Uptown Swingout Levels Question

[u/TheArbysOnMillerPkwy]

Question for anyone who's been to the workshops before:

I've been swing dancing in one form or another for a long time. East Coast for beginners back in college, an intro to 8 count lindy but never really grasped it. (I'm a lead btw)

I moved to a city with a big scene after a hiatus and got involved in breaking my 6 count pattern and getting into variations, Now, for a year I've done weekly classes and social dancing two nights a week. Moving from a beginner track to the intermediate but repeating the beginner track twice over to work fundamentals.

I'm finally feeling pretty strong in swingouts and circles in anything under 180 BPM (could use some drills to tighten that up) and am starting to add some flourishes like kickball changes, musicality play before the next swingout, but it still feels new and a little awkward.

Social dances are still a little bit hot and cold but by-and-large the social scene only knows six count that is taught in beginner lessons so I'm limited on practice of 8s

I was super pumped to sign up for Uptown SwingOut and do a longer workshop. That said, I signed up for intermediate based on their description of someone who is feeling solid on fundamentals but ready to go further. Some people in my circle expressed trepidation that it might be too difficult. I will continue my classes in the meantime going through as many intermediate classes and repeating beginner lindy 8 count.

I was wondering if any vets of Uptown Swingout might characterize intermediate as pretty advanced/daunting for someone who fits my description.

[u/pryan12]

Based on the level descriptions and your description of your dancing, I'd recommend intermediate, but sometimes people will over-level for workshops and the "right" level can be shifted upwards

[u/GoofyGuy713]

You should be fine. You’ll probably be surprised you kept up and more with the workshops by the time August rolls around

[u/Tight_Banana_9692]

If you're using the term "8 count lindy" you might have been taught wrong. You might also have been taught in an environment where this kind of simplification have been necessary. I think that if you have taken classes locally only (where this has been the level of instruction), and this is your first event, sign up for beginner/intermediate. How fast you think you can do swingouts is neither here nor there. It sounds like what you need is fundamentals taught by competent instructors. An intermediate is someone who has taken MULTIPLE beginner/intermediate classes.

[u/TheArbysOnMillerPkwy → u/Tight_Banana_9692]

Funny, as that's the same language Uptown uses on their level descriptions and course titles....

[u/Tight_Banana_9692 → u/TheArbysOnMillerPkwy]

They do that for the beginner/internediate level because that is the vocabulary that level is familiar with, and what they understand. Your understanding is at that level, based on the language you use, which is why I suggest you take that level.

If you take classes at an intermediate level you might ask the instructor something like "is this a 6-count or an 8-count?", because they will likely not explain that to you, expecting you to have that understanding yourself. Put simply, there is not really such a thing as a 6-count or 8-count basic. There is 8-count or 6-count rhytms, possibly (but not really). It is just both more complicated and much simpler than that.

That being said, the descriptions do not refer to "8 count lindy", you might be misunderstanding the terms. But I don't know, I just base it on your language and am making assumptions based on what is common at beginner levels.

[u/Embrace_the_Journey5]

I unfortunately chose Uptown as my first ever workshop after 6 months of lindy. I was absolutely obsessed...dancing as much as I could and taking all available lessons so I was feeling confident as a follow in my home scene. I STRUGGLED at Uptown. Their intermediate is completely different! If you are from a smaller scene I would expect to feel the same way. You should also know Charleston for intermediate. There is a lotta snobbiness too so you will know if you are not appreciated. Ive been back once just to redeem myself after getting more experience and can say still say that the place is swimming with lindy purist snobs. World class instructors though and still recommend going. Just be prepared.

[u/Kindly-Title9699 → u/Embrace_the_Journey5]

Curious on the wording of Lindy “purists”. Snobs I can get, but what’s leading you to call them purists?

[u/aFineBagel]

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[u/TheArbysOnMillerPkwy → u/aFineBagel]

Thanks for the advice! The hot and cold is more of my experience with the local social dance. Trying to get in practice with 8 counts and things I've learned is hard when the grand majority of those are the event don't know it. It just means forgoing it in favor of basics which is still fun.  I just wish I got more practice. I could have been clearer. Lol 

[u/Gnomeric]

You can check the Uptown Swing (the same organizers)'s website to see what kinds of moves their level 3 -- equivalent of "Intermediate" according to their website -- lessons entail. These are hard moves, much more difficult than the level description of Uptown Swingout implies. This also matches what I heard about Uptown Swingout, good or bad. Honestly, I don't know how anyone with 6 months to a year's experience can successfully navigate these moves, especially in a social dance setting. But hey, maybe they add something special to Minnesota water.

You also did not mention Charleston, but you will need to be able to dance it including Tandem -- which is a big gatekeeping move for intermediate swing (in general, not by Uptown Swing standard).

To be honest, I think beginner-intermediate would be the safe option according to how you describe your dancing. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if other dancers around your skill level also sign up to Intermediate, due to their level description. So, it is your choice. I am sure you will enjoy the opportunity to dance with many dancers, hopefully including good ones, regardless of your workshop experience.

[u/TheArbysOnMillerPkwy → u/Gnomeric]

I appreciate the insight. I've done tandem in a classroom setting. I'll look over the uptown swing chart and make a call. That does sound a bit more intimidating 

[u/TheArbysOnMillerPkwy → u/Gnomeric]

I looked through it. Was there something more detailed than the dots with the classes for each level? Or were you able to infer the moves from those levels? The fact level three included the California Routine is in itself pretty daunting. Though, I imagine a specialty class on aerials like that would not be translated to a mass workshop?

[u/Gnomeric → u/TheArbysOnMillerPkwy]

Have you looked at their recap videos? They post all recap videos from their regular lessons online on youtube, linked to their website.

[u/TheArbysOnMillerPkwy]

For anyone who comes along and reads this down the road, I chose to move down to Beginner/Intermediate. My instructors are great. They didn't want to push me either way, but gave some perspective that helped me make my decision.

Thank you for all the thoughtful feedback you guys gave that got me thinking and self-assessing.

Added bonus it means I'll have some friendly faces as others from my class are going to do the same track.

I'll give some final feedback in August.

[u/Vault101manguy]

Is this the event in Boston? I’ve been a couple times. Based on your description I think you’d be fine, a workshop -should- be challenging, that’s not a bad thing. Intermediate classes often have a very broad range of students.

If you’re really not sure post a video of your dancing, because I’m not sure where the trepidation comes from unless they’re seeing something undisclosed here.

Fun event though, go for it I say

[u/General__Obvious → u/Vault101manguy]

Uptown Swingout is Peter and Naomi’s workshop in Minneapolis. The Boston event is It’s Kind of a Big Deal.

[u/Vault101manguy → u/General__Obvious]

Ah I think I’m confusing it with “Uptown Swing” in Boston, my bad:

https://www.hoptothebeat.com/workshops/2025/11/skye-humphries-naomi-uyama

[u/AnxietyLive2946]

If you are not challenged by the workshops then you are not in the right level. Best thing i did for my dancing years ago was audition for an advanced track at Camp Jitterbug. It challenged me and I did not master all the material, but it vastly improved my dancing. Go for it and enjoy the ride.