Getting Started at Jazz Attack: The Hub of Philadelphia’s Swing Dance Community
- Adrienne Barberg
- Feb 1
- 4 min read
Folks make their way to Jazz Attack, Philly’s home for Lindy Hop & swing dance via many different avenues. Whether you came to Jazz Attack because you wanted to make friends, do more physical activity, groove to live music, or get to know an iconic dance form, you have found the right spot!
Classes and Practices
Jazz Attack has the best swing dance classes in Philadelphia. Aside from being a great way to meet new people, dance is a fun way to exercise while expressing yourself artistically. Part of the fun of dance is getting to practice with others and hone your skills. Fortunately, we have Lindy Hop classes for dancers of all levels– from “I have never set foot on a social dance floor before” to “I have been doing this for years and could probably do a swingout in my sleep.” For a more detailed description of our class levels, you can check out our classes page here.
You can find tickets to our weekly dances here!
If you are just getting started, we have drop-in beginner swing dance classes called Lindy 101 every Thursday at 8pm before our social dance party. Lindy 101 is included in your ticket price – no experience required, no partner required. We recommend taking this class 3-6 times before moving onto our next level.
Once you get comfortable with the basics that you’ve learned in 101, we have monthly series that include admission to our weekly dances. The topics vary from month to month, but feature our core classes of “Rhythm & Groove,” “Connection,” “Solo Jazz,” and “Call & Response.” These classes can be taken in any order and will help set you up with a solid foundation for social dance technique and fun!
At any level, you can practice on your own or with a partner. Check out these resources that one of our team members and instructors, Gavin, has curated here, or you can join us on Sundays from 5-7 for open practice with our friends at RagTag Empire.
Social Events and Discord
Admittedly, as the social events coordinator, I am a little biased here, but I think our social events are what makes Jazz Attack the unique and welcoming space that it is. Getting to know other dancers off of the dance floor is a great way to build relationships and makes asking people to dance far less intimidating. Anyone is welcome to join social events, whether you’ve been to 1 dance or 1,000. With events from board game nights to apple picking, painting to camping, and ice skating to beach days, there’s a social event for everyone!
We also have a community Discord, which you can join here. This is a space where you can learn about dance and social events, coordinate carpools, ask questions, post memes, and, of course, see adorable pictures of the pets of Jazz Attack (a favorite channel). It is a great way to get connected!
Live Band Nights
Here in Philadelphia, we are so lucky to have access to an incredible local jazz scene. On top of that, Jazz Attack often brings in artists from across the country, featuring some of the best swing dance bands from New York City, St. Louis, New Orleans, and more.
At Jazz Attack, we bring in a live band at least once a month, usually on the second Thursday. You can check out our schedule here to see when the next live band will be. On our Discord, you can also often find opportunities to check out (and dance to) live music around Philadelphia.
Little Free Jazz Library and History/Culture Page
As stewards of a historical Black vernacular dance, it is crucial that we understand the history and culture behind its creation. A great place to start is our History and Culture page. It includes a (very brief) history of Lindy Hop, as well as historical videos that help illustrate the roots of the dance. But why stop at the basics? To dive deeper into jazz and dance history, you can find our Little Free Jazz Library at every Jazz Attack dance. You can check out books on iconic jazz musicians, dancers, and the history of Lindy Hop. At that same table, you can find QR codes for historic clips you can use to help practice. For even more history, you can check out blogs like Swungover or podcasts like Integrated Rhythm. There is no shortage of opportunities to learn about and appreciate the history and culture surrounding Lindy Hop!
Let’s Get in Touch!
Finally, if you have any questions about Jazz Attack or getting involved, please feel free to reach out to me in person or at adrienne@jazzattackswings.com, or another member of our volunteering team here. Welcome and happy dancing!
Adrienne is the Community Engagement Coordinator at Jazz Attack. She plans monthly off-the-dancefloor social events, and helps new dancers find their footing at Jazz Attack!
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