Our newest feature!

Special Classes:
• Level III classes with David Rehm at Chevy Chase Ballroom, Monday, June 2

• Couples Dance Routine class at Elan DanceSport Center, Sunday, May 4

• Ballroom Sampler with Sue and Gary at Elan DanceSport Center, Sunday, May 4

• Fundamentals of Balboa I and II with Dabe and Janelle at McGinty's, Sunday, June 1 and 8


Weekly Classes:
NO PARTNER REQUIRED! Learn more about Weekly Classes >

Private Lessons:
Could your dancing use some personal attention? Learn more about Private Lessons >

FAQ:
Want to know what material we teach? Not sure what level you should register for? Click here for answers to your Frequently Asked Questions >

Directions:
Click here for our handy Directions to Venues >

Monthly Calendar:
What's on your dance card? Check out our Month at a Glance Calendar >>>

Special Events:
Tom & Debra welcome you to Join us at our Next Special Event>>>

Tom and Debra are pleased to offer these opportunities to expand your dance repertoire beyond our basic beginner and intermediate classes. These short courses allow you to work on specific areas and require a basic working knowledge of six- and eight-count swing and are recommended for dancers at the intermediate and advanced levels. Please Email Debra with any questions before registering.

Learn "Trouble," "5 Months, 2 Weeks, 2 Days" or "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," fun, fast-paced routines that are a great challenge for the more experienced dancer, offering an opportunity to work on presentation and performance skills with an eye towards public performance. Each class culminates in a recital performance at one of the Gottaswing dances. Unlike our other classes, partners do not rotate. Discounts are offered for repeaters who have taken the routines before, so you'll have the opportunity to keep each routine fresh and performable.

You must have taken a beginner series and at least one intermediate series with Gottaswing in order to take this class. Need a partner or have other questions? Email Debra>. You must be registered for the entire session; no drop-ins allowed! Tuition is $110 per person for the eight-week session.

Elan DanceSport Center , 8442 Lee Highway, Suite A, Merrifield, Virginia | DIRECTIONS >

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BALLROOM SAMPLER with Sue and Gary
Sunday, May 4 (NOTE: NO CLASS MAY 25 OR JUNE 15)
6:30-7:30pm, $110/8-week series
This class is closed. No more registrations accepted.

For a fun change of pace, Sue and Gary will offer their popular Ballroom Sampler. They'll spend two weeks each on Cha Cha, Waltz, Fox Trot and Rhumba. You'll learn the basics and some fun variations, so you'll never have to sit out a song the next time you go to a wedding or bar mitzvah! YOU DO NOT NEED A PARTNER TO REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS.

You must be registered for the entire session; no drop-ins allowed! Tuition is $110 per person for the eight-week session.

Elan DanceSport Center , 8442 Lee Highway, Suite A, Merrifield, Virginia | DIRECTIONS >

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FUNDAMENTALS OF BALBOA I AND II with DABE AND JANELLE, Sundays at McGinty's Public House
June 1 and 8, 7:30-8:30pm. $30
Taught by Dabe Murphy and Janelle Johnson
Open dancing with live music 8:30-10:30pm, $10 (FREE for students in the Sunday night class)

Dabe and Janelle offer a fun two-week workshop to add depth and dimension to your dancing. Fundamentals of Balboa I and II will give you a solid foundation in the footwork, body positioning, and principles of lead-and-follow of this dance that's particularly suitable (but not limited to) very fast music. You'll also develop a vocabulary of moves and variations that you can use comfortably on the social dance floor.

Pre-registration is encouraged in order to accurately monitor class size and gender balance. After-class dance party with LIVE music is free to students in the Sunday night class; $10 for others.

McGinty's Public House, 911 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland| DIRECTIONS >

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BALBOA III (For intermediate/advanced students)
New six-week session starts June 2
7-8pm, $90/six-week series
Open dancing 9-11 pm, FREE if you're in the class

DEAN'S TECHNIQUE FOR LINDY III (For intermediate/advanced students)
New six-week session starts June 2
8-9pm, $90/six-week series
Open dancing 9-11 pm, FREE if you're in the class

You must be registered for the entire session; no drop-ins allowed! Tuition is $90 per person for the six-week session. After-class dance party from 9-11pm is FREE to students in this class. Read below for course material descriptions and David's biography.

Chevy Chase Ballroom, 5207 Wisconsin Ave., NW, DC | DIRECTIONS >

David Rehm is a classic Lindy Hop and Balboa enthusiast and has competed and placed at the National Jitterbug Championships, American Lindy Hop Championships, North Atlantic Dance Championships, and the Virginia State Open among others. He is an avid collector of vintage Lindy Hop and Balboa footage on film. David continues to develop his understanding through extensive research, collaboration, and social dancing around the country. David teaches with Kate Hedin, currently residing in Baltimore.

David and Kate's bio>

Contact David Rehm>

BALBOA
Balboa is a partnered street dance that evolved around the social dance floors in Southern California to big band swing music. Classic Balboa is done in a very tight closed position with intricate footwork and a distinct, shuffling motion. Bal-Swing is related but done in an open position with more movement and a full complement of breaks and turns. While done to all tempos, Balboa is especially well-suited for faster music.

Level I—Presents the fundamentals of Balboa and Bal-Swing including the pure Bal basic, traveling, paddle-turns, lolly-kicks and turns, cross-breaks, and an introduction to the throw-out.
Level II—Reviews the fundamentals presented in Level I while introducing variations on all the basic patterns and with emphasis on transitions before revisiting the throw-out.
Level III—Reviews the material presented in Levels I and II, then introduces pure Bal variations—the Long Beach Break and Triple-Bal—before focusing heavily on the throw-out and variations.
Level IV—Due to popular demand!

DEAN'S TECHNIQUE FOR LINDY
Along with his partner Jewel McGowan, Dean Collins and the genre of Lindy he inspired in Southern California represents a distinct evolutionary step between the Lindy Hop of Harlem and what would become (pre-Disco) West Coast Swing. This intermediate step married an advanced control and intricacy with the original energy of Lindy as motivated by big band swing. Dean's technique for storing and redirecting momentum resulted in Lindy that is more efficient, fluid and dynamic.

Level I—Presents the fundamentals of Dean's system of mechanics for both lead and follow from the ground up, including a better closed-position basic, send-outs, passes/turns, sugar-pushes, and an introduction to his swing-out.
Level II—Reviews the fundamentals presented in Level I, focusing on keeping momentum in open-position and introducing tuck-turns, pop-turns, and several new pass variations before revisiting sugar-pushes and Dean's swing-out.
Level III—Reviews the material presented in Levels I and II while introducing a few more pass variations, then focuses heavily on sugar-pushes and Dean's swing-out before introducing new moves such as the texas-tommy, quick-stop, and switches.
Level IV—Due to popular demand! David now moves into his own material, based on Dean's technique but moving beyond.

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