next up: what do I wear to class?

a bit of underground Charleston

One of the most fun things about swing dancing is getting to try out a completely different era of clothes and putting your own stamp on your look. I'll come to this in more detail in another post but for now I'll just mention the kind of thing people wear to classes.

This goes for lindy hop, east coast swing and west coast swing but the most important thing is to wear something comfortable! Some folk rock up straight after work and are more than happy to dance in a suit whilst others choose to channel their inner Olivia Newton-John and turn up ready to get physical. Either way, there is no strict code and if you are happy to swing and sweat in it then go for it!

The most important thing, though, is footwear. Again, these should be comfortable and should allow a full range of movement that is unlikely to endanger you or others, so girls (or guys), that means no high heels! Boots are also likely to be too heavy whilst new trainers can sometimes provide too much grip which can be dangerous for your knees and ankles.

The best things to plump for are old trainers with well-worn soles, brogues, flats, or if you want to be with the 'in' crowds: lindy aficionados often dance in (sole-worn) plimsolls or Keds whilst the west coast swing collective are big fans of Toms.

If you get really into it, there are a few brands, such as Aris Allen, that specifically make dance shoes, often with suede soles, which let you slide about a bit more but that is something best left until you have grasped the basics. Later on I might even explain how to turn a pair of trainers into dance shoes with some glue and a bit of suede or felt if you fancy a blast at DIY cobbling.