Lindy Hop dance classes in Mumbai – A crowded theatre watches intently as a romantic comedy plays. As they flirt with each other, the two lead actors are locked in a playful dance to the tunes of a small band playing in the street. Many in the audience probably imagine themselves in one or the other actors’ shoes, if just for a moment.
If you’ve ever been one of those audience members, you’ve probably wondered what it might be like to dance spontaneously, unchoreographed, with a partner, letting the music take you wherever it goes. You may even have taken a cursory glance at dance classes and studios around you, and found partner dances like Salsa, Jive, Ballroom, Tango, and Bachata. With the social isolation and trauma of the last two years weighing heavily on all of us, many have turned to dance, especially partner dance as a way to reconnect with those around them and to start moving again.
But if the thought of a romantic or ‘serious’ dance form like Salsa or Tango is intimidating, or seems too intimate, maybe you would prefer something more fun, more laid back, and not as sensual. Maybe you’d like a dance form where goofing around is not only accepted but encouraged! If that piques your interest, and you live in Mumbai, Lindy Hop dance classes and Swing dancing will be right up your alley.
What is Lindy Hop?
Lindy Hop originated in the 1920s in Harlem New York, an African-American neighborhood, and is a form of partnered social dance. Social dancing is any form of dance where people meet and dance together at social events or venues like bars, clubs, restaurants, or dance halls. The dance evolved alongside early Jazz music, known as Swing, and was danced in the huge ballrooms of New York. Early Jazz had many musical influences, including Ragtime, Blues music, classical European music, marching band music, and African chants and poly-rhythms. Born out of unlivable and inhumane conditions, the musical themes, trends, and innovations that eventually led to the creation of Jazz and the Blues were the only avenues of cultural and self-expression available to black slaves.
In much the same way, the influences on Lindy Hop and Swing dancing more broadly came from an amalgamation of African tribal dances, European classical dances, Tap dance, and Charleston. It is characterized by a loose, athletic posture, a rhythmic up-down pulse of the upper body, and acrobatic lifts, flips, and dips. In contrast, other partner dances of the time were considered “dignified” and “proper”, with couples never breaking out of ‘closed position’, with each partner placing one hand on the other’s shoulder or back, and the other hand holding their partner’s free hand.
Lindy Hop Dance classes in Mumbai
Lindy Hop and Swing dance classes are now in Mumbai – you’re probably wondering where you can go to learn this amazing dance. If you’re lucky enough to live in Mumbai, you’ll have to look no further. Prekshaa and Samuel, are a husband and wife duo who have been dancing Lindy Hop and Swing for over half a decade and run Slingshot Swing. They provide Swing and Lindy Hop dance classes for anyone, from absolute beginners to experienced dancers.
Samuel, or Sam as most people call him, first introduced Prekshaa and a mutual friend to another social dance – Jive – in 2016. Soon after, this mutual friend stumbled upon Lindy Hop and suggested all three of them try it out. Almost overnight, Lindy Hop became a huge part of their lives. Prekshaa left a few months later to study in France where she also continued to learn the dance form and attended workshops and a dance camp in Europe.
During this time, Sam had learned Salsa intensively while still dancing Lindy Hop socially. Making a point to attend Lindy Hop dance classes or take private classes from internationally acclaimed Lindy Hop instructors who happened to visit India from time to time. He also attended an international dance camp in Bangkok.
Once Prekshaa returned in 2018, they once again began working on their dance partnership and individual skills. Since then, they have taken in-person and online private classes from championship-winning international instructors, attended a dance camp in South Korea, and danced there extensively over the few weeks they stayed in Seoul. They have learned ballet for over a year and briefly dabbled in Tap dancing. On returning from Seoul they felt the need to give something back to the small dance community in Mumbai, and Slingshot Swing was born.
At Slingshot Swing, Prekshaa and Sam do their best to create a welcoming, fun environment for class participants, where everyone can feel comfortable learning this wonderful dance. Their beginner batches cater to people with little or no dance experience; yes, even the ones with two left feet. They have a keen eye for the common mistakes that occur with newer dancers and provide constructive feedback and use easy-to-understand exercises to explain concepts and skills. For more experienced dancers, they provide comprehensive classes that cover musicality, advanced steps and combinations, and individual expression.
Many students have found the class pace to be comfortable and the instructors patient, especially with complete beginners. So if you’re looking for a new hobby, something to keep you active, or you love Jazz music, or have always wanted to try partner dancing, go ahead and get in touch with Slingshot Swing!
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