Four on the Floor - Austin's Home for Swing and Lindy Hop.
Austinites love to dance. Have a fun and relaxed experience in the best house in town
If you don't know anyone when you get here, you'll have a new group of friends when you leave.
Take our classes and after-class dance, you'll feel right at home dancing to live music in Austin.
GROUP CLASSES on TUESDAY NIGHTS
at the TEXAS FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS MANSION
2312 San Gabriel, Austin, Texas 78705 (the corner of San Gabriel and 24th St.)See the Fed at http://themansion.info/
May Classes continue this week - May 21
June Classes Begin on June 4th.
There is a new spot for PARKING for our students.
Check us out on Facebook, become our friend, and view a video tour of FOTF
http://Facebook.com/Four-on-the-Floor/
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CLASS SCHEDULE -
CURRENT CLASS SCHEDULE
We will have a Winter/Spring Schedule of Saturday Workshops. - Go to our workshops page
Next workshop - Our next workshop will be announced soon.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
CLASS PRICES AND REGISTRATION
NEW PARKING - UNIVERSITY TOWERS GARAGE
Parking at University Towers is now open and FREE.
Just take a ticket at the entrance to lift the gate if it isn't already lifted.
When you leave, you will be automatically passed through at the exit gate.
UNIVERSITY TOWERS GARAGE:
University Towers Parking Garage is located at 713 West 23rd street, at the corner of West 23rd and Pearl.
The entry to the Garage is on Pearl Street, just south of 23rd
The garage is maybe a five minute walk from the Fed
WHERE YOU CAN PARK IN THE GARAGE:
We can not use the parking spaces that are along the inside walls of each floor of the garage.
We can use the parking spaces along the outside wall of each floor.
We can also use all of the spaces on the roof.
You ARE NOT required to park on the roof - that sign is only for daytime parking.
OUR SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Join us in CENTRAL AUSTIN on TUESDAYS for a full night of our original program of swing and lindy-hop classes. —
May Classes begin on May 7.
MAY SCHEDULE
May Classes Began on May 7.
June Classes Begin on June 4th.
7:15 pm
Lindy 2 with Sally Matsumae and Johnny Serrano
Lindy 3 with Laura Malloy and Matt Jones
Lindy 4 with Samantha Garfield and Alex Cloutier
8:30 pm
Introduction to Swing Dancing with Samantha Garfield and Alex Cloutier
Lindy 1 with Laura Malloy and Matt Jones
Beginning Balboa with Charlotte Simpson and David Bradford
Advanced Balboa with Jennifer Monk and Matt Mitchell
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS :
7:15 PM
LINDY 2 with Sally Matsumae and Johnny Serrano
This month the class will learn fun Lindy Patterns, stylings and essential technique.
May 7 - Getting Your Charleston Game On
This class opens with a great review and refresher
of Lindy fundamentals.
Review Lindy Basics.
Plus, the Swing-out with the leads go under.
May 14 - Swing-out variations and Charleston
Kick-through Charleston, Hand-to-Hand Charleston
May 21 - Lindy Variations
The Sushi (a swing-out with a follow’s roll-out), Texas Tommy, Cross-hand lead to swing-out.
May 28 - Fun and Flashy
Reverse send-out, Follow’s styling variation (Follow’s choice), Lead’s styling variation (added syncopation),
6-count fun
LINDY 3 - with Laura Malloy and Matt Jones
Class Topic to be Announced
For the Intermediate Level Lindy Hopper (and above) who
wants to improve the use of the patterns and stylings
they have learned, while fine-tuning their ability
to lead and follow Lindy Hop at this level.
LINDY 4 - with Samantha Garfield and Alex Cloutier
Class DescriptionTo be posted here.
For the Lindy Hopper who has taken a lot of Intermediate Level Classes, but now
wants to kick their dancing up to the next level.
They want to stretch themselves and feel challenged as they hone their
dance skills to a fine edge.
Class and teachers to be announced.
Class details and techers to be announced here soon
8:30 PM
INTRO TO SWING with Samnatha Garfield and Alex Cloutier
If you've done a little social dancing (maybe even tried swing a few
times), or if you've never danced before, this is the right class for
you. Learn the basics of swing dancing - the rhythm, the patterns and
the basic technique of leading and following.
LINDY 1 - with Laura Malloy and Matt Jones
Learn Lindy Hop from the ground up. Start the first week with side-by-side
Charleston. As more lindy hop patterns are taught, the class will also learn
the posture, rhythm and the technique of leading and following Lindy Hop.
A dynamic and fun 4-week series.
Students must come to all four classes in this series in order
to move on to Lindy 2.
Beginning Balboa with Charlotte Simpson and David Bradford.
Charlotte and David will teach newcomers to dance Balboa - No prior experience is required.
This is a fast-tempo dance done in closed position.
You will learn the basic and be introduced to the most-important rhythms and patterns
of this fun dance that is growing in popularity here in Austin.
Advanced Balboa with Jennifer Monk and Matt Mitchell.
For the experienced Balboa dancer who wants to be challenged and raise his or her dancing
to another level.
Admission is by permission, only.
MINI-PRIVATE LESSONS
with Jonathan Jow
Free for everone currently enrolled in Lindy 2
9:40 PM
Dance in the BallRoom
A live band on the first Tuesday of each Series
Great Austin Swing DeeJays on the other nights:
May 7 - with La Gross Tete playing live and D.J., Nik Brauer to handle the band breaks.
No cover charge. Please tip the band generously.
May 14 - with D.J. David Bradford. No cover charge.
May 21 - with D.J. Nathan Malone. No cover charge.
May 28 - with D.J. Charles Larkey. No cover charge.
June Classes Start on June 4.
JUNE SCHEDULE
June Classes Begin on June 4th.
7:15 pm
Lindy 2 with teachers tba
Lindy 3 with Laura Malloy and Matt Jones
Lindy 4 with Jennifer Monk and Jonathan Jow
8:30 pm
Introduction to Swing Dancing with teachers tba
Lindy 1 with Laura Malloy and Matt Jones
Intermediate Balboa with teachers tba
Beginning Collegiate Shag with teachers tba
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS :
7:15 PM
LINDY 2 with teachers tba
This month the class will learn fun Lindy Patterns, stylings and essential technique.
June 4 - Getting Your Charleston Game On
This class opens with a great review and refresher
of Lindy fundamentals.
Review Lindy Basics.
June 11 - Swing-out variations and Charleston
June 18 - Lindy Variations
June 25 - Fun and Flashy
LINDY 3 - with Laura Malloy and Matt Jones
Class Topic to be Announced
For the Intermediate Level Lindy Hopper (and above) who
wants to improve the use of the patterns and stylings
they have learned, while fine-tuning their ability
to lead and follow Lindy Hop at this level.
LINDY 4 - with Jennifer Monk and Jonathan Jow
Class DescriptionTo be posted here.
For the Lindy Hopper who has taken a lot of Intermediate Level Classes, but now
wants to kick their dancing up to the next level.
They want to stretch themselves and feel challenged as they hone their
dance skills to a fine edge.
Class and teachers to be announced.
Class details and techers to be announced here soon
8:30 PM
INTRO TO SWING with teachers tba
If you've done a little social dancing (maybe even tried swing a few
times), or if you've never danced before, this is the right class for
you. Learn the basics of swing dancing - the rhythm, the patterns and
the basic technique of leading and following.
LINDY 1 - with Laura Malloy and Matt Jones
Learn Lindy Hop from the ground up. Start the first week with side-by-side
Charleston. As more lindy hop patterns are taught, the class will also learn
the posture, rhythm and the technique of leading and following Lindy Hop.
A dynamic and fun 4-week series.
Students must come to all four classes in this series in order
to move on to Lindy 2.
Intermediate Balboa with teachers tba.
For the dancer who has taken beginning level Balboa and is comfortable with the Balboa basic,
and a mix of pure Bal and Bal-Swing variations.
This class will help the beginner improve their technique, their lead-follow, and
expand their vocabulary.
This is a fast-tempo dance done in closed position.
Beginning Collegiate Shag with teachers tba.
For the experienced Balboa dancer who wants to be challenged and raise his or her dancing
We are bringing back the beginning class in this fun and dynamic 6-count dance.
Class is open to all levels.
MINI-PRIVATE LESSONS
with teacher tba
Free for everone currently enrolled in Lindy 2
9:40 PM
Dance in the BallRoom
A live band on the first Tuesday of each Series
Great Austin Swing DeeJays on the other nights:
June 4 - with La Gross Tete playing live and D.J., tba to handle the band breaks.
No cover charge. Please tip the band generously.
June 11 - with D.J. tba. No cover charge.
June 18 - with D.J. tba. No cover charge.
June 25 - with D.J. tba. No cover charge.
July Classes Start on July 9.
We will be closed on July 2nd.
WHAT DO WE DO?
Why take swing dancing or lindy hop classes in Austin? Well, to us, dancing is the way to become a part of the Austin we love: the music, the atmosphere, and the people. There's nothing better than moving around and letting yourself go to a great song; there's also nothing scarier than feeling like you don't know what you're doing, right? We know! Four on the Floor believes in social dancing in the real world — so our swing and lindy hop lessons keep it simple, social, and down to earth. We offer expert teaching with an easy attitude and the loose, fun nightclub style that will get you out there.
WHAT IS LINDY HOP? WHAT IS SWING DANCING?
"Swing" dancing takes many forms, and has its roots in the rhythms of swing music... but the grandaddy dance form is known as Lindy Hop. It was not invented overnight; it grew out of a culture of social-dancers and shaped by some now-legendary street dancers in the age of big-band jazz, from the late 20's through the 40's. Lindy Hop often draws special attention on a dancefloor, just because it looks so different... it seems so fluid and flying, and no two people dance it exactly alike! But the ABC's of Lindy Hop come straight from the rhythm and feel of the music, and the patterns become something to play with and make your own.
HOW DO THE CLASSES WORK?
Every month in Austin, there is a new four-week series of swing and lindy
hop classes. There are several levels to step you up as you become comfortable
with swing and lindy hop and build the vocabulary and skills you need,
four weeks at a time.
Our class series are progressive - each week builds on the material taught
the weeks before. Please start each series with the first class
in the series. We ask that Students not start a series after the second
week.
You don't need a partner, and you can pay as you go if you wish. Registration on the first class day of the month is all it takes. Go to class descriptions for more details.
Complete each series at each level, repeat or drop in again as you like, and step up when you are ready; if you need help or feedback, we are happy to give you our time!
CLASS PRICES AND REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION
All class registration is at the door. There is no advanced registration.
There is no requirement to reserve a space in classes.
PRICES
If you pay as you go:
$15 for a single class
$25 for two classes in one night
If you pay for a class series:
$45 for a four-week series (ALL CLASSES)
$70 for two four-week series in the same month
Class Credits: If a student pre-pays for an entire
month of either 1 or 2 series, but fails to take
one of some of the classes, they will receive one
credit for one class in the next month. If that credit
is not used in that month, then it elapses.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Intro to Swing:
4-week series This is the most familiar and user-friendly version
of swing, seen in the nightclubs around Austin and on virtually
every dance floor.
This is a 6-count rhythm, aka East Coast Swing/Jitterbug,
but with an “old-school,” club-dancing style.
This is considered to be a basic element of Lindy Hop,
and makes an excellent introduction to the rest of our
classes. We teach the basic step, new turns and moves
each week, and basic skills to lead or follow successfully.
Lindy One:
4-week series
This class is a very thorough introduction to the basic
steps and fundamental skills of Lindy. Get the must-have
moves: The Charleston, The Swingout (the signature basic
step of Lindy Hop), and The Lindy Circle. After that,
the class adds several more simple turns and moves,
dance with style, and lead or follow clearly.
Students must come to all four classes in this series in
order to move on to Lindy 2 (No exceptions).
Lindy Two:
These are four 4 week series, which can be taken
in any order.
You must have completed the Lindy Hop 1 series in order
to enroll in Lindy 2.
The Lindy 2 lessons include variations on the basics
from Lindy Hop 1, keys and exercises to sharpen your skills,
and a wide vocabulary of must-have moves and steps.
Lindy 2 also includes many varieties of Charleston,
including “Tandem” Charleston.
For current class content, see the schedule
for this month, above.
Lindy Three:
4 week series, alternating themes each month
Completion of Lindy Hop 2 4-month program required
Talk to your teacher before moving on.
Every series builds your quality of movement and
partnering skills. We work toward moving, looking,
and feeling like an accomplished Lindy Hopper.
Intermediate-to-advanced themes include:
Breaking Out of the Basics, Total Recall - Improving the Basic Patterns
of Lindy 1 and 2, Spins and Turns - Technique and Patterns,
Swing-out Fun and Games, Picking up the Tempo - Fast Lindy,
Improvising with Styling Steps, Musicality,
Smooth and Slow Lindy, Integrating Jazz Steps,
Breaking Out of the Count, The Lead/Follow Challenge,
Lindy Hop Classics - Cool Stuff that Frankie Taught Us,
Advanced Tandem Charleston, and Basics Boot Camp.
Lindy 4:
4-week series.
Class Series is back on. We are happy that Teni Lopez-Cardenas and Andrew Munoz
joined us in January 2011 to re-start the Lindy 4 Classes
We are proud to have Teni and Andrew join our staff in 2011 as Lindy teachers
They both moved here from Colorado in 2010 - Teni from Denver and Andrew from Fort Collins
Teni and Andrew taught Lindy Hop for several years in the highly competitive dance scene
in the Denver-Boulder-Fort Collns area
We feel they have a lot to offer to the dancers who are ready for the Lindy 4 level.
Admission by invitation only, or by permission of the teachers..
This is an advanced curriculum to be determined by the instructors
teaching the class. Dancers must have completed the curriculum
offered in Lindy 3 and/or raised their dancing to the level
which is sought to be developed there.
We will be featuring special classes in addition to our series this year — check each month for something new and different! Class costs will sometimes vary for these — please check.
