Groove Juice Swing: Swing Dancing in Rochester, NY

Classes (OLD)

Groove Juice Swing offers classes on a broad range of Jazz Age and Swing Era dances: swing dance, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, vernacular jazz dance, and more. Not sure where to start out? Check out our  How It Works or  FAQ pages! 

Preregistration for classes online (here!) closes at 1am the morning of the first class of the series. Preregister to get a discount, or sign up at the door the first day of class! If a 4 week series isn't for you, we encourage you to drop-in for our free beginner swing dance lesson, held every Wednesday at 8:45pm during  Lindy Jam, our weekly social dance.

 

Classes starting soon!

Rhythmic Improvisation Register Online Rhythmic Improvisation (4 weeks / Intermediate)

Begins Tuesday, February 3, 2026
  • Teachers: Mike and Faye
  • Dates: Tuesdays on February 3, 10, 17, and 24
  • Time: 7:00pm - 8:15pm
  • Location: 295 Gregory Street [map]
  • Cost: $70 preregistered. At-door registration price is $80 if space is available.
  • Prerequisite: Improver Track Classes or equivalent

Are you solid with all your Lindy Hop vocabulary but yearning to break free and get creative? This is the class for you! Whether you are leader or follower, we'll give you the ingredients you need to insert ad-lib footwork into your basics and beyond!

Intro to Swing: Movin’ in 6 Register Online Intro to Swing: Movin’ in 6 (4 weeks / Beginner)

Begins Wednesday, February 4, 2026
  • Dates: Wednesdays on February 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th
  • Time: 7:15pm - 8:30pm
  • Location: 295 Gregory Street [map]
  • Cost: $70 preregistered. At-door registration price is $80 if space is available.
  • Prerequisite: None

This series will focus on foundational 6-count footwork and expanding your repertoire of partnered moves. You’ll learn to dance fun and easy 6-count moves with a partner such as the sendout, tuck turn, change places turn, and more! After this series, you’ll be eager to get out on the dance floor and show off your new skills!

Solo Jazz Fundamentals Register Online Solo Jazz Fundamentals (4 weeks / Improver)

Begins Wednesday, February 4, 2026
  • Dates: Wednesdays on February 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th
  • Time: 7:15pm - 8:30pm
  • Location: 295 Gregory Street [map]
  • Cost: $70 preregistered. At-door registration price is $80 if space is available.
  • Prerequisite: Beginner Series

Solo jazz dancing grew out of tap dancing and Lindy Hop, alongside jazz music of the 20s and 30s. Now it's a popular way for Lindy Hoppers all over the world to explore creativity and musicality! In this class, we'll learn the foundations of basic solo jazz vocabulary and aesthetics, all while developing our own solo jazz style.

Balboa 2: Continuing Balboa Register Online Balboa 2: Continuing Balboa (4 weeks / Improver)

Begins Monday, February 9, 2026
  • Dates: Mondays on February 9, 16, 23, and March 2
  • Time: 7:15pm - 8:30pm
  • Location: 295 Gregory Street [map]
  • Cost: $70 preregistered. At-door registration price is $80 if space is available.
  • Prerequisite: Intro to Balboa

This four week series is a continuation of our popular Intro to Balboa Class. In it, we will solidify your understanding of the basics, delve into variations that can make your Balboa more interesting, and go into a number of fancy Balboa moves that will make you look great on the dance floor.

Intro to Swing: Checkin’ out Charleston Register Online Intro to Swing: Checkin’ out Charleston (4 weeks / Beginner)

Begins Wednesday, March 4, 2026
  • Dates: Wednesdays on March 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th
  • Time: 7:15pm - 8:30pm
  • Location: 295 Gregory Street [map]
  • Cost: $70 preregistered. At-door registration price is $80 if space is available.
  • Prerequisite: None

Come learn the dance that kick-started the Jazz Era! Originating in the early 1920s, Charleston is an energetic and exciting dance that can be done comfortably to fast music. In this series, you’ll learn basic solo Charleston footwork and how to dance Charleston with a partner in several positions, such as side by side, hand to hand, and more!

Improver: Musicality Register Online Improver: Musicality (4 weeks / Improver)

Begins Wednesday, March 4, 2026
  • Dates: Wednesdays on March 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th
  • Time: 7:15pm - 8:30pm
  • Location: 295 Gregory Street [map]
  • Cost: $70 preregistered. At-door registration price is $80 if space is available.
  • Prerequisite: Beginner Series

In this four week musicality series, students will learn to dance with jazz music’s rhythm, melody, and mood. This is a key characteristic of improvised swing dancing, not commonly found in other partnered dances. Students will expand their skills by taking inspiration from the music and learning to become co-instruments with the band. We'll teach how to predict the music and how to accentuate breaks, as well as give ideas on how to play with rhythm and expression when dancing.

Balboa 3: Toss Out & Turn Variations Register Online Balboa 3: Toss Out & Turn Variations (4 weeks / Intermediate)

Begins Monday, March 9, 2026
  • Dates: Mondays on March 9, 16, 23, and 30
  • Time: 7:15pm - 8:30pm
  • Location: 295 Gregory Street [map]
  • Cost: $70 preregistered. At-door registration price is $80 if space is available.
  • Prerequisite: Balboa 1 & 2

In this class you'll learn how to add variety to your toss outs and get comfortable with thinking outside the box. We'll also work on turns and styling within your leading and following.

Intro to Swing: Groovin’ in 8 Register Online Intro to Swing: Groovin’ in 8 (4 weeks / Beginner)

Begins Wednesday, April 1, 2026
  • Dates: Wednesdays on April 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
  • Time: 7:15pm - 8:30pm
  • Location: 295 Gregory Street [map]
  • Cost: $70 preregistered. At-door registration price is $80 if space is available.
  • Prerequisite: None

This series will focus on foundational 8-count footwork and on connecting with the music. You’ll learn to dance 8-count moves with a partner such as the promenade, flip flop, and lindy circle. You’ll also learn how to break out of patterns, groove to the music, and truly make this dance your own!

Improver: Classic Moves and Stylings Register Online Improver: Classic Moves and Stylings (4 weeks / Improver)

Begins Wednesday, April 1, 2026
  • Dates: Wednesdays on April 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
  • Time: 7:15pm - 8:30pm
  • Location: 295 Gregory Street [map]
  • Cost: $70 preregistered. At-door registration price is $80 if space is available.
  • Prerequisite: Beginner Series

In this series we will dive into the moves and stylings of the original Lindy Hop dancers! We will explore the history and techniques of some of the most iconic moves in Lindy Hop and try out the stylings that gave these dancers their signature looks.

Slow Balboa Register Online Slow Balboa (4 weeks / Improver)

Begins Monday, April 6, 2026
  • Dates: Mondays on April 6, 13, 20, and 27
  • Time: 7:15pm - 8:30pm
  • Location: 295 Gregory Street [map]
  • Cost: $70 preregistered. At-door registration price is $80 if space is available.
  • Prerequisite: Any previous Balboa Class

Slow Balboa is a general term used for dancing in styles inspired by the original Balboa swing dancers from California who liked to dance to slow music. We'll cover the historic dance called Laminu, as well as contemporary Slow Balboa steps and techniques to get you dancing to wonderful slow Jazz music!

Shim Sham Register Online Shim Sham

Wednesday, April 29, 2026
  • Dates: Wednesday April 29
  • Time: 7:15pm - 8:30pm
  • Location: 295 Gregory Street [map]
  • Cost: $18 preregistered. At-door registration price is $20 if space is available.

The most popular and well-known solo jazz choreography out there, Frankie Manning's Shim Sham is danced all over the world. This Lindy Hop line dance can be seen regularly at events and we'd love to have you join in! It is based on the original tap dance Shim Sham which was choreographed by Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant. It features classic jazz steps such as the Tackie Annie, the Half-Break, the Boogie Back, and the Shorty George. This class is a great intro to solo jazz dancing, and is open to everyone from first-timers to experienced Lindy Hop dancers!

 

Future Classes

Generally, class sessions are 4 weeks long and begin the first week of each month. Each class session generally consists of 1 class night per week. They become open for registration when they are posted on this page, at least 2 weeks before their start date. If you have special requests or would like more information about classes, send us an email at info@groovejuiceswing.com.

About Us

Groove Juice Swing, established in 2004, is based in Rochester, NY and specializes in Lindy Hop, the original form of swing dance from the 1920s and 1930s. Groove Juice Swing offers dance classes, weekly social dances, live band dance events, performances, and dance workshops throughout the year. Staff members and instructors are passionate about all things Lindy Hop, traveling all over the world to compete against and learn from the very best Lindy Hoppers. They bring that same commitment and enthusiasm to the dance community in Rochester.

Groove Juice Swing is a grateful recipient of the Monroe County JumpstARTS Grant Program.

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Questions or Comments?

If the answer's not in our FAQ list, or on our Policies page, please email us for more information.

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