BadAZ Balboa (Phoenix, Arizona) - 3rd Place Follower - Jack & Jill Finals: Norma Owens

Camp Balboa Seattle 2014 - 3rd Place - Strictly Balboa:  Norma Owens with David Bradford (USA)

Camp Balboa Seattle 2014 - 2nd Place - Jack & Jill Finals: Norma Owens with David Bradford (USA)

Hello and welcome to Swing Dance Galway!

Norma Owens started teaching swing dancing in 2011 to rekindle the enjoyment of swing era dances in the city of Galway and beyond. She frequently travels to events all around Europe and the United States to work with the best instructors and dancers in the world. She also competes regularly at international dance competitions, and has placed at several contests in both Europe and America - including the prestigious All Balboa Weekend in Cleveland, Ohio. (Find out more by visiting the Contests & Performances page.) As an instructor, she is known for her cheeky sense of fun, and her background in education means that her focus is always on making the dances that she loves accessible to all. She is privileged to have been invited to teach dancing and to DJ at dance events all over Ireland, as well as the UK, Canada, and the USA.

So come along and let's put a swing in your step!

If you would like to book dance classes or workshops, or to avail of a specialist swing music DJ service, we would love to hear from you. For enquiries, please use the contact form and you will receive a response within 24 hours … unless we're attending a dance event, in which case you will hear from us as soon as possible thereafter. 

Located in a wide bay on Ireland’s western coastline, Galway is a thriving cosmopolitan city that has retained its medieval charm and is renowned for its laid-back, bohemian atmosphere. Galway is large enough to provide every metropolitan convenience, yet small enough that it can be easily traversed on foot with relatively short walking distances.

Most of our events take place in the vicinity of the city's historic neighbourhoods, The Claddagh and the Latin Quarter. Here, amidst the quaint cobbled streets and brightly-coloured buildings, you can find a rich variety of restaurants, traditional pubs, unique stores, and street markets.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TO GALWAY

Galway can be reached by air, ferry, train, bus, or car, or a combination of these. As a major tourist attraction, there are many well-developed transport options available. Irish airlines include Aer Lingus and Ryanair. There are two airports in the western region and several other airports that are easily accessible by public transport. Understandably, there are more services to Dublin - the capital city - than any other, but it is worthwhile also checking the regional airports for good deals and often shorter transfer times.

Dublin Airport (approx 2.5 hours drive to Galway)
Shannon Airport (approx 1 hour drive to Galway)
Knock Airport (approx 1.5 hours drive to Galway)

For sea routes to Ireland, see ferries.ie

If you would like some suggestions about the easiest way to get to Ireland from your home country, please contact us and we will be happy to provide extra assistance where possible.

TRAVEL WITHIN IRELAND

Generally buses are the preferred mode of public transport in Ireland, due to their lower cost and overall better services, often including free wifi. Unless you want to see the smaller towns and villages along the way, opt for the express or non-stop services.

Buses: Citylink, GoBus, Bus Éireann
Train: Irish Rail

ACCOMMODATION

Below is a list of accommodation options suggested based on their proximity to our event venues. As everyone has different requirements and priorities when it comes to choosing accommodation - from budget to comfort to luxury - we recommend that you research the options independently.

Barnacles Hostel
Nimmos Hostel
Spanish Arch Hotel
The House Hotel
The Galway Arms Inn
Jury's Inn
The Heron's Rest B&B
Niland House Self-Catering Apartments

EATING OUT

A stroll along Quay Street in Galway's Latin Quarter will offer a wealth of culinary options. Vegetarian and gluten-free food is readily available, and most establishments are happy to work with other special dietary requirements on request. 

Cupán Tae - traditional Irish tea rooms with great gluten-free and dairy-free options
McDonaghs - traditional fish & chips; also a seafood restaurant
Upstairs at McCambridges - a little further walk towards the city centre, this cafe on Shop Street offers light snacks and sweet treats, including gluten-free 
Boojum - Mexican-style fast food made to order (on Spanish Parade)
Rouge - affordable and very popular French restaurant on Dominick Street (advance booking recommended)
Aniar - Galway's first Michelen-starred restaurant, located on Dominick Street. Or try Eat, their sister gastro-pub, at Massimos on William St. West
The g Hotel - for a special treat, walk along the banks of Lough Atalia (literally "Salty Lake") and find yourself at this sumptuous hotel, unremarkable from the roadside, but with a sumptuous interior designed by Galway native, Philip Treacy, miliner to royalty and countless international celebrities. There you can enjoy the superior cuisine in the restaurant or a delightful afternoon tea in one of their colourful and distinctive lounges.

MORE ABOUT GALWAY 

If you are planning on a longer stay, here are some ideas for other fun stuff to do in the west of Ireland ...
Galway for Visitors

See also:

Lonely Planet
Discover Ireland

Balboa is a swing dance that originated during the 1930s in the dance halls of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California. Seaside venues such as the Rendezvous Ballroom were so popular and so crowded, it is reputed that signs were posted prohibiting “breakaways” so that couples were obliged to maintain a close connection while dancing. This dance, which we now refer to as “Pure” Balboa, is therefore characterised by a close hold and subtle footwork. Elsewhere in the region, breakaway movements were commonplace, and often included intricate turns in a style that is referred to as Bal-Swing. Both of these distinct dances have now been subsumed into modern Balboa.

Here is a fun look at a contemporary Balboa social dancing – this footage is from the parties at a dance event in Germany called Balboa Castle Camp. 

We understand that it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive when starting anything new – but please know that all such feelings will instantly disappear once we crank up the music and you start taking your first steps into swing dancing!

Swing dancing is for real people of all shapes, sizes, and ages, and is perfect for complete amateurs and anyone who is looking to take up dancing for the first time – you only need be willing to have a bit of craic and give it a go! Of course, if you do happen to have prior dance experience of any kind, that is always helpful too. Each class is carefully structured so that you are learning an appropriate amount of solid dance technique in a fun and friendly atmosphere – after all, the social aspect is one of the main reasons people fall in love with the dance, and is what makes it such a great way of getting to know new people.

WHAT TO EXPECT

You are encouraged to arrive a few minutes before the lesson starts to allow time for introductions, meeting/chatting with the instructors and other students, taking off coats/jackets, changing into more comfortable shoes if you wish, and generally just getting settled.

Each class will vary slightly, but many will start with a short group warm-up to get things moving and to start getting a feel for the material so that, before you know it, you’re already dancing!

DO I NEED A PARTNER?

Because swing dancing is an improvised dance that requires learning how to lead and follow movements rather than memorising routines, we always rotate partners during a class. This means that you will get to dance with all the complimentary-role dancers (i.e. leaders/followers) in the class. It’s a great way to meet people and get to know one another, but it also ensures that we’re learning sound lead-follow technique instead of relying on the habits of one particular dance partner. Therefore, you can come along to any of our regular local classes without a partner, and we welcome and encourage you to do so.

However, for special events, which are generally more costly, we prefer to manage the balance of leaders to followers in order to maximise everyone's opportunity to learn. If necessary, we will open up a waiting list for registrations. In such cases, signing up with a partner increases your chances of getting a spot in the classes. Perhaps you have a friend or work colleague who you could invite to come along with you? Remember, we will be rotating partners in the class anyway so bringing a partner is just to ensure a balanced leader/follower ratio. If you can’t think of anyone to bring along, please contact us anyway as there are always a few spaces available for single registrants.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

It goes without saying that you will want something comfortable to move in, but that doesn’t mean you need to tog out in your gym gear either (unless you want to, that is). Generally, jeans and a T-shirt will be just fine. Avoid low- or open-backed tops and loose fabric, as both can be uncomfortable or awkward for your partner to handle. Bangles, chunky rings, and long necklaces can get in the way when dancing. If you have long hair, wear it in such a way that it will not flick in your partner’s face when you spin. Ladies may also want to give some consideration to skirts as some can flare up when spinning. You will find more advice about all this in our What to Wear? blog.

It is also vital that you give consideration to your footwear. Shoes that grip the floor can make your joints rotate beyond their normal range of motion and may cause pain or injury, as well as impeding your ability to learn correct technique. Therefore most types of sports and athletic shoes with rubber soles are completely unsuitable for dancing. Leather soles are best or, if you don’t have a pair, try a cheap pair of canvas shoes with hard plastic soles that are available in department stores. For Balboa, a heeled shoe is preferable to flats - even for men, a dress-shoe with a heel is preferable to soles that are completely flat. For all other dances, flat or low-heeled shoes are just fine. Eventually - when you become a dance addict like us - you will probably want to invest in a pair of shoes specifically for dancing, and you’ll find plenty of recommendations on our Dance Shoes blog.

WHAT IF MY DANCE PARTNER ISN'T GETTING IT?

It's important that everyone in the class is given the opportunity to enjoy the learning process. Different people learn different skills at different rates - one person may pick up the footwork easily but struggle with the body movement, or vice versa. Please be patient with your fellow dancers and realise that you may require their patience at some stage too! Remember that some people may prefer to be given time and space to figure things out and may not welcome unsolicited feedback, no matter how well-intentioned. Please only offer feedback if requested. Of course, we do realise that many opportunities for learning can arise from discussion between partners so, if you wish, you may ask your dance partner for feedback. If you are asked for feedback, please be respectful and suggestive, bearing in mind that neither of you may have all the answers! If you are in any doubt, feel free to address a question to the class or call us over to assist you.

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD CONSIDER?

You may want to bring a bottle of water to class to keep you hydrated.

Also, since you’ll be dancing close to your dance partner, please be diligent about personal hygiene. However, please bear in mind that while a little perfume/aftershave can be pleasant, too much is ... well, too much - especially if you or your partner is already trying to catch their breath!

Other than that, as we said at the outset, a readiness to have fun and to just give it a go will be all you’ll need.

We look forward to meeting you at a dance class soon! 

Swing dancing evolved in the United States in response to the swing music that became popular from the late 1920s through into the 1940s. In ballrooms up and down the country, dancers started to invent new ways of moving to the music of Chick Webb, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, and many more.

Swing Dancing is actually an umbrella term for many related, but distinct, dance styles including Charleston, Lindy Hop, Balboa, and various forms of Shag. Close relatives of swing dancing include Jive and Rock & Roll. The different styles of swing dancing emerged because people in different regions of the country developed different dance styles in response to the same music that they would hear broadcast on the radio, distributed on shellac records and, of course, played live in the ballrooms by travelling big bands. Most of the swing dances have their origins in the 1920s craze for Charleston, but they are also influenced by other ragtime dances such as the Jig Trot and the Texas Tommy.

Like the jazz music culture in which it evolved, swing dancing has a basic structure that also places high value on improvisation.

The best way to understand what swing dancing is like is to see it for yourself, so please take some time to browse our gallery of videos or – better yet – come along and try it for yourself in one of our dance classes!