Balboa and Collegiate Shag in Hull on Thursdays!

Hello and welcome to Kingston Swing's Thursday Night group. In addition to our regular Monday night classes we now offer a chance to learn a variety of swing dances in addtion to your Monday night Lindy Hop. We are a group aiming to increase the variety of Swing Dancing in Hull. We will meet weekly, starting from the 16th April 2015, at North Ferriby Parish Hall, 50 Church Road, North Ferriby, HU14 3AA at 8pm.

Shag, Balboa on Venice Beach
source: swungover.wordpress.com (2011)

There will be an hours class rotating through a variety of different swing dances, in 6 week blocks, from the early twentieth century. These will include Balboa, Charleston, Collegiate Shag and Blues. The lessons will cost £4 or there will be an option to pay for all 6 weeks of a dance for the cost of 5(£20) at the start of any rotation. Lessons are aimed at absolute beginners and will be designed so that anyone can join in any week. No partners are required and comfy flat shoes/trainers are advised. These dances are extremely fun and an enjoyable way of keeping fit.

Tell me more about Balboa

The "Balboa" got its name from the Balboa Peninsula at Newport Beach, situated on the coast about 40 miles south of Los Angeles in California. The dance was first performed at the beach Pavilion and then latterly at the famous Rendezvous Ballroom (lindycircle.com, 2015).


source: swungover (2011)
Balboa is an 8 count dance and using the 'pulse' of swing music is extremely important to make the dance look smooth and connected. As such there is a strong sense of musicality when dancing Balboa.

source: lindycircle.com (2011)
Pure Balboa is danced completely in closed position however the pure form evolved into what is now known as 'Bal-Swing', this means there can be some overlap to other dances such as Lindy Hop so long as the overall style, feeling, and framework remain true in spirit to the original dance. The dance developed in the 1920's. By the early 1930's it had become sufficiently well known to be given its name. It is very well suited to fast tempo music meaning above 185+ beats per minute however it can be danced to slower swing music too.

Tell me more about Collegiate Shag

The Collegiate Shag (or "Shag") is primarily a 6 count partner dance performed to uptempo swing and pre-swing jazz music around 185+ beats per minute.


source: taintwhatyoudo.com (2011)
It belongs to the swing family of American vernacular dances that arose in the 1920s and 30s. It is believed that the dance originated in the Carolinas in the late 1920s.
Collegiate Shag has a history similar to other jazz and swing era dances, such as the Charleston, Lindy Hop, and Balboa. The dance is known for its hopping basic step and high energy footwork (collegiateshag.com, 2015). A particular version of the shag was eventually adopted by the Arthur Murray studios where it was standardised in the late 1930s (wikipedia, 2015)


Tell me more about 20s and 30s Charleston


source: vintagedancer.com (2015)

Charleston is an 8 count partner or solo dance that has its roots in several other dances and evolved alongside others such as the 'black bottom'. The Charleston is a dance named the city of Charleston in South Carolina.

The music for the Charleston is ragtime jazz, in quick 4/4 time with syncopated rhythms. (streetswing.com, 2015)



Tell me more about blues dancing


source: purehistory.org (2015)

Blues music is a legacy to the African-American populations of the southern United States. The Blues dance comes from the same origin as its music. A Blues dancer is inspired by the sensations the music gives him to express himself through movement. It may come from sensuality, strength, relaxation, stress, emotions, but the most important is to be deeply connected with the music. Nowadays, Blues dancing is qualified as a social dance. It greatly integrates the concepts of connection between partners, technique, weight transfer, body dynamics and musicality.


Kingston Swing are a 'not for profit' organisation and we teach on a voluntary basis. This means all proceeds from the lessons can be reinvested into the group for the benefit of its members.

Join our facebook group here : Kingston Swing Thursday for up to date info.