LEVEL DESCRIPTION
What's my skill level?
Since you can create your own schedule of classes and the Rock That Swing Dance Camp offers so many different dances it is not possible to have audition for the various levels. This means it is all the more important that you respect your skill level.
You will gain the most if you participate in a class that matches your own skill level. Don’t overestimate yourself, or you and your fellow students won’t have any fun. Even when a higher-level class has an interesting theme, you should only take that class if you already have the required skills. This will allow the instructors to meet your specific needs to the best of their abilities.
We know it is hard to put yourself in the right level especially as levels have different meanings in different cities and communities. To give you a guideline to pick the appropriate level we created the following level descriptions. If you are still in doubt you can ask any of the teachers for a recommendation.
The best advice we can give you from here is to not rush to get to a higher level. If you dance with someone it is not important what class level you take, but rather how well you dance and how much fun it is to dance with you. If you want to become better you will benefit the most in the correct and not in the highest level.
All Levels
Some tracks and classes are labeled “All Levels”. If the class is a dance class, you don't need any pre-knowledge, but the teachers will move on faster than a dedicated beginner class. If you have dancing experience than you should be able to follow those classes. If you are complete new to dancing than a dedicated beginner class or track might be more suitable for you.
Beginner
No previous knowledge is required, just bring your dance shoes and a small portion of patience. The teachers will make sure that you will have a good time and be able to dance the night away. If you are completely new to a dance it is important to start with the first lesson of the beginner track. You can’t jump into a later class without knowing the basics, because the three classes of a beginner track build on each other to lead you step by step to your dance success.
Beginner/Intermediate
At the beginner/intermediate level you are some what in control over the basic steps and have the ability to lead or follow a few simple figures. The minimum requirement for the beginner/intermediate classes are the basic fundamentals as taught in a beginner tracks.
Intermediate
To join the intermediate level you need to have been dancing that dance for a while and are expected to be absolutely confident in your basics and in leading or following different variations. Mixing different basic steps and footwork should not be a challenge for you anymore. You want to improve your dance vocabulary by learning new steps and variations, but also want to improve your overall technique and improvisational skills to be able to express yourself better.
Intermediate+
Since the intermediate level normally has the most number of participants, we offer two intermediate levels. The plus level might be on a slightly higher level to push you a bit more, but it has the same skill requirements as the Intemediate level.
Intermediate/Advanced
To join the intermediate/advanced level you already understand that the quality of movement is more important than a large number of figures. You are striving to become a better dancer and to be able to dance well with anybody. You’d like to improve the quality of your movements, your musicality, and your leading or following. Your technique and basics should be at the level where you can use different rhythmical variations and improvise without fear. You can dance fluently to slow and faster music without throwing off your partner while maintaining your balance and your timing.
Advanced
The advanced level is the highest level and shall ensure a working environment on a very
high standard. Therefore you absolutely need to be sure that you belong in this level. Be
fair to your classmates. For an advanced class you need to be dancing on a high level for a
long time or have joined several competitions. Be reminded that you are not on an advanced
level just because you took the intermediate or intermediate/advanced level the year
before.
You are able to quickly master new steps and variations, because you already draw on a big
repertoire of figures and variations, but you are always up for new challenges. You can
easily adjust to different partners and their different styles. You understand that dancing
is a communication between you and your partner. You are able to lead or
follow without effort and are able to change patterns at any time making transitions
natural and comfortable. On the other hand you are able to give your partner enough freedom
and space to express themselves, and are able to play off of each other. You can dance
hassle-free, fluently, and dynamically from slow to very fast music. You maintain your
balance and your timing even in complex movements. You’d like to play with the quality of
your movements, improve your improvisational skills, use different levels of musicality,
and bring the finesse of your leading or following to a new level. At this level
self-criticism is probably your greatest asset. The best advice we can give you is to not
rush to get to this level. If you are not put off, yet, then you either have a serious lack
of self-awareness or you are a good candidate for the advanced class :-)
Competition
The competition classes are designed for competing couples or couples who want to compete in the future. Partners are required for that level! It is up to the teachers and their goals if partners will be rotated or not.