Rock That Swing Dance Camp

Sure. Rock That Swing is a great place to start Swing dancing. The Dance Camp offers specific beginner tracks in Boogie Woogie, Lindy Hop, and Balboa, which consist of three build-up classes that will instruct you step by step. No experience is required for the beginner track, but if you are completely new to a dance you need to start with the first lesson of the beginner track. In a beginner track you’ll learn the necessary foundation (footwork and basic elements) for the particular dance. Those are essential to continue with a beginners-intermediate class.

During the taster classes the Dance Camp offers additionally beginner classes for various other dances. If you are a Shag beginner you can also start with the first class of the Shag Beg/Int track, which covers the Shag foundation.

There will be classes in Boogie Woogie, Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag, Charleston, Rock-A-Billy Jive, Blues and Burlesque. Additionally there will be special lessons for further swing related or non-swing related dances and about specific topics (e.g. acrobatics, competition, line dances, tap etc.).

The RTS Dance Camp offers 6 levels: Beginner, Beginner/Intermediate, Intermediate, Advanced, Competition and Invited. Please be aware that not every dance is offered in all levels. You cann see a detailled list of the offered class levels on the schedule page.

A distinguishing feature of the Rock That Swing Festival is the free class selection on site. You can mix the various dances on a per class base and create your own personal schedule. This concept was wanted by the vast majority of former participants. To make it work it is essential that you choose the right level.

Students often think of class levels as a status symbol. It isn’t. If you come to a Dance Camp to improve your skills and to get inspired you will gain the most if you participate in a class level that matches your skill level. It will also make it possible for the teachers to give their best and to suit exactly your needs. It won’t frustarte you or your classmates. So, please take the level descriptions into consideration before you make your choices of a class.

Yes, you can. The only exceptions are the acrobatic and the competition classes and maybe certain special classes that are couple related.

Each class has a specific topic and is self-contained. So you can switch freely between different dances and classes that are on or below your level. Only the beginner classes build up on each other. That means if you don't have any experience in this dance, it won’t be possible to start with the second or third lesson.

Yes, you can. Classes can be chosen freely on site. We ask you for your class selection at the time of registration to give us a guideline how to assign classes to the differently sized studios. But please be smart and take your own level in consideration. It does not help you or your class mates if you are in a level that is over your head. You dancing won’t improve and you won’t increase teh number of your friends.

By now we haven’t faced that problem. Due to the large number of lessons, the classes have been well distributed in the past. It could of course happen that certain classes will be overfilled if too many participants decide spontaneous to go to the same class. That’s why it is important that you let us know what classes you plan to join so we can attach suitable room sizes to each class. If the interest for a class is too high we might add additional classes.

Due to the international participation, the general teaching language is English. German speaking teachers will of course be able to teach also in German. Some teachers might speak other languages, too (e.g. Italian, French, Spanish, Swedish, Russian and Norwegian) and will of course translate if required.

The instructors will ask you to rotate partners (exception: acrobatic classes and competition classes). Rotating partners has a lot of advantages: you gain more flexibility, you improve your lead and follow skills, you can’t fight with your regular dance partner, you will be inspired by others, you learn and benefit from each other’s strengths, and you meet new people. Therefore you have more dance partners in the evening to dance with. Don’t you think those are enough reasons to rotate? If you are only able to dance well with your own partner or a very good partner than your own dancing has major deficits. So take the opportunity for this unique practice and dance with dancers from around the globe.

In general it is up to the teachers. Even we highly recommend changing partners in classes, we also understand if couples don’t want to change because of personal issues. The instructors will then split the participants in two groups, so that non-rotating couples won’t interrupt the rotation of the others. But if the relation of leaders and followers are not balanced, that means if we have too many leaders or followers, then the teachers have to ask all participants to rotate, without exception.

Each acrobatic class is limited to 15 couples. The sign-up for the actual day will happen each morning at the Check-In. First come, first served!

Train the Trainer classes concentrate on the “HOW” and not on the “WHAT“. They are specifically designed to the needs of instructors. Basically everybody can participate who is interested in those kinds of classes. Due to the international participation (teachers and students) it is an advantage to have sufficient knowledge in English to be able to follow the theoretical stuff and thematic discussions.

The central contact point for all your Rock That Swing needs is the Rock That Swing Check-In. At the Check-In you can pick up your Dance Camp documents and pre-ordered tickets. Late birds can still sign up for the Dance Camp and purchase remaining tickets for the evening events.

During daytime the Check-In is located at the Kolpinghaus, Adolf-Kolping-Str. 1, 80336 München. At nighttime the Check-In is located next to the evening box offices. You find the opening hours at the Check-In page.

We don’t offer food for participants in the studios, but some studios have their own bars where you can buy coffee and other beverages. The bar in our studio “Vintage Club” will be open during Camp hours. There are many shops and departments stores in the area. More information will be provided in your participation letters that you will receive per email or at the Check-In.

Basically yes! But please make sure that you take your left overs and rubbish away before you leave the studio. The studios have to be left in clean condition! In Germany you get 25 cent pant for most plastic bottles. Your own drinks and food are  not permitted for the night venues.

On behalf of the teachers it’s not allowed to film during the classes, but every participant can record the recap at the end of the class with their own camera if the teachers agree. Those recordings are for personal use only. So please don’t publish those recordings on the internet (YouTube etc.) as we will produce the camp DVD with the summary of almost all of the classes.

You can film without tripods during the evening events. If some bands don’t like to be recorded they will let you know. We don’t mind if you post your evening recordings on the internet as long as you list Rock That Swing as the event and place a link to the Rock That Swing website.

You need to enter your class choices with the registration but you are not bound on your selection and still can change your mind on site. This information just helps us to assign the class rooms according to the class sizes.

No, you can’t! The smallest booking unit is a single day.

Yes, you can. If you decide last-minute to stay longer you can stock up on site at the prices below that are based on the late bird prices. The price for the extra days is depending on the already in advance booked days. You can’t take advantage of any further discounts.

There will be an official RTSF 2013 Dance Camp DVD that holds the content of the class material (between 4 and 6 hours). The price of the DVD for pre-orders is 59 Euro (incl. shipping). Participants of the Rock That Swing Dance Camp 2013 can obtain one RTSF 2013 Dance Camp DVD for the bargain price of 35 Euro (incl. shipping).