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.
With our classes, you will be able to dance out in the Austin music scene:
Dancing for Jazz and Swing Music, for Blues Music, for Country Music, for Rockabilly Music
We've got your back
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/
January Classes Began on January 10
February Classes will begin on February 7th.
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
Intermediate Balboa Workshop on February 18th. - Go to our workshops page
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
CLASS PRICES AND REGISTRATION
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. —
January Classes wrap up on January 31.
February Classes start on February 7.
JANUARY SCHEDULE
7:15 pm
Lindy 2 with Charlotte Brady and Matt Jones
Lindy 3 with Jennifer Monk and Alex Cloutier
Lindy 4 with Teni Lopez Cardenas and Andrew Munoz
Intermediate Collegiate Shag with Tracy Owens and Ryan Martin
8:30 pm
Introduction to Swing Dancing with Charlotte Brady and Matt Jones
Lindy 1 with Laura Malloy and Matt Jones
Beginning Blues with Philippe Wilson and partner-to-be-announced
Advanced Charleston with Teni Lopez Cardenas and Andrew Munoz
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS :
7:15 PM
LINDY 2 with Charlotte Brady and Matt Jones
January 10 - Getting Your Lindy Game On
This class opens with a great review and refresher
of Lindy fundamentals.
Plus, review/learn out-side turn from swing-out and sushi
January 17 - Fine points of Tandem Charleston
Technique of tandem - movement and partnering
Entry and exit
January 24 - Tandem Charleston Variations
Kicks left and follow's 360
January 31 - Fun and Flashy
The push-out, plus surprises
LINDY 3 - with Jennifer Monk and Alex Cloutier
Topic - to be announced
Details 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 Teni Lopez Cardenas and Andrew Munoz
Samantha Garfield will sub for Teni on January 10.
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.
Intermediate Collegiate Shag with Tracy Owen and Ryan Martin
Collegiate Shag is an exciting and popular fast-paced 6-count dance.
To take this intermediate class, it is necessary to have completed a beginning
collegiate shag class.
For those who have not taken the beginning class yet, Ryan and Tracy will teach
a Beginning Collegiate Shag workshop on Saturday, January 7 from 1-4 pm
at Galaxy Dance Studio
Take this workshop, and you swill be ready to go.
Contact Ryan Martin with questions about this workshop: madking13@yahoo.com
GALAXY DANCE STUDIOS (1700 South Lamar Blvd, Suite 338) is on the west side of Lamar,
between Barton Springs and West Mary
Map and Directions for Galaxy Dance Studios www.galaxydances.com
8:30 PM
INTRO TO SWING with Charlotte Brady and Johnny Serrano
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 (No exceptions).
Need some one-on-one attention to your dancing to help learn Lindy Hop?
We could make 25-minute mini-private lesson sessions available for $10 each per
person between 7:15 and 8:15 pm, before the Lindy 1 class starts.
Just email us the weekend before class to set one up - matt@fouronthefloor.com
BEGINNING BLUES with Philippe Wilson and partner-to-be-announced
Blues Music is one of Austin's favorite live music forms. In recent years,
dancing to blues music has become just as popular.
In this class, learn the basic of social blues dancing so you will feel
comfortable leading or following blues dancing on any social dance floor
in Austin.
January 10
January 17
January 24
January 31
ADVANCED CHARLESTON with Teni Lopez Cardenas and Andrew Munoz
Charleston is one of the most fun parts of Lindy Hop - whether it is Tandem or
side-by-side ot hand-to-hand.
In this class, Teni and Andrew will teach some of their favorite Charleston
variations. They will also work wo help improve the students' lead-follow abilities,
and ease with which they switch in and out of Charlerston while Lindy
Hopping.
TO TAKE THIS CLASS - This class is open to all students who:
Are currently in Lindy 2 or who have at least completed the month which includes
Tandem Charleston,
Are currently enrolled in Lindy 3, or who have passed their assessment to start
Lindy 3, or
Are currently enrolled in Lindy 4.
Jennifer Monk will sub for Teni on January 10.
January 10
January 17
January 24
January 31
MINI-PRIVATE LESSONS
with Alex Cloutier
Free for everone currently enrolled in Lindy 2
9:40 PM
Dance in the ballroom With DeeJays:
January 10 - with D.J. David Bradford. No cover charge.
January 17 - with D.J. Reed Penney. No cover charge.
January 24 - with D.J. Nathan Malone. No cover charge.
January 31 - with D.J. Nik Brauer. No cover charge.
Our January Classes Began January 10.
Our February Classes will begin on February 7.
FEBRUARY SCHEDULE
Schedule is subject to change.7:15 pm
Lindy 2 with Charlotte Brady and Johnny Serrano
Lindy 3 with Alex Cloutier and Laura Malloy
Lindy 4 with Jonathan Jow and partner to be announced
Swing Dancing - Level 2 with Matt Jones and Tiffany Bristow
8:30 pm
Introduction to Swing Dancing with Sally Matsumae and Johnny Serrano
Lindy 1 with teachers to be announced later
Intermediate Blues Dancing with Campbell Miller and Dan Repsch
Beginning Balboa with teachers to be annonced later
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS :
7:15 PM
LINDY 2 with Charlotte Brady and Johnny Serrano
February 7 - Getting Your Lindy Game On
This class opens with a great review and refresher
of Lindy fundamentals.
Plus, the R-J; review out-side turn from swing-out
February 14 - Swing-out and Charleston fun
Outside Turn Variation, Side-to-Side Charleston, Catch in side-by-side Charleston,
6-count Send Out
February 21 - Lindy Variations
Basic 8-count tuck-turn, cross-catch tuck turn, Skater's
February 28 - Fun and Flashy
Swing out to a hand switch, Review Skaters position, Tuck-turn exit from skaters,
Add "Showboat Step", Mini-dip
LINDY 3 - with Laura Malloy and Alex Cloutier
Topic - Spins and Turns
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 Jonathan Jow and partner to be announced
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.
Swing Dancing - Level 2 with Tiffany Bristow and Matt Jones
If you just wanna learn some more 6-count/East Coast/Jitterbug patterns,
this will be the class for you.
To take this class, we only ask that you, at the least, have:
taken the 4-week Intro to Swing class with us, or
you have some good social dance experience already with swing dancing.
8:30 PM
INTRO TO SWING with Sally Matsumae and Johnny Serrano
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 teachers to be announced later
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 (No exceptions).
Need some one-on-one attention to your dancing to help learn Lindy Hop?
We could make 25-minute mini-private lesson sessions available for $10 each per
person between 7:15 and 8:15 pm, before the Lindy 1 class starts.
Just email us the weekend before class to set one up - matt@fouronthefloor.com
INTERMEDIATE BLUES with Campbell Miller and Dan Repsch
Class Topic to be announced here soon.
Blues is a favorite of Austin music fans. Blues dancing is fast becoming
one of Austin's favorite dance forms as well.
After offering Beginning Blues classes in November and January, we wanted to have
something for those of you who wanted to take it up a step.
Dan Repsch is a nationally renowned Blues instructor who is in Austin during
February on sabatical. We are very grateful that he will teach a class
for our students while he is in Town.
Austin's own wonderful Campbell Miller will join him for this class.
Students are required to have taken a 4-week Beginner Blues series before
they can enroll in this class.
BEGINNING BALBOA - with teachers to be announced later
Come learn this fun, fast-paced swing dance which started in
California and is still popular among swing dancers today. Balboa is especially
popular in Austin because of all the great live music which the dance fits so well.
Learn Balboa from the ground up. A dynamic and fun 4-week series that
teaches the basics of Balboa that each beginner needs to know.
The teachers will take you through all the basics over 4 weeks
and get you ready for the social dance floor.
If you have had the class before but want to get better at the basics,
you can retake the class for a reduced price ($10 per class or $25 for the series)
February 7 - Week One
Learn the Balboa 8-count Basic and the Come-Around
February 14 - Week Two
Review the Balboa Basic and the Come-Around, and move on to Lollies
February 21 - Week Three
Review the Balboa Basic and the Come-Around, and learn the Throw-Out
February 28 - Week Four
Review the Balboa Basic and the Come-Around, and learn the Cross-Overs
MINI-PRIVATE LESSONS
with teacher to be announced
Free for everone currently enrolled in Lindy 2
9:40 PM
Dance in the ballroom With DeeJays:
February 7 - with D.J. t.b.a. No cover charge.
February 14 - with D.J. t.b.a. No cover charge.
February 21 - with D.J. t.b.a.. No cover charge.
February 28 - with D.J. t.b.a. No cover charge.
Our March Classes Begin March 6.
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.
