Lindy Hop 1 with Connie & Julie-Anne: A bring-your-own-partner (BYOP) version of Lindy Hop 1 (which in turn is the next evolution of Swing 1 and features different content). No dance experience necessary! This is a great class to get started with partnered swing dancing and social dancing in general! We will go from the very basics and work through enough material to get you dancing comfortably to a full song. For experienced dancers, taking this class would be a great opportunity to refresh your basics or learn a new role. Coming with a partner is required due to COVID restrictions. (Partners only need to be two people who come together and have agreed in advance to dance together, not necessarily romantic partners or two people from the same household).

Safety Notes

• because this class requires you bring your own partner, the price reflects the cost for two people
• there will be no rotating partners
• social distancing will be in effect during class, every partner couple will have their own space to dance in
• vaccine passports will be checked on the first day of class and are required to participate
• COVID screening questions will be asked at the start of every class
• masking is required at all times inside the studio, if you need to eat or drink you will be required to step outside

Lindy Hop 2 (BYOP) with Connie and Julie-Anne: The prerequisite for this course is the Lindy Hop 1 course which was taught in November of 2021. This course will continue where Lindy Hop 1 left off, beginning with a review of the skills learned. In Lindy Hop 2, you will learn several variations on the swing out, including several ways to turn your partner. You will also continue to  learn the technique needed for leading, following and connection in order to make all of the new moves feel fantabulous. In this class, you will even learn a partner dip. Coming with a partner is required due to COVID restrictions. If your partner is not available, but you’d still like to take the class, please let us know and we will see if someone else is in the same situation as you are.

We are undertaking special COVID requirements for this class, similar to how classes ran in November of 2021:

• There will be a maximum of 10 couples, and the floor will be taped into areas to allow for social distancing while dancing
• This is a bring your own partner class, rotation will not be required
• Proof of vaccination required on first class
• Medical Masks required (or better)
• Hand sanitizer will be provided
• If you need to take off your mask for a breather or to take a drink, we'll ask that you please step outside or into the back hall

No dance experience necessary; no partner necessary!! This is a great class to get started with partnered swing dancing and social dancing in general! We will go from the very basics of Lindy Hop and work through enough material to get you dancing comfortably to a full song. The class will include moves such as: Gliding, Send Out, Return, Circles, Swing Outs and Sugar Push as well as how to connect with a partner. It will also include some history of Lindy Hop and the music we dance to. For experienced dancers, taking this class would be a great opportunity to refresh your basics or learn a new role.

If you have never danced before, or want to gain a better understanding of the basic movements, this class is designed for you! In just a few weeks, you will learn 6-count lindy hop swing (also called east coast swing) with plenty of moves to get you through a whole song out on the dance floor. If you have already taken this class, we encourage you to revisit your basics or learn them from the opposite role. For example, if you were a lead, learn how to follow.

This session builds on the previous ones by increasing your repertoire and starting to look at transitions between 6-count and 8-count movements. As we add to your list of moves we bring more focus to the underlying principles of partner dancing such as connection, momentum, and timing. Swing 3 will help you become a better lead or follow and begin increasing your own awareness of your body and how it moves and interacts solo and with a partner.

Charleston 1 uses the partner dancing skills you learnt in Swing 1 to introduce you to a different style of swing dancing: partnered charleston. We work on side-by-side charleston, placing emphasis on timing, kicking, posture, and clear weight shifting. This session will give you a good selection of movements, to help you get through those faster songs where lindy hop might not be as comfortable.

Refine your ability to express yourself through dance - without a partner! In this class, we'll explore some iconic solo moves from the jazz era that inspired solo choreographies and partner dancing alike.

This class allows us to grow and play with our ability to dance either/both lindy hop roles: lead and follow. We will be trying out lots of fun moves and techniques for switching from one role to another during the dance by "stealing the lead/follow". Best for you to be comfortable in the basics of both roles to attend!

Strap on your shoes and get ready to have fun! West Coast Swing is an improvisational partner dance that you can break out to just about any musical genre. Before the six-week series is over, you will be up and dancing with different partners, even if it’s your first time taking a class. This is a one-hour West Coast Swing class intended to teach the basics of the dance.

Not needed: a partner, any experience, confidence -- we supply all three!

This is a one-hour West Coast Swing class intended to expand on the basics of the dance. In this series you will begin to work on musicality and communication. The steps and patterns you will learn in this series will allow for some freedom of movement and develop connection with your partner. You must have completed Level 2 or the Open Level class, with knowledge of the WCS basics and some variations.

This is an intermediate-level West Coast Swing class intended to focus on the fundamental partnership skills of the dance and introduce more advanced styling and technique. Through this series you will learn how to properly connect through stretch, tension, compression, pressure, and torque. You will also learn mirrored and parallel turns, one-footed spins, as well as how to spin in a stationary vs traveling position with the use of intermediate-level dancer techniques that involve core and contra-body movement. Intermediate-level patterns and anchor variations will also be covered. 

You must have completed WCS Level 2 with some knowledge of the WCS basics and some variations. No partner required. 

There is no member retake rate available for this class, as content is tailored to the students enrolled in the class and changes each offering.

This is a NEW intermediate-level class designed to highlight blues styling within West Coast Swing. Throughout the session you will learn how to incorporate the swung rhythm and pulse, as well as traditional blues footwork and patterns. Distinguishing styling differences between blues, contemporary, and pop WCS musicality will also be explored. 

You must have completed WCS Level 2 with some knowledge of the WCS basics and some variations. No partner required.

There is no member retake rate available for this class at this time.

This course is designed to introduce you to - and immerse you in - the playfully creative art and diverse aesthetics of blues dancing. No experience necessary, no partner required: this series is for anyone who wants to get into the blues! During this lesson series, students will develop the basics of the blues dance in its two main genres: the rhythmic, party-dance "juke-joint" style; and its smoother, sophisticated son, "ballroom". Fundamental concepts such as posture, pulse, and partnership will be addressed, followed by featured stylistic elements such as turns, lunges, footwork patterns, and jukin' grooves. Attention will also be paid to concepts such as partner connection, dance-as-conversation, and musicality. With blues music being a predecessor and major influence to much of the popular music of the last 60 years, you will find yourself able to apply the skills learned in this series to dancing far beyond the floor at Hepcats!

This class starts to push your dancing further by building on existing concepts and adding some new ideas to think about. Geared towards dancers who have already taken several blues class sessions, or been dancing blues for more than 6 months.

Taking off from where Jukin' 1 finished, students will peel back the layers of the deceptively simple juke-joint styles and have a taste of the rich subtlety and rhythmic diversity that they offer. After an introduction to the close embrace position, students will be treated to topics such as isolations and solo movement, groove steps and jig steps, and the importance of patience. This is where the blues gets deep and the deep won't want nothin' but the blues.

Continuing on from Ballroomin' 1, students will broaden their horizons with an introduction to the close embrace position - ballroom style! Floorcraft techniques, such as tackin' and donuts, will have dancers cruising the floor with fluidity and finesse. Students will also experiment with connection techniques to signal and prepare for weight-sharing and some tango-inspired footwork. Need we say more?

In this class we get you up to speed with some of the standard choreographies you see all the time at Hepcats. Makes it way easier to jump in next time the songs play at the next dance you attend!

Shim Sham The Shim Sham Shimmy has a long history as a choreographed dance sequence, starting as a common tap routine from the 1920's and 1930's, and evolving into the sequence of solo jazz steps that is danced by swing dancers today. The Shim Sham is very accessible to dancers of all levels and includes many foundational solo movements like boogie back, tacky annie, and kick-ball-change.

Doin' the Jive Doin’ the Jive is a line dance choreography created by Mike Faltesek, an international dance instructor and musician intent on spreading the love of good old fashioned swing music and dancing to as many people as possible.

Mama Stew The Mama Stew routine is fast and furious and will challenge you to really get up to speed!

Swing Out to Victory is an annual fund raiser for the Canadian War Plane Heritage Museum in Hamilton. Every year dancers from the area gather to dance and perform. Requires Swing 2 or equivalent experience (familiarity with 6 and 8 count patterns, swingouts). No partner required to sign up, we will see who is interested the first day. This class runs leading up to Swing out to Victory, in November.

This class is open to anyone, no previous experience necessary. Dream of You is a choreography from the iconic film Dancing in the Rain.

This class is open to anyone, no previous experience necessary. Jitterbug Stroll is a line dance choreographed by Ryan Francois, an international choreography most notably known for his work on So You Think You Can Dance.

Inspired by the Rueda de Casino, a particular type of Salsa round dance, the Rueda is a "called" dance. Pairs of dancers form a circle, with dance figures called out by one person. Most figures involve the swapping of partners, where the partners move around the circle to the next partner. The combination of elaborate dance combinations and constant movement of partners create a visually spectacular effect. You need to feel comfortable with swing outs and Swing 2 content.

Description coming soon!

A full body HITT class to bust every inch of your body. This class is a mix of cardio and toning all in one, no equipment required.