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What is Fundamentals of West Coast Swing?
Fundamentals of West Coast Swing is a weekly beginner class taught by Jarrett Anderson for the West Coast Swing community in Huntsville, Alabama. This class teaches the core movement and connection skills of West Coast Swing in a way that is accessible to all.
This class is intended for dancers with less than one year of experience learning and dancing West Coast Swing. Dancers of any level are welcome to attend, but no prior experience is expected.
This class is intended to pair closely with the Tuesday Night West Coast Swing social Sweet Home Swing, offering a deep dive into the techniques and basic patterns introduced in the free beginner lessons.
Why Learn Fundamentals?
As an ever-evolving street dance, West Coast Swing has no fixed syllabus that all beginners learn. What I call "the fundamentals" are a widely-recognized set of essential movement and connection skills that produce the character of our dance.
These skills include timing, frame, pitch and poise, delayed weight transfers, tension and compression, posting and anchoring, and resisted release—among many others. Often I find that these skills are only mentioned in passing or taught inside of a pattern, rather than being given the focused attention I believe they deserve.
Dancers with a firm grasp of the fundamentals are able to incorporate new ideas into their dance more quickly, apply feedback more easily, and to recognize and explain the choices they are making while dancing. Understanding your fundamentals improves your ability to learn all other aspects of the dance, making Fundamentals of West Coast Swing the ideal starting point for your dance journey.
Come Join Us!
When and where is this class?
Classes are every Thursday from 5:30-6:30pm at Saturn Jive Dance Space.
The studio is located inside of Lowe Mill, on the second floor of the north wing of the building. The easiest way to reach the studio is to park in the north parking lot, enter through Stairwell 3, and take the stairs up to the second floor. Take a left down the big hallway, and you'll find the studio at the end of the hall, the last door on your right.
How much does class cost?
Following studio policy, classes are $15 per person, or $10 for students. A discounted punch card is available for studio regulars. Payment can be made to the studio before or after class. Saturn Jive prefers to receive payment in cash, but Venmo is also available as a digital option.
How do I register for class?
Attendance does not require any form of registration. If you would really like to sign up for class in advance, feel free to email me and let me know you're coming! I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you feel more prepared to attend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is class still happening this week?
You can check Saturn Jive's website and social media for an up-to-date class schedule and cancelation notices (because sometimes I'm out of town!). I'll try to share about cancellations publicly on my personal Facebook page too. If you're still not sure, the best thing to do is email me directly, and I can tell you myself if I'll be there!
Can I drop in on any class, or do I need to start on a certain day?
Classes are drop-in friendly. I'll always teach to the level of the room, so just choose whenever is convenient to make your first day! I like to choose a theme for each month, and so the later weeks of a month may build on ideas that we practiced previously, but I will always take time to review those ideas for anyone who missed those classes.
Do I need to bring a partner?
Nope! Most people who attend this class come on their own. We practice partner rotation during class so that everyone has a chance to dance with everyone in order to practice the most fundamental skill of social dancing: the ability to dance with anyone, anywhere, even if you've never met them before.
Do I need dance shoes?
Nope! Dance shoes are very helpful, and I would recommend buying some during your first year of taking dance classes, but they are not strictly necessary. Dance shoes are most helpful to have while doing spins, turns, and slides. If these present a challenge during class, dancing in socks is always an option!
I like the sound of the class, but I'm not available on Thursdays!
That's ok! There are other beginner-level West Coast Swing classes in Huntsville. A good place to start would be the free lessons at Sweet Home Swing. There you can also find more info about other West Coast teachers around town.
If you are interested in working on your dance with me, I am also available for private lessons. I can work with your schedule to find a more convenient time. Feel free to reach out to me via email for more information!
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