When we teach classes, we are often asked to suggest good music for practising Balboa, so we decided to put together a playlist of some of our favourites. We have chosen these specifically for people starting out with Balboa, and so the tunes gradually increase in tempo as you go down the list. 

As it is difficult to perform an unfamiliar task at high speed, it is a good idea when practising new movements to do so at a tempo at which you feel comfortable. Otherwise, you will be practising imperfect movements, which will only serve to reinforce those imperfections. It is better to improve your skills slowly until you are familiar with the movement.

Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.

However, it is also important to challenge yourself to dance a little faster than you feel comfortable at times because ...

All progress takes place outside the comfort zone!

So, your practice sessions should be a mix of practising new movements slowly and also trying movements you are familiar with at a *slightly* faster tempo than you are used to.

When you feel ready for the challenge of quicker tempos, check out our Music for Balboa to hear some of our all-time favourite tunes.

[Edited 02 February 2015]

When attending classes, almost any casual clothing that you feel comfortable in is fine. If you are about to attend your first class, we have some extra pointers about this and other tips here: Your First Dance Class.

Evening parties tend to be a little more dressy, but you will still want to be comfortable all night long. For dance events, there are two aspects you will want to consider when choosing what to wear: function and style.

FUNCTION

If you're going to be dancing for several hours at a time, often in venues without air conditioning, then of course a certain amount of sweating is to be expected. However, it’s unpleasant when it gets to the point where you feel like a wet sponge to your dance partner, so choose a fabric that enables you to stay cooler and drier for longer. Cotton will hold moisture for longer, so lightweight polycotton blends or synthetic fibres are a better option. Also, wearing dark colours makes those inevitable damp patches less visible. Some people opt to bring several changes of shirt to dance event so that they can feel fresh and dry throughout the night. Wearing a waistcoat is also a stylish way of creating an extra moisture barrier without it being so heavy as to cause you to overheat.

If you wear braces, the buttoned ones are preferable to the elasticated clip-ons, which can spring loose and cause injury while dancing.

Ladies will want to give some consideration to skirts as some can flare precariously high when spinning! If this is the case, you can opt for something discreet like dance knickers, or decide to be have fun with it e.g. by wearing vintage slips, patterned hosiery, or decorative knickers such as tap pants. 

Also it is best to avoid open-backed or loose tops, as they can be uncomfortable or awkward for your leader to handle.

STYLE

Many people who enjoy swing dancing are fans of the swing era in general, and so they choose vintage styling when attending large social events. This is not a requirement, of course, and anything you feel good in will be absolutely perfect.If you would like to dress in vintage style, there are two main options available to you: genuine vintage or repro. Lindy Shopper discusses the relative merits of each here. If you choose to buy genuine vintage, be sure to choose garments that are robust enough to withstand the rigours of dancing. You may prefer instead to opt for some of the reproduction vintage-style clothing that is readily available in high-street stores, or to buy from one of the smaller, more exclusive labels that specialises in retro clothing. If you are handy with a sewing machine, you could even purchase some vintage patterns and make your own. 

HAIR

During the swing era, women wore their hair pinned up and men wore their hair greased back. Such styles are not only appropriate stylistically, but they are also practical because they prevent long hair from flying into your partner's eyes and also prevent sweaty fringes from flicking moisture at your partner! Even if you do not go for the all-out vintage styling, it is worth taking these practicalities into account at a dance event.

When selecting footwear for swing dancing, it is important that the shoes be comfortable enough to dance in all night long, that they be secure on your foot and protect your joints from damage and, of course, we want them to look stylish too.

Rubber soles, or any sole that will grip the floor, risks damage to your ankle and knee joints. Friction between you and the floor prevents your body rotating freely and puts pressure on your ankle and knee joints. Therefore most types of sports and athletic shoes are completely unsuitable for dancing.

Some hard plastic soles are suitable for dancing, but in time you may prefer to invest in a good pair of suede or leather-soled shoes.

Leather soles can be slippery, so it's tricky to get used to dancing in them at first. But they will force you to improve your balance and overall dancing skills, and they are generally the preferred choice of experienced dancers.

Suede is another option that isn't quite as slippery, but they are high maintenance. Suede is ideal on very "fast" floors e.g. on clean wooden ballroom floors or in dance studios. However, if you are more likely to be dancing in venues like bars or clubs, or places where drink is served, you will find that suede soles pick up all sorts of unpleasant residue from the floor and they will require regular cleaning using a stiff wire brush. You should avoid getting your suede-soled shoes wet, so change your shoes only after you arrive at the dance venue. Most dancers will do this anyway as dance shoes tend not to be as hard-wearing as regular street shoes.

A flat or low-heeled shoe is ideal for Lindy Hop; for Balboa, a mid-height heel is definitely preferable. Men will find that a leather-soled dress shoe will be ideal for both dances. Women may prefer a slightly higher (2-3") heel for dancing Balboa, but a modest-height heel of e.g. 1-2" would be a good compromise as an all-around dance shoe.

Here are some suggestions based on our own personal experiences ...

FOR THE DABBLER

When you are just starting out, any comfortable shoe that doesn't grip the floor will be just fine. Many people opt for the canvas sneakers with hard plastic soles that you can buy for a couple of euros in department stores such as Penneys or Dunnes. Experienced dancers who want to avoid damaging more expensive dance shoes may also choose these for dancing in less conventional venues, such as bars with poor-quality flooring, or when dancing outdoors.

FOR THE ENTHUSIAST

When you're ready to invest in a dedicated pair of dance shoes, there are many options available. You may be lucky enough to spot a suitable pair of shoes with a non-grip sole in one of the high-street stores. If the shoes you like have a rubber sole, some people opt to take them to a cobbler to have suede soles attached, or they buy the suede and do the job themselves. However, in our experience, it's better to buy a pair of shoes designed specifically for dancing because they tend to be more durable longer-term. 

Aris Allen shoes are a popular brand with dancers because they offer good value for money. They have a wide range of men's and ladies' styles, flat-soled and heeled shoes, casual and dressy, and with both suede and leather soles. If you require wider-fitting shoes, DanceJoy have some good options (but they offer both rubber-soled and suede-soled versions, so make sure you order the correct one!). For ladies, the character shoes by So Dança or Danschuz are a good all-round style that is suitable for both Lindy Bop and Balboa. These are available in Galway at Flanagan's Footwear in the Eyre Square Centre (downstairs beside the escalator near the car park). You may also find some genuine vintage shoes in great condition, and these are often ideal for dancing.

FOR THE FANATIC

You've decided that swing dancing is now an integral part of your life and/or you've become drawn in by swing-era fashion and consider a good pair of shoes an investment. 

Remix are the brand of choice with many swing dancers for both their build-quality and comfort, as well as their authentic vintage styling in both gents' and ladies' shoes. To avoid paying for shipping from the USA, you could order from the London-based store, Revival Retro. Stacy Adams is another brand that is popular with the menfolk, although almost any good-quality, leather-soled dress shoe is likely to be ideal. For Balboa, ladies may find that some ballroom or tango shoes (the ones with more sturdy heels rather than the spikey ones!) offer good options in terms of both style and comfort. You can also choose from a readymade selection or order customised dance shoes at Disc'n'roll.

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!

Beginners Welcome

We always look forward to meeting new people!

Follow this link for some extra tips if this is going to be Your First Dance Class. 

Also, do be sure to check out our Facebook page for week-to-week updates.

Please note that it is not necessary to register in advance for classes - you may also just come along on the first night of the course and join in the fun! 

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