Feeling retro? Well, Starting this Thursday, there’s a new weekly beginners’ swing dance class and party. Don’t know that much about it, except that it’s at Bikurei Ha-Itim at 9:00PM on Thursdays. Class costs 40NIS, party costs 20NIS. First time you come is free, so you have nothing to lose. Info at – 054-2078118
Seeing as most young and cool people in Tel Aviv go out drinking and partying on Thursdays, I suspect there may be a lot of older, but you never know. Nobody goes out till after midnight anyway in this town, leaving plenty of time to lindy hop beforehand.
Dance classes in Israel are usually pretty casual and relaxed. People generally don’t dress up, so don’t feel that you have to, but obviusly you’re welcome to if you choose.
If you’re a lady, though, you should be aware of how difficult Israeli men can be to couple dance with. I’ve not done a lindy / swing class in Tel Aviv before, but I have done tango and it can be very frustrating. Namely, a dance like tango or lindy is something that happens between two people and the man is the leader. If the man has no sense of rhythm and can’t lead and then blames you for all the mistakes, it can get pretty annoying.
Best if you can bring your own partner, even though technically you won’t need one.
And men – this country needs you! Go have a dance, but please don’t be one of those guys who goes to dance classes to pull women. It gets very annoying for women, because, and this may come as a surprise to you, most women who go to dance classes don’t do it so they can meet men – they actually want to dance.