B'ham Hop

Swing Jam Self-Assessment Descriptions

Tap Beginner

This level is for folks who have less than two years of tap experience as an adult, but are experienced dancers in other disciplines. Classes will focus on building solid fundamentals and also integrating tap dancing and percussion into your other dance forms.

Tap Intermediate/Advanced

This level is for folks who are experienced tap dancers. Dancers should be comfortable with the tap shim sham, the BS chorus, time steps, pullbacks, wings, and other classic steps. Dancers in this track should be comfortable improvising with tap dance. Classes will focus on improvisation, jamming, setting a groove, and advanced steps.

See below for Master Class level description.

Lindy Hop/Heritage Jazz Beginner

This level of classes is for folks that may not have social danced before, but are experienced dancers in other disciplines. Classes will focus on the fundamentals of connection, partnered dancing, and vernacular jazz vocabulary.

Lindy Hop/Heritage Jazz Intermediate

This level is for folks that know the basics, including swingouts, tuck turns, the charleston, and the vernacular steps included in routines like the shim sham, trickerations, and the big apple. Classes will focus on improvisation, jamming, and advanced steps.

Lindy Hop/Heritage Jazz Advanced

This level is for folks that regularly teach, compete, and perform at a high level. Advanced classes will be fast-paced and will assume a wide breadth of prior knowledge in the art form focused on in class. Classes will focus on self-expression as well as collaboration with musicians and other dancers. Please reach out to bham.hop@gmail.com if you are unsure of your level and we will assist you.

Master Classes

This level is for folks that regularly teach, compete, and perform at a high level both locally and regionally. Dancers should have a deep connection to their craft and their community, helping brig up new dancers, organizing and bringing dancers together, and actively building and contributing to the regional or even wider scene. Dancers in a master class should be regularly practicing their craft, and are likely being invited to teach and/or perform outside of their local scene consistently. Please reach out to bham.hop@gmail.com if you are unsure of your level and we will assist you.