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, Kendra and monthly guest teachers
- Progressive format classes so you can get better each week
- No partner needed. We rotate partners frequently in class. Beginners always welcome!
- Convenient and secure online class registration
- Live Music Dance Party & Cocktails after class!
July Guest Teachers: Dave & Charlie Stellar!
Don’t miss two of our favorite and most fun guest teachers this July! Dave is a respected Lindy Hop & Blues teacher who has taught and helped build swing dance scenes around the world. Charlie is a fantastic follower who brings a wealth of experience and movement grace honed not only in partner dancer, but also as a solo dancer in modern and hip hop styles.
Together, they focus on fun, fundamentals and conveying the joy and possibility of Lindy Hop!
Class Dates: July 10, 17, 24 & 31 (closed July 3rd)
Class Schedule:
- 7-8 PM Beginning Lindy Hop Monthly Series (24 spots available, register online)
- 8-9 PM Intermediate Lindy Hop Monthly Series (24 spots available, register online)
- 9-9:30 PM Beginning East Coast Swing Weekly Drop-in Class ($15/week, no registration needed)
Save $15 or more when you sign up early!
More Class Details
For Beginners
Beginning East Coast Swing Drop-in Class
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: $15 per week (includes dance party admission). No registration required.
Beginning Lindy Hop (7-8 PM)
with David & Charlie Stellar
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 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 |
Cost: $90 early registration by Jan 3 / $105 full registration online. $110 door. $30/week drop-in with teacher permission.
Special Discounts: $85 for first 3 leaders and 3 followers to register. $90 when taking both monthly classes.
All class costs include dance party admission.
Intermediate & Beyond
Intermediate Lindy Hop (8-9 PM)
with David & Charlie Stellar
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.
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 |
Cost: $90 early registration by Jan 3 / $105 full registration online. $110 door. $30/week drop-in with teacher permission.
Special Discounts: $85 for first 3 leaders and 3 followers to register. $90 when taking both monthly classes.
All class costs include dance party admission.
Series class sizes are limited and often sell out. A few extra spots are also made available to our staff volunteers.
About the Teachers
Dave Ljung Madison Stellar
Dave Ljung Madison Stellar is an internationally respected Blues and Lindy Hop teacher who is an expert in cutting to the chase and conveying strong fundamentals, and is joined by his teaching partner-in-crime and exquisite social dancer Charlie. David was a part of the origins of the contemporary Blues Dance scene, and teaches classes based on the beginning and advanced fundamentals that will make your blues come alive. Together, they travel around the world bringing the joy of Blues Dancing and Lindy Hop to scenes everywhere they go!
Charlie Stellar
Charlie has been a dancer and musician her entire life, initially starting with solo performance dance as a member of modern and contemporary troupes as well as hip hop, she discovered her love of partner dance coincidentally on the day she met David. Since then they have been building their partnership with his social dance background and her trained dancer background to create something much stronger.
Both nomads, they now travel the world offering their knowledge to students and focus on the parts of dance they love: connection, musicality and momentum.
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.