Tracks & Levels
Intermediate, Intermediate-Advanced, and Advanced levels will be level-checked.
Beginner: Dancing for less than 3 months or have trouble doing the basics smoothly at medium-fast tempos (swing-outs, circles, etc). You may or may not have learned moves such as the texas tommy, outside turn, tandem charleston. Doing triple-steps to fast music is likely difficult, and lots of stuff “still doesn’t work” except when dancing with more experienced dancers. This track is intended for complete beginners eager to learn Lindy Hop and Jazz Dance. This is great for on/off dancers, newer dancers, people wanting clarity and review of many fundamentals, and regulars at our weekly dances who’ve not taken many classes before.
Locals note: appropriate for dancers starting Swing 1, who’ve not danced before, and dancers who struggle in Lindy Hop 2
Intermediate: You are more comfortable with the basics and a wider range of moves. You have proficiency over a few advanced moves such as Tandem Charleston, and have probably been dancing consistently every week for 6 months to 2 years. You can switch between Charleston and Lindy Hop in both 6-count and 8-count. You may need to improve your transitions and technique. This class will review and refine important Lindy Hop steps, while adding new variations, rhythms, and moves. You must already know & be comfortable with (but not limited to): Swing-out, circle, promenades, texas tommy, inside/outside turns, charleston switches and cross-hand, skip-up.
Locals note: appropriate for above-average dancers in Lindy Hop 2, people who are between Lindy Hop 2 and 3, and dancers in Lindy Hop 3
Intermediate-Advanced: You consider yourself a true Lindy hopper and have been regularly dancing once or twice a week for a long while (2-5 years for many). You have taken many workshops and classes, and have dabbled in a variety of related dance forms including Balboa, Shag, African, Tap, and Drags/Blues. You have taken a bunch of classes on solo jazz and feel solid with many solo routines including the Shim Sham and Tranky Doo.
Locals note: most dancers in Mad Kittens or at Lindy Hop 3 or higher would fit into this category.
Advanced: You social dance every week; your colleagues in this class are teachers or perform professionally or semi-professionally; you have been dancing consistently for 4-10 years or more. This class is for the passionate Lindy hopper who should already be able to dance musically and add variations to the list of steps below at slow, medium & fast tempos. You crave technique and are extremely analytical with your dancing. You are a proficient solo jazz improvisor, can easily do many lifts and dips, and have some air-step experience. You’ve likely mastered the Big Apple and Tranky Doo. Choreography is not foreign to you, and it’s likely that you are a regular instructor, performer, competitor.
Locals note: most dancers in Mad Cat Swing and instructors at Sugar Swing would fit into this category.
Level Check Process
Prior to the workshop, if you are unsure of your level, please approach us (message info@sugarswingcommunity.com or see Czarina Ramos, Paige Grant, or Birkley Wisniewski). As people register, we may also be approaching some individuals to clarify their chosen level. In either case, we may ask to conduct a one-on-one level assessment if possible. If you are from out of town, we may be able to do this remotely via Google Chat.
During your first 1-2 classes, Sugar Swing instructors & your Lindy Harvest organizers will be assessing dancers in the intermediate, intermediate-advanced, and advanced tracks. If there’s a discrepancy, we will ask to speak with you after class.
* If you prefer to move down a level, that is acceptable — but please check with the organizers such that we can maintain lead/follow balance and room size.
* If you are urged to move levels, please note that the decision comes from the event organizers in consultation with instructors; the decision is not coming from the Lindy Harvest nor Sugar Swing instructors helping with assessment.
The philosophy of auditions & checks
These ‘levels’ are subjective and only relative to this event. An intermediate track here may be interpreted as an advanced track in a small scene with little Lindy Hop, or possibly a beginner-intermediate track for a well-established lindy hop scene with lots of Lindy. Also, the values and demographics of the organization putting on the workshop weekend play a major part in level assessment. We would say that we’d be on par, in terms of level, versus most major events, but not necessarily.
As well, the entire point of auditions and level checks is to create groupings of dancers who are more or less at the same skill. With that stated, here are some notes and observations worth reading.
- Try not to take it personally (good or bad, pride or disappointment) if you are moved
- There is nothing wrong with being moved to a ‘lower’ level. It means that you will still learn lots with that grouping of people
- Sometimes it’s not about what you do and don’t know in terms of content. Many truly high-level dancers do not necessarily learn quickly in group environments or have trouble remembering choreography, even though their quality of movement and knowledge of the dance is exceptional.
- As a participant
- If someone you deem as a peer is moved to a different level (higher or lower), you ought to not judge that person.
- If someone you deem as having significantly less skill than you is in your track, you also ought to not judge that person. Please bring it up with the organizer if you see a concern
- If you happen to move to a ‘lower’ level, trust that it’s an accurate assessment, but you are welcome to appeal and ask us to reassess your dancing at the next class.
- If you came with a group and want to remain in that social group, then we could move the entire group to a lower level; or if you made it to a higher level, then we can move you to the lower level.
- Because practice and rehearsal are often most important in the learning process, it’s sometimes more advised to keep with the group and opt for the lower level so that your group can practice and thus ingrain the material better.
- Please do not try to test the system; please sign up for the level you think is most appropriate for yourself
- If you do not know, make an educated guess. You may also ask an instructor at Sugar Swing for their opinion if the above info isn’t clear
- The instructors throughout the workshop will also be observing the class for level. If they notice someone is obviously not in the correct level, they will let the organizers know.
- Please do not skip the process. If there is an audition, you need to attend so that you can be part of the ‘basis of comparison’. This is especially true for very experienced dancers — if you don’t attend and you feel you are at the top of the class, then the resulting grouping will become a lower skill level due to your lack of presence.