There’s just something about it that makes you want to snap your fingers and tap your feet and no wonder Lindy Hop is widely considered the happy dance!ĭon’t worry if it doesn’t click with you straightaway. There’s nothing quiet like the upbeat happy sound of Swing. If asking a more experienced dancer to dance seems too much just remember that everyone was a beginner once, and everyone had a first lesson, a first social dance, a first workshop and a first dance weekender… Being a beginner is a good thing! Even experienced dancers often re-energise their dancing by going back to beginner level classes in dance styles they’re not familiar with, or changing roles and learning to switch, or experiencing classes with different teachers who have different material and ways of communicating. Remember, you don’t have to be Fred Astaire after your first class! Going to a class is the perfect place to make mistakes, ask questions and practice. Challenge YourselfĬonvinced you’ve got two left feet? A little intimidated at how new everything will seem? Attending that first class is often a big enough hurdle but every challenge is an opportunity to learn, grow and develop. There have even been research studies that suggest dancing can reverse signs of aging in the brain. Learning new physical skills, new ways of communicating, adding layers and levels of bodily coordination as you progress through classes, building up mental as well as muscle memory for moves, patterns, routines and sequences as well as listening to and developing an understanding and memory of songs, melodies and rhythms, all help build new neurological connections in the brain that help to keep your mind as fit and active as your body. Then of course there are the benefits learning to dance, partnered or solo, on the brain itself. The partnered holds of Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, Charleston, Balboa and, arguably most of all, Blues give us a chance for happy and healing platonic human touch and connection, which it could be said is somewhat absent from much of contemporary culture. The exercise alone releases endorphins and happy hormones, providing those delightful warm and fuzzies that can light up your mood. Swing dancing of all kinds has many fold benefits on the brain. So much variety and so many benefits to be had! At Reading Swing Jam we run weekly classes in Solo Jazz & Charleston, Lindy Hop and Blues and can recommend classes in other styles too. Balboa will help hone your more subtle rhythmic skills and finer motor skills with it’s fancy footwork.Blues, particularly at it’s slower tempos, is excellent for balance and core stability.They’re also great for fitness when you crank up the tempo! Solo Jazz and Charleston will vastly improve your body awareness and coordination as you build up your repertoire of moves and focus on how you move yourself as a solo dancer, with the double-fold benefit of subconsciously developing your partner dance skills too.Lindy Hop and Collegiate Shag are typically fast and physical, guaranteed to raise your heart-rate, increase your blood-flow and make full use of those lungs.Good For The Bodyĭancing in general is excellent for improving fitness, coordination, rhythm, balance, body and spatial awareness and each Swing dance style has it’s particular benefits: Our Sunday Swing event is a particularly great event to get to know people within our scene as we enjoy a relaxed afternoon of dancing, dining and discourse! 2. If money’s tight, our classes with Reading University Swing Dance Society are the best bang for your buck in Reading and every third Sunday of the month at the Oakford Social Club we host a FREE social dance. At our Swing dance classes we change partners regularly so you get to meet a lot of new people in a fun and friendly environment. During the social/practice time after class and indeed at all our social events, all dancers are encouraged to ask each other to dance, no matter what your level (beginners through to advanced dancers) and no matter your primary/preferred dance role (lead, follow or switch). Swing dancing attracts people from all walks of life. With Winter approaching, now is the best time to start a new hobby that’ll get you out of the house at least once a week and mingling with a new crowd!
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