About Our Events

Do I need a partner?
No!  Many people come to dance on their own or with a group that all wants to learn the same role.  All classes rotate partners, so you have a chance to dance with everyone!  Even if you have a partner, rotating in class helps you to learn more quickly.  
During the dance, everyone is encouraged to ask anyone to dance, and everyone is asked to be respectful of others’ right to decline a dance for any (or no) reason.
What should i wear?
Wear what makes you feel comfortable!  Especially for moving around.  Wear comfortable shoes that won’t fall off or stick the the floor.
Shoes similar to Keds or shoes with wide heels are popular for all genders.  Dancing in flip flops or barefoot is not safe, and tennis shoes may strain your knees.
What if i'm too uncoordinated/can't dance/have 2 left feet?
One of my favorite descriptions of my dance journey is that “I fall down the stairs way less than I did before I started dancing.”  
Anyone can dance!  This isn’t about being the best or most graceful dancer on the floor; it’s about having fun!  Everyone feels awkward when they learn something new and our instructors will do their best to make sure you can get out on the floor having a blast!
What are leads and follows?  which should i learn?
Swing dancing is a partnered dance, meaning one person leads, or initiates the shapes and movements, and the other follows, or responds to those initiations in a meaningful way while maintaining the energy of the dance. 
Both roles are super fun, and equally important in their own way.  You should learn whichever role looks more fun to you.  
​Maybe you’ll decide to learn both!  All we ask is you don’t switch roles in the middle of a single class.
what is the typical age group?
We have taught dancers younger than 10 and older than 70. Anyone can swing dance!  Our regular dancers are typically in the 20 (college student) to 70 age range, and we've had dancers both much younger and older.

The Different Dances

What is swing dancing?
The easy answer is swing dancing is dancing to swing music. The longer answer is it’s a dance that evolved out of Charleston and other dances of the 1920’s as the music evolved into swing on the social floor of ballrooms in, most notably, Harlem, NY and southern California. ​
the birth of swing dancing
so swing is a ballroom dance?
Even though it was danced in ballrooms, swing is a street dance with no “basic” step and no “right way” to dance. There are some shapes, rhythms, and patterns that you see on the floor a lot, and we teach the dance in an easy to learn way, so don’t be scared!
swing dancing has all the aerials, right?
While aerials are associated with swing dance due to their inclusion in movies, commercials, and high level competitions, most swing dancers never learn them.  Aerials are not appropriate, safe, or allowed on the social dance floor.
what is lindy hop?
Lindy Hop is one of the most popular swing dances, often referred to simply as swing dancing.  It’s birth was 1929 and evolved and grew in ballrooms in Harlem.  The original Lindy Hoppers can be seen in clips and movies such as Hellzapoppin', Keep Punchin', Day At the Races, and Buck Private.
International Lindy Hop Championships 16
California Routine - Hellzapoppin' - 1941
Lindy Hop inspiration in Toy Story 3
You may also have heard Lindy Hop referred to as East Coast Swing.  We typically don’t use this name because it can cause people to confuse the dance with Ballroom East Coast.  If you have visited the Knoxville Swing Dance Association, the dance they teach every week is Lindy Hop!
what is balboa/bal swing/balboa swing?
Balboa is what happened when swing dancing evolved on crowded dance floors in southern California, where disconnecting from your partner meant getting kicked out.  As a result, it is much closer and rotational than Lindy Hop.
California Balboa Classic
what is blues dancing?
Fundamentally, it is moving to Blues music.  
Blues music and movements have been evolving together since the late 1800s.  Each region highlighted different elements in the music, which lead to a wide range of styles in dancing.

Just like Lindy Hop, blues came from Black culture of when it was evolving and is deeply rooted in Black tradition.
Each couple does a different style of Blues!

About Us

Do you offer regular classes?
For weekly classes or dancing, check out the Knoxville Swing Dance Association!
Are you available for other classes?
We are available for private lessons or groups classes, and have taught lessons for 1 to over 200 hundred people.  
I have more questions!
Send us a message!

Dance Etiquette

  • Anyone can ask anyone to dance.  We encourage you to ask everyone to dance, even if they're someone who has previously said no to a dance or would require you to try out a new dance role! 
  • Anyone has the right to decline a dance for any or no reason.  Please respect others' (and your own) right to decline a dance.
  • Be aware of yourself, your partner and others while on a crowded dance floor.  Check on people that you may bump into while dancing.
  • Be respectful of your fellow dancers and a respectful guest of our venues.  Respect the personal boundaries of those around you.  
  • Do not share unsolicited advice while social dancing.  Do let people know when they are being painful or otherwise uncomfortable, on or off the dance floor.
  • Do not attempt aerials, air steps, acrobatics, unsupported dips, or other steps where a dancer's feet go above the waist or head goes below the waist while on the social dance floor.
  • Any harassment, on or off the dance floor, will not be tolerated.  We do not tolerate any harassment based on physical or cultural traits, personal beliefs, lifestyle, or dance skill.   
  • Dancing and meeting new people can be fun and exciting, but please do not treat our dances as a pick-up scene.
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Please let an organizer know if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, or have any questions about the event, organization, or dance.  We'd love to chat with you!
About Us
The Talleys are passionate about sharing their love of vintage swing- & jazz-era social dancing with the Knoxville community.
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