Frequently Asked Questions
Read our frequently asked questions below. If you still have questions, contact us!
Who can attend?
We host family-friendly events that are open to all ages and skill levels – here is more information about our Wednesday Night Swing dances. Bring your friends or come by yourself. One of the great things about swing dancing is how much it is enjoyed across generations! Parents: you are welcome to bring your children to class and the dance as long as they don’t disrupt the flow of class and they are chaperoned.
Do I need a partner?
No! Bringing friends is always encouraged, but you don’t need to bring anyone with you! In classes, we rotate partners to help you learn to social dance with a variety of people. And at the dance, anyone can ask anyone else to dance.
What should I wear?
Swing dancing is an athletic dance, so wear something you feel comfortable in and that you don’t mind getting a little bit sweaty. Your normal casual clothes should be great – jeans and a shirt is a great option.
What about shoes?
For shoes, you’ll want something that gives you support and are comfortable. Avoid heavy, sticky, high heels, flip-flops, and open-toed shoes… we recommend something like Keds to start. Please do not dance barefoot for your safety.
When are classes and when can I start?
You can come to our beginner lesson any Wednesday night at 7:45pm followed by the dance at 8:15pm. The beginner lesson is FREE with admission to the dance.
Our Level 1 and 2 classes are monthly series, so it’s best to start at the beginning of each month. Those classes start at 7:00pm! These intermediate lessons are $8 per lesson ($6 if you have a benefit card) and include admission to the dance.
I missed the first Level 1 class of the month. Can I still join?
Yes, you can usually join the second week of a series! You can get caught up by watching the recap video from the previous week, which can be found on the KSDA facebook event for that month. We will also review the previous week’s material at the beginning of each class.
Where should I park?
There is free and paid parking near the laurel. Check out our parking map.
What about personal hygiene?
You’ll meet a good number of people. Deodorant is a good option – cologne and perfume are also good, but in moderation! And you may want to chew gum or bring breath mints. Also, since it can get sweaty, a good number of dancers bring extra shirts to change as the night goes on.
What are leads and follows? Which should I do?
Swing dancing is a partnered dance, meaning one person initiates movement (leads) and the other reacts to the movement (follows). Both roles are fun and equally important. Learn whichever role seems more appealing to you. You can always learn the other later! At the social dance it’s common for people to do both roles, however we ask that in class you choose a single role during that class, otherwise it can confuse rotation.
I have two left feet, what do I do?
Our beginner classes are the perfect place to start. They are designed for you! Most people just haven’t tried to social dance before. Whenever you learn something new it’s supposed to feel awkward – you haven’t done it before! “Fake it until you make it”, and be ok with it not being perfect. You’ll get it in time; just trust us in the process.
To learn more quickly we recommend:
Going out social dancing. Just by going out dancing and watching you’ll get a sense of what the dance is about – how people hold their bodies, what kind of rhythms they are doing, and how they move with their partners.
Coming to class! Obviously that’s what our classes are for, to break down the movements and help you become a great dancer!
Watching YouTube videos. Here are some good ones to start with, and go search for more!
Listening to the music – we’ve got some great playlists to start with.
What’s a KSDA Benefit Card?
Join the community with a KSDA benefit card. You’ll get a free t-shirt and save some money on classes and dances! You’ll also save on other dances and workshops around town: Alive After 5, the Knoxville Lindy Exchange, and School of Hard Knox all have discounts for KSDA cardholders. It’s $25 for a year’s membership, or FREE for Local students with ID (Anderson/Blount/Knox/Loudon counties). Benefit cards can be purchased online or at any Wednesday night dance.
Do you teach aerials / air steps?
We do NOT teach aerials. And we do NOT allow them on the social dance floor. Without proper technique and training they can be dangerous. Most swing dancers never do aerials – they are strictly for performances and shows. That said, after learning to swing dance, there are opportunities to learn aerials in controlled environments, which can be very fun.
What is a snowball?
We kick off the social dancing at every weekly dance with a snowball. That evening’s instructors will start dancing and then as someone calls “Snowball!”, those dancers split up and ask new people to dance. In just a few “snowballs” the whole room will be dancing.
What is the Shim Sham?
If you’ve been to a couple of dances, you may have noticed that a group line dance breaks out every once in a while. The most common one is the Shim Sham, a tap-dance-converted-to-swing-dance. We teach it occasionally, but feel free to join in and follow along – it’s fairly easy to pick up. And you can check out this instructional video as well.
What should I do if something/someone makes me uncomfortable?
If you ever feel uncomfortable or harassed for any reason during a KSDA event, we want to hear from you. All reports will be handled with the level of confidentiality and discretion you request. We encourage you to read our Code of Conduct. We can be reached by:
Contacting a Community Ambassador in person at a dance. These persons can be identified by bright lanyards around their necks. There will be at least 2 of these individuals at any KSDA sanctioned event.
Calling or texting 865-224-6830.
Emailing info@knoxswingdance.org.
Leave anonymous feedback on our contact page.
Please try to include as much information as possible and sufficient details so that we can appropriately assess the situation.