Rock n’ Roll

Today’s music ain’t got the same soul… Still like that old time Rock n’ Roll?

Mandi teaching a guest Rock n' Roll workshop in Seoul, Korea. June 2009

Rock n’ Roll Dancing

Rock n’ Roll is a partnered social dance but you don’t need to bring your own partner. We rotate during this class so that you have a chance to meet and dance with many different people. Partners are connected in a playful lead/follow relationship. It’s a dance that is happy, bouncy, free spirited and infectious. Absolutely no experience or partner are required.

Rock n’ Roll Culture

From Chuck Berry to Elvis to Fats Domino to Bill Haley & The Comets to The Beach Boys, this class lets us step back to a simpler time; diners, drive-in movies, milk shakes, black and white television and loads of nostalgia. Think American Graffiti, hot summer nights, poodle skirts, sock hops and TV dinners. It’s time to work it on out to some smoking hot dance tunes, so if you can relate to the Fonz in Happy Days and you wish it could have stayed 1955 forever then this is the class for you!

Rock n’ Roll dancing of the 1950’s and 60’s developed out of the popular social dancing of the Swing Era, mainly Lindy Hop. Just as Lindy Hop (swing dancing) was popular from the late 1920’s until after WWII, by 1955 the music had completely changed and so had the dancing. The result was some good old fashioned Rock n’ Roll!

Rock n’ Roll dancing by a different name:

You might know the name Jive; Rock n’ Roll is similar though more free than the Jive that is often taught at Ballroom studios. Also, what we call Rock n’ Roll dancing in Canada is actually called Boogie Woogie in Europe as opposed to the very athletic performance dance that the Europeans call Rock n’ Roll. That EU version of Rock n’ Roll is primarily danced for competition and consists of very athletic acrobatics with very few actual dance steps in between. That is not our focus in St. Catharines. Rather, our dancing is based on a fun, care free and not overly complicated approach to social dancing.

Beginner Rock n’ Roll (Class A)

This class is completely welcoming to adults with absolutely no previous dance experience. We’ve designed it so that you can conveniently take your first lesson when you’re ready so there is need to wait. You can start at the beginning of the month, in the middle of the month or at the end of the month. And no need to worry if you miss a class. Beginner Rock n’ Roll is completely drop-in friendly so come any time. Try a free class, meet people, get in shape and have fun!

There is approximately 8 weeks of material. Students can take the Beginner course for 2 months/8 lessons and then move to Level 2 or they are welcome to repeat the same course for more practice.

Transitions in Rock n’ Roll (Class B)

Students who have taken the Beginner course for 2 months/8 lessons can then move to Class B or they are welcome to repeat the Beginner course for more practice. In Transitions in Rock n’ Roll, we’ll build confidence for the social dance floor and start to bring up the tempo too! This class reinforces all of the basic steps as well as adding more sophisticated footwork and figures.

Please see the Dance Lessons page for more schedule and location details.