29th March – 7pm at The Walkabout Temple
By Stef Packard
Exercise is boring, right? And meeting new people in this city? Borderline impossible. A night out is expensive and as for dancing, well that’s best left up to the pros…
Swing Patrol London disagrees! This community of over 1000 dancers has a whole lot of collective energy and reckons you should join them. And best of all – there’s an opportunity to give swing dancing a try for free!
On Tuesday 29th March at 7pm, Swing Patrol are running a completely free beginner swing dance class. It’s at The Walkabout Temple, one of their regular venues, and is set to be a whole load of fun. The class will be upbeat and energetic and will get you on the dance floor in no time. You’ll learn the vintage swing dances like the Lindy Hop and Charleston and will be swinging the night away. Two left feet? No problem – they’re experts at that! Email info@swingpatrol.co.uk to register your interest for this fun class and check out the Swing Patrol Temple webpage for more details.
Dance circle
So what’s this swing thing all about?
Ask anyone who’s tried it: swing dancing is pretty addictive. Try one class and you’re hooked! It’s probably because it ticks a lot of boxes in one go.
- First of all, it’s extremely social – you rotate partners in class so you get to try the moves with a lot of different people and make new friends as you go. And if you’ve brought along a partner you’ll have learnt a load of new stuff by the time you get back to them in the rotation.
- Secondly, it’s great exercise – just watch any of the old Lindy Hop videos and you’ll start sweating, but the best part is that the music is so full of joy and energy that you barely notice it!
- Thirdly, it’s a great night out – once you’ve got a few moves under your belt you’ll be able to join in at a ball, social or festival anywhere in the world. Last of all – on the 29th it’s free!
What’s the catch?
No catch, unless you count the chance to get on TV! At The Walkabout on the 29th there will be a film crew coming along to do a news story on Swing Patrol for TV in Australia. All you’ve got to do is turn up and have a go in the class!
What if you get hooked?
Great! Welcome to the club! Swing Patrol run classes all round London every week so you won’t be short of places to get your fix. And if you’re looking for ways to keep the free classes going they offer all kinds of volunteering opportunities in exchange for free lessons – everything from putting up posters around town to checking people in at the door. Just get in touch with the friendly Swing Patrol team to find out more.
Swing dancing moves
What: free beginner swing dance class
When: Tuesday 29th March at 7pm
Where: The Walkabout Temple, Temple Station, Temple Pl, London WC2R 2PH
Cost: Free
