Resources
As educators and dancers, we are forever in a learning journey. We want you to have a place to find what we have found to be invaluable. Stay tuned, more resources coming soon!
Music
Follow us on Spotify for more playlists & song recommendations
Teachers & DJs are always happy to tell you about the music you hear in class & at the parties, so go on and ask about your favourite tune!
Videos
Follow us on Youtube for more inspiration
We regularly post new videos of performances you may have seen on a Friday night and over the years we have collected videos of the elders and original dancers for easy reference. There is a wealth of knowledge out there, don’t be shy to ask for more!
Links
To a non exhaustive list of organizations, thinkers, educators, to read more about the dance, the culture, the community from which it stems.
Follow their work, check out the ressource pages and bibliographies, make connections, and take a deep dive into the rabbit hole of the available literature.
Addresses the issues of racial inequalities and cultural appropriation in the Jazz dance community in Europe and around the world
Provides assistance to established and developing dancers, musicians, researchers and community builders endeavoring to be of greater service to community members of African and African diasporic heritage.
Dancer, researcher, community builder, founding member of both CVFC and BLHF.
Tap Love Tour (Travis Knight)
Creates original works of dance, music, vlogs, podcasts, and documentaries all related to Tap DaNcE.
The PhD dissertation (in French) that started a little revolution at Cat’s Corner.
Focuses on unpacking unconscious bias, cross-cultural communication, in additional to culture formation.
Moving History (Breai Michele, Baltimore)
Teaches the story of African-American people through immersive Arts programs including instrumental and vocal music, culinary arts and dance. Community classes, professional team training, and a project-based set of courses available to primary, secondary and university students are our trifold strategy for achieving a more just society which promotes respect of self and others.
Intangible Roots (Moncell Durden)
A dynamic polymathic educational experience which focuses on enhancing and furthering the knowledge of Black dance, movement, music, culture, history, heritage, technique, and its people.
A blog curated by Miss Angela “Cookie” Andrew, described as a Movements and Musings of a London Lyon Lindy Hoppeuse.
Follow Mr Whitmore’s Vernacular Entertainment productions.
Award-winning dance company based in Toronto that explores soulful and funky approaches to jazz dance.
FAQ
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No, in fact the intro course will cover many basic steps that are danced to swing music. We will invite a variety of teachers to introduce you to dances like Charleston, Peabody, Jig Walks, Mambo, Balboa, Blues, Shag, Waltz etc
Each month will include at least one class on the 8-count Lindy Hop basic with triple steps, and one charleston class. The rest will appear on rotation. Stay tuned for a calendar of dance styles to be taught.
Have you been dancing for a while and thinking its about time you learned some Peabody or Blues? Drop-In and learn with us, all dancers are welcome.
A single class is $20, or you can buy a pass of 8 classes for $140 (1 free class). Choose multi-pass in our Amilia boutique. -
You are welcome to come alone or with friends, in most classes. you'll be encouraged to dance with everyone in the room ! There are two roles in swing dances: leader and follower. Any person of any gender can dance either role and we encourage you to try both for perspective and skill.
If can of course choose to dance with the same partner you signed up with, but we encourage you to spend at least a few songs learning with others, it will help your progress immensely. -
For swing and blues, you can wear any comfortable indoor shoe. Be sure to bring a clean pair to change into in winter (no boots on the dance floors).
For tap we have a box of spare tap shoes you can borrow to try your first classes. Once you get the feel for it, we recommend visiting Rosetti or your local thrift shop to get a pair for yourself. -
There is no dress code at Cat's Corner, wear whatever you are comfortable in. Most people show up to class wearing whatever they wore to work that day.
On live band evenings, people make a bit of effort to dress nicely, whatever that means to you.
We encourage you to bring an extra shirt to change into if you sweat a lot.
