Frequently-Asked Questions
Not at all! Most folks come to the Green Door to dance with lots of different people. You could be one of those people! In our classes, we rotate between partners so everyone gets to practice what they're learning with different people. It's a great way to learn, and you get to make new friends.
What should I wear to the dance?
Please bring a clean pair of shoes to wear on the dance floor. Something not too "grippy" works best—something with leather soles or maybe well-worn sneakers. Shoes with low or no heels tend to work best for Lindy Hop. For other dances, some dancers prefer a higher heel, but if you're not already comfortable dancing in high heels, it's probably best to play it safe.
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Avoid open-backed dresses and sleeveless tops. After a few fast dances, things can get sweaty. Bringing a spare shirt and a bandana or two is also a good idea, if you expect to dance a lot.
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Please also avoid wearing perfume or strongly-scented toiletries, so those who are sensitive to them can enjoy the dance, too.
Do I need any dance experience? What will I learn during the beginner lesson?
No experience is needed for the lessons before our Saturday and Second Sunday dances. We start with the absolute basics and cover enough material that you will able to enjoy dancing to a song that same night. And feel free to return for the beginner lessons as many times as you like: our lessons are taught by a rotating cast of instructors, so you'll get different perspectives and slightly-different material each time. Many of our regulars return for the lessons repeatedly, which is great practice and also helps our new dancers learn faster.
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Before our Saturday night dances, we typically teach a set of basic six-count Lindy Hop patterns. (This is similar to what is sometimes called East Coast Swing.) Depending on how things go, we may add a few six-count or eight-count variations after we've covered the basics.
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We also teach a beginner lesson before our Second Sunday dances. This is usually West Coast Swing (very similar to Lindy Hop, but usually danced to more contemporary music), but we announce the exact topic in our email newsletter and on social media each month. (Have you signed up for our email newsletter? The form is at the bottom of the page.)
Are food and drinks allowed? Is the Green Door BYOB?
While we do have water and drinks for sale, feel free to bring your own beverages and snacks (within reason). However, the Green Door is an alcohol-free space.