cycle
Okay to start during 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 |
Intermediate Lindy Hop is a 6-month progressive cycle.
Before joining, students complete a friendly level check so teachers can offer helpful feedback and set you up for success. Many dancers repeat the cycle twice to really get the material “in their body.”
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 (see 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.
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 |
Advanced & special topic classes come next.
After completing the Intermediate cycle, dancers are welcome to join our side-room classes exploring musicality, style, and other swing dances like Charleston, Balboa, Shag, Solo Jazz, Blues, and more.
About the Teachers
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).
Eileen Gonzales
Staff Teacher
Eileen has loved dancing all her life, but got started with Lindy Hop in 2012 when she first took a class at Cat’s Corner! Since then she has been dancing across the world by combining work trips as an astronomer with dance! When out on the floor she aims to incorporate musicality and play into her dance. She has performed at various venues in the Bay Area and NYC, but most memorably at another dancer’s wedding! You can find her out and about at many Bay Area venues, but it’s a good bet you’ll see her at Cat’s Corner when Steve Lucky is playing.
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 $30 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.
Previous Month’s Classes
December 2025
- 7-8 PM Intermediate Lindy Hop 3-week Series with Nathan & Eileen
- 8-9 PM Beginning Lindy Hop 3-week Series with Nathan & Eileen
- 8:30-9 PM Beginning Swing Clinic with Michelle Richter