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

During this session, we will work through the fundamentals of 8-count lindy hop swing. The material is built around the "swingout", the cornerstone movement of the lindy hop dance, which transitions the partners between open and closed positions.

Swing 4 sessions are intermediate/advanced level topics that may vary depending on the particular session and the needs of the students in that class. We will generally delve into movement variations and combinations, mixing lindy hop and charleston, and more advanced understanding of connection and body dynamics.

This session is a continuation of Charleston 1. We will be focusing on hand-to-hand and tandem charleston movements, opening the door to many different directions and combinations, while continuing to work on good body alignment, compression, and stretch.

In this class, we explore more of the world of 8-count lindy hop - beyond the swingout. We will build off of what you learned in Swing 1 and 2 to add a little more oomph and variety to your dance.

This class is geared towards those who have been dancing for at least 1 year and are trying to push ahead their movements and technique. We won't necessarily cover the same material each time, but will be focusing on lindy hop concepts and moves that are more challenging.

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.

Started learning a bit of blues dancing and want to learn more, expand your repertoire, and try some new challenges? This class is for you! Open to anyone who has taken a beginner blues session, including Hepcat's "blues open level" or "blues all welcome" sessions. We'll continue to build on fundamental concepts and explore new movements and patterns.

This class welcomes new dancers into the simple joys of juke-joint blues, a gritty and intensely rhythmic genre of dance, grand-daddy to later styles like funk, hip-hop and even swing. In Jukin' 1, students will be introduced to fundamentals of jukin' blues including pulse, posture and partnership. We'll then build on these fundamentals by adding flavour with classic blues "grooves" like the slow drag and the fishtail and work them in to rhythmic turns. Students will also explore ways to dance with partners in a variety of positions including closed, open, breakaway, and promenade. Tie your shoes on tight cuz this class is fixin' to knock your socks off!

In an era when Swing was king, a moderate tempo blues was a welcome opportunity for dancers to slow down, catch their breath... and maybe take someone else's breath away with some smooth and stylish moves! In this class, students will learn how the blues dance fundamentals of pulse, posture and partnership are adapted for a style of dance that walks and strolls rather than rocks and rolls. Step variations and turns will be explored and students will use these to navigate the dance floor with confidence. Students will also experiment with a versatile form of dip: the lunge. Come on out and see what all the fuss is about!

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.

Learn the fancy footwork, variations and history of the dance that started it all: The Charleston. This class will also feature a mini choreography using the steps we will learn in class. (This session is a great precursor to a future course of 1920s Partner Charleston.) Indoor shoes with a slippery sole are a must to prevent injuries.

For this session of classes, we ask that you please show up to class at least 10 minutes early. This will allow adequate time for everyone to undergo screening and enter safely before class starts.

Stuck at home alone with no dance partner when a great song comes on? No worries, we’ve got you covered In this new course where you will learn the basics of solo jazz. It is beginner friendly, but will also have lots of new material for the experienced dancer. The concepts learned here will be helpful in all of our solo choreography classes!

For this session of classes, we ask that you please show up to class at least 10 minutes early. This will allow adequate time for everyone to undergo screening and enter safely before class starts.

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.