Move · Videos · Dance · 63 min

Learn to Lindy Hop: One-Hour Beginner Swing Class

Learn to Lindy Hop: One-Hour Beginner Swing Class — video by Joe DeMers Play · 1:03:18

Video by Joe DeMers on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Champion Lindy hop and blues instructor Joe DeMers and his partner Nelle teach a one-hour dance-along class: rock and triple steps, open, closed and side-by-side positions, hand passes, the swing out and swivels, with whole songs to practise to. Best with a partner.

  • 63 min
  • Beginner
  • Moderate impact
  • No equipment
  • Swing

Good forDancing for funFun workouts

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Step by step 14

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Rock steps: back on the left, then forward, one count each, with full weight changes. 0:04
  2. Triple steps: three steps in two counts, travelling side to side. 1:36
  3. Put them together: rock step, triple step, the Lindy hop footwork pattern. 2:39
  4. Hand connection: leaders bend two fingers, follows drape their hands over; dance it to music. 3:59
  5. Closed position: the leader's right arm around the follow's back, the follow's left arm resting on it. 9:46
  6. Move between open and closed position on the last triple step, then practise to a whole song. 14:05
  7. Side-by-side position: the same footwork going forward and back, led with the forearm. 19:02
  8. Change into and out of side-by-side on the last triple step, then practise all three positions. 23:56
  9. Hand pass: the follow turns 180° on the triple step, led on count 2 with the forearm. 29:53
  10. Challenge move: a half circle in closed position, then travel together down the line. 39:09
  11. Swing out from closed: the leader releases the follow down the line on 5 and stays in place. 42:50
  12. Lindy hop swing out: from open position back to open, letting go just after stepping back on 5. 50:16
  13. Review all eight movements, then mix them in any order to a song. 53:44
  14. Swivels for follows on 8, 1, 2, practised in place while still stepping each time. 59:27

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Rock step, triple step: three steps in two counts with full weight changes
  • Rock straight back rather than opening to the corners
  • Leaders lead with the forearm and keep the arm in line with the body

What it works

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses 1 take load

  • Knees takes loadan hour of rock steps, triples, swing outs, swivels
  • Hips movesrock steps, triples, swivel twists
  • Ankles & feet movesrock steps, triples, swivels on the balls of the feet

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Joe DeMers; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety