FAQ

No, you absolutely do not need to bring a partner to our Lindy Hop classes in London. This is one of the most common questions we hear, and the answer is simple: come as you are. At Sugar Hill Hop, we rotate partners throughout the class, which means you’ll dance with a variety of people during each session. This approach not only removes the barrier of needing a partner but also helps you become a more versatile and well-rounded dancer, as you learn to adapt to different styles of leading and following. Many of our regular dancers come on their own every Thursday – it’s a fantastic way to meet new people and become part of our welcoming swing dance community in central London.

Absolutely – most people who attend our London Lindy Hop classes come on their own, and you’ll be in great company. There is no expectation to arrive with a partner or a friend, although both are of course welcome too. Because we rotate partners during class, you’ll quickly get to know other dancers and become part of the Sugar Hill Hop community. Our classes are designed to be friendly, social, and inclusive, so whether you’re a solo newcomer or returning on your own for the tenth time, you’ll feel right at home from the moment you walk through the door.

Yes, Lindy Hop is wonderfully suited to beginners, and our Thursday night Beginners (Level 0) class at Sugar Hill Hop is specifically designed for people with no prior dance experience. We break movements down step by step, building your confidence with foundational rhythms, partnered connection, and musicality from the very first session. You don’t need any background in dance – just comfortable shoes, a water bottle, and a willingness to have fun. Our experienced international instructors create a supportive and encouraging environment where new dancers can learn at a comfortable pace. Doors open at 6:50 PM for the Beginners class, which runs until 7:50 PM every Thursday.

Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely – think of what you might wear for a casual evening out that still lets you twist, turn, and step without restriction. Many dancers opt for smart-casual attire such as trousers or a skirt that allows full range of movement, paired with a breathable top. Avoid anything too restrictive, overly long, or likely to get caught on your partner. Layers can be useful, as you’ll warm up as the class progresses. Some dancers enjoy embracing the vintage aesthetic of the swing era, but there is absolutely no dress code at Sugar Hill Hop – the most important thing is that you feel comfortable and ready to dance.

For shoes, look for flat or low-heeled pairs with smooth soles that allow you to slide and pivot on the dance floor. Leather-soled shoes are ideal, but anything that isn’t too grippy will work well when you’re starting out. Avoid trainers with heavy rubber treads, open-toed sandals, and high heels, as these can make turns difficult and may put unnecessary strain on your joints.

Swing dance is an umbrella term that encompasses a whole family of dances that developed alongside swing-era jazz music from the 1920s through the 1940s, including Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, and Charleston. Lindy Hop is the most widely known and celebrated of these swing dances and is considered the original swing dance, born in Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom. When people refer to “swing dancing” in a social dance context, they are very often talking about Lindy Hop or a dance closely related to it. At Sugar Hill Hop, our London classes focus on Lindy Hop as a partnered swing dance, if you’ve been searching for swing dance classes in London, our Lindy Hop classes are an excellent place to start.

While Lindy Hop and jive share some common ancestry, they are two distinct dances with different characters and histories. Lindy Hop is the original swing dance, created by African American dancers in 1920s and 1930s Harlem, and it is danced to swinging jazz music with a relaxed, grounded, and rhythmically rich style. Where as jive evolved later, partly from Lindy Hop, and became codified as a ballroom and Latin competition dance with a more upright posture, bouncy footwork, and a structured syllabus. Lindy Hop tends to be more improvisational, musical, and socially oriented – you dance with your partner and with the music, rather than following a set routine. At Sugar Hill Hop, we teach authentic Lindy Hop in the tradition of the Savoy Ballroom, focusing on connection, musicality, and the joy of the dance.

We do not teach jive, ballroom jive, modern jive, or rock and roll, as our focus is on preserving and sharing authentic Lindy Hop and its African American roots. They are distinct forms with different techniques, aesthetics, and cultural traditions.

Lindy Hop and West Coast Swing are different dances with different histories, music, and cultural origins.

Lindy Hop was created by Black African-American communities in Harlem, New York, during the late 1920s and developed alongside the Swing Era jazz music of the 1930s and 1940s. It is one of the original swing dances and is the dance from which many later swing dance styles developed.

West Coast Swing developed later on the west coast of the United States from dances descended from Lindy Hop. Over time, it evolved into a distinct dance separating away from the music and the feel of the Lindy Hop to become it’s own thing with its own patterns, techniques, competitions, and teaching methods.

Today, Lindy Hop is primarily danced to Swing and Jazz Music, while West Coast Swing is commonly danced to a much wider range of music, including pop and contemporary chart music.

Although the two dances share historical connections, they are generally taught as separate dance styles and have developed into distinct communities with their own events, instructors, traditions and values.

At Sugar Hill Hop, we teach Lindy Hop and other African-American Jazz dances. We do not teach West Coast Swing.

You can start having fun and dancing socially within your very first class – Lindy Hop is a social dance at heart, and our Beginners class at Sugar Hill Hop is designed to get you moving and enjoying the music from day one. Within four to six classes of regular attendance, most beginners feel comfortable with the basic rhythm, a handful of core moves, and the fundamentals of leading and following. Like any skill worth learning, there is always more to discover – musicality, styling, solo jazz vocabulary, and more advanced partner work can keep you inspired for years. The beauty of Lindy Hop is that the learning never truly stops, and the dance continues to grow with you. We recommend attending our Thursday classes consistently to build muscle memory and confidence.

Lindy Hop is danced to swinging jazz music, primarily from the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s – the kind of music created by legendary artists like Mary Lou Williams, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Chick Webb, and Ella Fitzgerald, many of whom had deep ties to Harlem and the Sugar Hill neighbourhood that inspired our name. In our London classes, you’ll hear a range of tempos and styles of swing jazz, from relaxed medium-tempo tunes that are ideal for beginners through to more energetic up-tempo numbers to get those swingouts ticking! The music is central to the dance – Lindy Hop is fundamentally about expressing the music through your movement, and our teaching at Sugar Hill Hop always connects the steps back to the rhythms and melodies you’re hearing. As you progress, you’ll develop a deeper relationship with the music and find your own way of interpreting it on the dance floor.

And when we talk about jazz, we mean Swing Era jazz – the swing music that filled ballrooms throughout the Swing Era, from the early 1930s through into the 1940s, while drawing on the earlier roots of jazz and Harlem’s vibrant social dance culture. Characterised by a steady, swinging rhythm with uplifting melodies, riffs and an irresistible pulse, it was written to bring people together on the dance floor. Our playlists feature the legendary orchestras of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Chick Webb, Benny Goodman, Jimmie Lunceford, Andy Kirk and Cab Calloway, alongside today’s outstanding swing bands – including Jonathan Stout Orchestra, Hot Sugar Band, the Swing Shouters, Michael Gamble & The Rhythm Serenaders, Mint Julep Jazz Band and Naomi & Her Handsome Devils – musicians who continue the tradition of creating jazz for social dancers. Whether recorded in 1938 or released last month on Bandcamp or YouTube, the common thread is music with a dance floor at its heart.

Some of the contemporary swing artists we love include

• Brooks Prumo Orchestra – https://brooksprumoorchestra.com/
• Michael Gamble & The Rhythm Serenaders – https://www.rhythmserenaders.com/
• Hot Sugar Band – https://hotsugarband.bandcamp.com/
• The Swing Shouters – https://swingshouters.bandcamp.com/
• Naomi & Her Handsome Devils – https://www.naomisdevils.com/
• Campus Five (Jonathan Stout & Hilary Alexander) – https://www.campusfive.com/
• The Shirt Tail Stompers – https://www.shirttailstompers.com/
• Pete Long and His Band – https://www.plong.co.uk/lindy-hop-pocket-basie/
• The Big Five – https://thebigfive.bandcamp.com/
• The Schwings Band – https://theschwingsband.bandcamp.com/

You don’t need any particular level of fitness to start Lindy Hop classes. Our Beginners class at Sugar Hill Hop is paced to be accessible to people of all fitness levels, and you can take breaks whenever you need to. Lindy Hop is a moderate physical activity – it will get your heart rate up and your body moving, but it’s not a workout class, and you set your own pace. Over time, regular dancing naturally improves your stamina, coordination, balance, and core strength without it ever feeling like exercise. Many of our dancers find that Lindy Hop is one of the most enjoyable ways to stay active in London, precisely because it feels like socialising and fun rather than a trip to the gym.

A single class is £15 per person on the door – no booking required, just turn up.

If you’d like to take both classes on the same evening (Beginners at 6:50pm and Social Improvers at 8pm), the second class is also £15

Sugar Hill Hop is largely cashless-payment by card or bank transfer. Cash at the door (if accepted) is Bank of England notes only; no Scottish/Northern Irish notes.

Class cards let you pay upfront for multiple classes at a discounted rate. Each class you attend uses one credit from your card – whether it’s Beginners or Social Improvers.

We will eventually offer two class cards, but only one is available as of now

• 10 – Class Card – £110

Your card’s QR code is scanned each time you attend. If you attend both classes on the same evening, two credits are used – one per class.

Class cards are available to purchase at any of our regular sessions. They don’t expire, so there’s no rush to use them up – come at your own pace.

Sugar Hill Hop is largely cashless-payment by card or bank transfer. Cash at the door (if accepted) is Bank of England notes only; no Scottish/Northern Irish notes.

A term pass gives you unlimited access to all regular classes at every Sugar Hill Hop venue for the duration of a term (approximately 10 weeks).

A term pass currently costs £140 per term.

As our network of venues grows, we may adjust the term pass price to reflect the expanded offering. More venues mean more nights, more classes, and more value – and any changes will always be communicated well in advance. The term pass will always remain the best-value way to dance with us regularly.

The term pass is ideal for students who regularly attend both levels, want the flexibility to drop into any class at any venue without worrying about credits, or simply want to get the most out of their dancing.

It depends on how often you plan to attend:

Just trying it out? Pay on the door – £15 for a single class, £30 if you fancy staying for both on the same evening.

Coming regularly to one class? The 10-credit card at £110 is your best bet – that’s £11 per class, a genuine saving over the door price, and there’s no expiry pressure. It’s certainly cheaper than paying for both classes on an ad-hoc basis.

Doing doubles most weeks? The term pass at £140 is absolutely unbeatable value. But you should be going to classes regularly to get the best from this.

Sugar Hill Hop is largely cashless-payment by card or bank transfer. Cash at the door (if accepted) is Bank of England notes only; no Scottish/Northern Irish notes.

Yes, you can check your own details any time. Scan the QR code on your class card, term pass or loyalty card (or type its reference) on our check your card page to see how many classes you have left, when a term pass expires, or how your loyalty rewards are coming along. There is no need to ask us at the door.

Workshop pricing varies depending on the format, duration, and whether we have guest instructors. As a guide:

• In-house workshops (2 hours, our own teachers): from around £35
• Guest instructor workshops (2 hours): around £40-£45
• Extended workshops or masterclasses (3+ hours): around £45-£50

When a social dance follows the workshop, this is sometimes available as an add-on for around £5.

Exact pricing is confirmed when each workshop is announced – check our events page or social media for the latest.

Sugar Hill Hop is largely cashless-payment by card or bank transfer. Cash at the door (if accepted) is Bank of England notes only; no Scottish/Northern Irish notes.

Festival pricing depends on the length of the event and when you book. Early bird tickets are available for those who commit early.

For a typical 2-3 day weekend event, expect:

• Early bird full pass: from around £100
• Standard full pass: from around £130
• Day pass: from around £55
• Evening / social-only pass: from around £25 per night

For longer bank holiday events (4-5 days):

• Early bird full pass: from around £140
• Standard full pass: from around £175
• Day and evening passes also available

These prices are examples only and will vary by event. Early bird pricing is typically available until around 6 weeks before the event. Full details and exact pricing are published on each event’s page when tickets go on sale.

Sugar Hill Hop is largely cashless-payment by card or bank transfer. Cash at the door (if accepted) is Bank of England notes only; no Scottish/Northern Irish notes.

Absolutely – and we encourage it! Our evening is structured so you can do both:

• Beginners (Level 0) – 6:50pm to 7:50pm
• Social Improvers (Level 1) – 8:00pm to 8:50pm

If you’re paying on the door, the classes are £15 (£30 both classes). If you’re using a class card, each class uses one credit. And if you have a term pass, both classes are included at no extra cost.

Many of our students start with just the Beginners class and progress to doing both as they gain confidence. Eventually, some move to attending only the Social Improvers class – and that’s just a single class at  £15 on the door or one credit from your card.

Sugar Hill Hop is largely cashless-payment by card or bank transfer. Cash at the door (if accepted) is Bank of England notes only; no Scottish/Northern Irish notes.

We review our pricing once a year to make sure we can continue delivering the quality of classes and community you expect. The costs of running Sugar Hill Hop – venue hire, insurance, teaching, and equipment – do go up over time, and occasionally we need to adjust our prices to reflect that.

As we grow and open classes at new venues, your term pass always covers every Sugar Hill Hop venue – more nights, more classes, all included. We may adjust the term pass price over time to reflect the expanded offering, but the pass will always remain the best-value way to dance with us regularly.

When we do make changes, we always give at least four weeks’ notice, and we honour any existing class cards or term passes at the price you originally paid. We also offer a grace period where you can purchase cards or passes at the current rate before new pricing takes effect.

We’re committed to keeping our classes as accessible as possible while maintaining the standard you deserve. If you have any questions about pricing, just ask one of our team at any session.

If you accidentally leave an item behind at any of our venues, please don’t worry, we work with each venue to help you recover it.

For our main venue at Saw Swee Hock Student Centre:
Items left here are kept on site by the venue’s lost property office. Rather than us moving items between locations (which would create a significant logistical challenge), the Saw Swee Hock Centre keeps lost property on site so you can contact them directly to recover your items.

To recover lost property at Saw Swee Hock Centre:

• Email: [email protected]

• Call: 020 7955 7988

• Visit: The security team at the reception desk in the main entrance to the Old Building

For more information, including opening hours, visit the LSE Security homepage.

For our other venues:
We typically take the same approach at all our locations, items are kept on site by each venue’s security team. If you’re attending classes at a different venue, please contact that specific venue’s lost property office directly rather than Saw Swee Hock Centre.

We recommend checking the venue’s lost property office as soon as possible if you’ve misplaced something, as this gives you the best chance of recovering your item. If you’re unsure which venue to contact, reach out to us and we’ll help direct you.