Looking for something new?

Want to learn to dance in 2025? Join York Lindy for our beginners swing dance classes. These are a great way to meet new people, get some exercise and feel inspired as you start your journey with swing dancing! You don’t need a partner, any previous dance experience or special equipment - just sign up and our experienced teachers will get you dancing! 

There's several ways to start swing dancing in 2025.

Join us on a Thursday evening at Belfrey Hall, either for a one-off class or a 3-week beginners course.

The one-off class is perfect if you want to give swing dance a go, without commiting to the 3-week course. Upcoming one-off classes are on: 27 March, 01 May, 05 June 2025 at 7:30pm.

Our 3-week courses are the perfect place to start your swing dance journey. Our friendly teachers will introduce you to the core footwork and build up your confidence with a number of moves over the three weeks. Our upcoming 3-week courses are on: 03 April, 08 May, 12 June 2025 at 7:30pm.

Not available on a Thursday? We also occassionally run Beginners workshops on Saturdays - keep an eye out for upcoming dates.

Saturday 12 April to Sunday 13 April

We are thrilled to announce our YL Weekender with the amazing Katie Cobalt and Mike Sonder! Join us for a Saturday of incredible teaching and dancing, followed by flying high with aerials on Sunday! You can purchase tickets for just one day or the whole weekend! Tickets for either days workshop will include access to the social dance on Saturday evening.

Saturday Schedule

• Workshop 1 from 11am-1pm

• Lunch 1pm-2pm

• Workshop 2 from 2pm - 4pm

• Cultural talk 4pm-5pm (for those attending the workshop)

• Social open to all levels, 7:30pm - 11:30pm - **includes live band!**

The Saturday workshops will be perfect for anyone who wants to take their Lindy up to the next level, with a great opportunity to learn from this incredible teaching duo who love to share their passion for the history of jazz!

Sunday Schedule

• Aerials Workshop 1 from 1:30pm - 3:30pm

• Break: 3:30pm - 4:15pm

• Aerials Workshop 2 from 4:15pm - 6:15pm

The Sunday workshop will include 4 hours of classic Lindy Hop aerials. These will be where a base (lead) offers support to a flyer (follow), whose feet will leave the floor. You will need to sign up with a partner(s) as we will not be rotating in class, and won’t be matchmaking on the day.

Thursday 3-Week Courses: Beginners and Level 2

Want to learn to swing dance? York Lindy welcomes you to our Beginners' and Level 2 courses in the centre of York! 

Beginners, 7:30pm (3-week course)

Our beginners course is the perfect place to start your journey with swing dancing! You don’t need a partner, any previous dance experience or special equipment - just sign up and our experienced teachers will get you dancing! 

Our beginners courses start from the very beginning, introducing you to dances from the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Our friendly teachers will break down the footwork before introducing you to some fun moves! You will build up your moves with dancers of a similar level. 

This course costs £18 for the 3 weeks. Our concession price is £14 for the 3 weeks - available to students, pensioners and those on benefit support.

Lead or Follow?

Wondering whether to lead or follow? You're welcome to try either!

Leaders typically initiate moves on the social dance floor while follows interpret and respond. Many of us enjoy dancing both roles with different opportunities to be creative, and of course the chance to dance with everyone else in the room!

Your dancing role is completely your choice and leading/following is not restricted to gender. Dancing both roles allows for fun with taking turns and switching whether you lead or follow- sometimes even mid-dance!

We only ask that you stick with one role for the duration of a particular course.

Level 2, 8:45pm (3-week course)

Level 2 is all about giving you the confidence to social dance! It is suitable for anyone wanting to learn more about either lead or follow technique, and who feels ready to tackle some more challenging moves, variations and footwork.

Our expectation is that you feel comfortable with the footwork patterns that you've learnt in Beginners, as we will build on this.

Our Level 2 course costs £18 for the 3 weeks. Our concession price is £14 for the 3 weeks - available to students, pensioners and those on benefits.

Dancers that are new to Level 2 classes may wish to also attend the beginners course to solidify the basic footwork - beginners courses run in the previous hour. We offer a discount if you are signing up for both Beginners and Level 2. Prices to do both courses are £27, or £21 for concessions.

Location: The Belfrey Hall, 52A Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS

Price: Beginners - £18 (£14 concessions), Level 2 - £18 (£14 concessions), Both - £27 (£21 concessions)

Upcoming Courses: 

• Thurs 03 April - 1930s Charleston

• Thurs 08 May - Six Count Lindy Hop

• Thurs 12 June - Eight Count Lindy Hop

• Thurs 17 July - 1930s Charleston

Timings:

• 7:30pm-8.30pm (Beginners) 

• 8.45pm-9.45pm (Level 2)

Thursday One-Off Classes

Do you want to learn to swing dance? York Lindy welcomes you to our one-off Beginners' classes in the centre of York! These one-off classes are perfect for new dancers who cannot commit to our longer 3-week Beginners’ courses. No partner, previous dance experience, or special shoes are required. Our teachers will get you dancing!

Our one-off Beginners’ classes start from the very beginning, introducing you to dances from the 1920s, 30s and 40s. This class will give you the foundation needed to start social dancing.

The one-off class costs £6; our concession price is £4 - available to students, pensioners and those on benefit support.

Immediately following the one-off Beginners’ class we will have a practice social dance, where you can practise the moves you learnt in the class with other members of the York Lindy community. Entry to the practice social is free for all participants.

Location: The Belfrey Hall, 52A Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS

Price: £6 (£4 concessions) for the class. The practice social is free.

Dates: 

• Thursday 27 March

• Thursday 01 May

• Thursday 05 June

• Thursday 10 July

Times: 

• 7:30-8:30pm - Beginners Class

• 8:30-10pm - Practice Social (open to all levels)

All Levels Social Dance

We run regular social dances, either on a Thursday evening or at weekends. We especially encourage everyone who has attended the beginners' courses to come, meet and dance with more of our lovely York Lindy community. 

Please reserve your ticket online in advance; we do not admit attendees on the door.

Dates: 

• Thursday Social, 20th March: 7:30-9:45pm

• Tea Dance, Sunday 30th March: 2-5pm

• Weekend Event with Social on Saturday 12 April: 7:30-11:30pm

• Thursday Social, 24th April: 7:30-9:45pm

• Thursday Social, 29th May: 7:30-9:45pm

• Tea Dance, Sunday 22nd June: 2-5pm

• Thursday Social, 3rd July: 7:30-9:45pm