Sweetp Retro Dance Learn to dance Rock'n'Roll and Swing

Welcome to Sweetp's Retro Dance School

Want to have some fun?  Exercise but don’t want to go to the gym? Or simply love Elvis, Dean Martin or Count Basey? Then come along to dance classes!

We teach Rock’n’Roll, Swing/Lindy Hop, The Stroll and Balboa. There are classes for beginners through to experienced dancers.

No partner? No problem! Never danced before? No problem!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: *New term start dates for June/July… Rock’n’Roll in Allambie Heights on Tuesday 30th June, Rock’n’Roll at Enmore on Wednesday 1st July, Balboa in Newtown on Monday 29th June. Swing is currently on hold… stay tuned for update!

*Upcoming Workshop… We have a series of workshops in Balboa, Swing and RnR coming up the second half of 2026… to find out about them follow us on socials or subscribe to our newsletter

*Performances/Routines… we’ve been doing a huge amount of rehearsing for TWO routines… Lindy Hop/Swing and Balboa!. We will be performing them at the Performance Ball 27th June.

Rock’n’Roll routine teaching and rehearsing will be starting soon!

Apologies: We are updating our website so some of the class, workshop and socials information has yet to be added.

Why not give dancing a try… register here for a class!

Register here!

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Why Dance?

There are many benefits associated with dancing (and lots of research about it).

  • Dancing Is fun!
  • It helps you get fit without being a gym junkie!
  • Can burn calories without feeling like “exercise”
    Gets you off the couch and out… I love my couch however it’s not the only great place!
  • Dancing is great for your mental health.
  • Is social!!! You meet people.
  • Can give you a “mental break” from the screen, life, worries etc. and can help you unwind.
  • Dancing can make you happier..,. it can trigger the release of endorphins which can boost your mood!
  • You learn a new skill.
  • And the music is great.

What's Swing?

There are now many types of swing… West Coast, East Coast, Western etc. The original swing is Lindy Hop which is the style we teach. 
 
The Lindy Hop evolved in the 1930’s in response to the rising popularity of the fabulous sound of big bands and swing rhythms. It’s history is most famously known through the stories about the Savoy ballroom, as well as the wonderful dance scenes in the Hollywood movies, involving dancers such as Frankie Manning and Whitey’s Hoppers, Dean Collins and Jean Veloz just to name a few.
 
Lindy Hop consist mainly of 8 count and 6 count footwork patterns. These footwork patterns include triple steps, step step, kick steps, holds and lots of variations.
 
If you like the music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra, Louis Prima, Cab Calloway or more recent musicians such as Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Royal Crown Revue, then this could be the dance for you.

The video clip below is of the famous “Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers” dancing a very very fast Lindy Hop in the movie Hellzapoppin.

What's Rock 'n' Roll?

From the early 1950’s music started to change. As the music started to evolve so did dancing… which led to new styles of dancing including Rock’n’Roll.
 
The basics in Rock’n’Roll dancing start with a 6 count of slow, slow, quick, quick… or quick, quick, slow, slow. Note the style we do here is different to the “Acrobatic Rock’n’Roll” which is quite popular for example in Europe.
 
So if you love the music of singers such as Elvis Presley, Buddy Hollie, Ritchie Valens or bands such as the Crystals, The Del-Satins or Bill Haley and the Comets then Rock’n’Roll dancing could be perfect for you!!!
CHECK OUT OUR CLASSES
retro dance school