Tracks & Track Placements
Overview
All of our classes at Lindyfest are designed to provide a space to learn, practice, and have fun together. You may self-place in either track 1 or 2, but if you’d like to attend classes in track 3-6 we will host a placement session on Friday morning of the event. If you have a question about your track placement, that will be held on Saturday morning.
Our classes are intended to provide a space for everyone to practice together and work as a group. Therefore, by attending classes, you consent to rotate and dance with everyone in the class. If you need a break to think or rest your legs, feel free to step out of the rotation, or take a seat in the classroom, there will be chairs available. If there are any other issues, please contact us or reach out to a member of the dancer concierge who will be present in each track class.
In addition to tracked classes, we are offering a wide variety of add-on classes to allow you to choose your learning adventure.
Tracks 2-6
We have a few general descriptions to help you choose which track may be the right option for you! Track 2 is self-placed but tracks 3-6 will be placed through an audition which takes place Friday morning of the event. Track levels are relative to those who attend the audition, we are offering the same topic for each class hour and all of the teachers will rotate through the class tracks. To maximize our class sizes, and keep everything in balance, we ask that everyone remain within their placed track and not bump up or down to follow specific teachers. You are more than welcome to reach out to teachers to see if they have time for a private lesson.
Track 1 - Beginner’s Track
If you have little to no experience with Lindy Hop, these classes are designed for you! Click here for all the info.
Track 2 - self-placed
This track is meant to be a step above our beginner track. You likely have taken some Lindy hop classes* You are familiar with the basics of 6- and 8-count Lindy Hop, including the 8-count swing out and you have been introduced to concepts of connection and rhythm.
This track is designed for you to learn new moves and expand on the introductory basics. You will also improve your lead/follow skills, improvisation, and musicality.
Track 3 – track placement required
You have probably been taking classes consistently and social dancing regularly for this level. You understand what the basic rhythm and patterns are and may have learned from a variety of teachers and instructors. You have quite a few moves and possibly some styling. You may have a decent connection and can adapt to different techniques.
In this track, you’ll learn a lot of new material and work on perfecting fundamentals at a higher level that will help everything fit into place.
Track 4 – track placement required
At this level, you’ve taken many classes from different instructors and likely travel for larger events around the country. You don’t have to think too much while you are dancing as things come naturally to you. You can connect with most people you dance with and can handle fast and slow tempos. You also understand that to become an advanced dancer you need to work on your basics, not just memorize patterns. You may be teaching in your scene and you may be competing.
In these classes, you will learn new content that will help you dig into specific techniques and how to better adapt your dancing.
Track 5 – track placement required
This track is for those who have been dancing longer than most. You are a confident dancer and most of the time you can create new moves and styling right on the floor. You can usually dance to any tempo, lead/follow tricky moves, and make it all work to the music. You’re likely teaching in some capacity. You may also be competing at national-level competitions.
This track will be more focused on refinement and fine-tuning the small details.
These classes will be fast-paced and challenging.
Track 6 – Invitation or track placement required
You’re teaching in some capacity in your scene and may be invited to teach at local or national workshop events. You are competing in national-level competitions often in finals or placed in the highest-level competitions. You can make almost immediate changes in your dancing and have reached a level in which you are more interested in the quality of movement than the number of moves.
Teacher critique is expected and welcomed in this track.
Track Class Descriptions
Beginning Jazz Movement - Get warmed up for the weekend in this solo jazz movement class.
Connection - Classes will focus on the mechanics of partnering and how these fundamentals create aesthetics, rhythms, and dynamics.
Momentum and Flow - This class is for creating partnership through your whole body, learning to initiate and respond to momentum, and creating dynamic transitions.
Musicality - From learning jazz music theory to fine-tuning your kinetic response to musical shifts and phrasing, teachers will let you in on their approach to feeling and reacting to music while dancing.
Slow Dancing - Learn to dance to slow soulful, groovy, and bluesy music by listening to the different types of music, adjusting how you dance, and filling the music.
Solo Jazz - Teachers will either use choreography or improvisational tools to familiarize you with solo jazz vocabulary, aesthetics, and phrasing. Take the time to focus on just you, yourself, and the music!
Stretching and Self-care - A great way to kick off your classes with stretching and warming up. This will be a basic class for all levels and you’ll take away tools that you can use before classes all weekend long.
Improvisation - Instructors’ choice with a focus on creative tasks and conversational movement.
Swingouts and Shapes - Refine and learn variations on your Lindy hop patterns.