Lincolnshire Lindy Hop Clubs - Swing Dance in Lincolnshire

Our dance business, originally known as 52nd Street Jump, began in 2005 when we were teaching in West Sussex and Central London.  Within a couple of years, we had added successful classes in Surrey and South East London. Between 2005 - 2009, we taught The Foundation Course in Lindy Hop at Covent Garden’s Pineapple Dance Studios .  During this course we introduced hundreds of people to the Lindy Hop scene, teaching them their first steps.  Many of these dancers can be seen today around the country, some as teachers and performers.

We also started a number of popular dances including Nosey Joe's (featuring live music) and Saturday Night Swing Club (a hugely successful night in Central London run in association with The London Swing Dance Society).

When we moved to Lincolnshire in 2010, we expected to reduce our commitment to dance teaching and events, but the call of Lindy Hop is hard to resist.  Following requests for classes in Lincolnshire, we decided to start The Louth Lindy Hop Club in 2011. In July 2017, it became clear that Lincoln needed a Lindy Hop club and Lincoln Lindy Hop club began shortly afterwards.  It was about this time that we ‘re-branded’ and became known as Lincolnshire Lindy Hop Clubs.

During the Coronavirus situation, we closed all of our classes and events, and taught online classes.  Sadly, Caron died in August 2023 after a long period of ill-health due to lung cancer.  I returned to teaching in late 2023 in Alford, beginning with my closest friends, and then started classes in Market Rasen in 2024.  Caron’s presence is still felt in our classes, though, and I would never be in the position I am now as a dancer without her love and encouragement.

Throughout all our time teaching and running events I have aimed to provide high quality, informative classes which enable anyone to learn to dance.  Most of all, I find teaching a pleasure and we hope that the fun I experience when teaching comes through in my classes!

Caron was a trained dancer, having studied Jazz, Ballet and Tap. She taught Lindy Hop and Jive at Pineapple Dance Studios, in London, from 2002 until 2009. This included the highly successful Foundation Course in Lindy Hop, which was developed with Steve. Throughout this time, she regularly appeared as a guest teacher for the London Swing Dance Society at the 100 Club, Oxford Street.

Caron was a popular teacher with beginners and improvers alike.  she offered plenty of encouragement while reminding dancers not to cheat their steps.  You’d often hear her reminding dancers to have their hands in the ‘ever-ready position’.  

Steve Mason has been Swing dancing since 2002. After initially dancing East Coast Swing, he was impressed with the moves he saw Lindy Hop dancers performing.  He loves the way that Lindy Hop has something for everybody from high energy Charleston moves to smooth 8-count patterns.  

Together with Caron, he taught at Pineapple Dance Studios from 2005 until 2009, including developing the Foundation Course in Lindy Hop. He also appeared with Caron as a guest teacher for the London Swing Dance Society at the 100 Club and the Rhythm Lounge.

Steve would never have described himself as a natural dancer before discovering Swing Dancing.  He has worked hard to master the steps and techniques of Lindy Hop and this means he gives clear and accurate instruction while teaching.  He loves thinking about new ways to explain concepts such as lead and follow and really enjoys teaching.  Since gaining his Postgraduate Certificate in Education, he has applied the skills learnt in the classroom to his Lindy Hop teaching.  Usually, he doesn’t use his ‘teacher’ voice!

Steve has a lighthearted approach to teaching and enjoys humorous exchanges with students during classes.  He particularly enjoys teaching those, like himself, who join their first class thinking ‘I’ll never be any good at this’.  He insists that everyone can learn enough to have fun dancing and usually far more skilfully than they ever expected.

Steve has appeared at a large number of events around the country and in Jersey as a teacher and performer.  In 2005, he started appearing as a Swing DJ - Dr Swing - at a number of well known venues.   He has made regular guest appearances at Hula Boogie, Rhythm Lounge, Helzappopin’, Gangbusters and Stompin' at the 100 Club.  He particularly enjoyed being resident DJ at Saturday Night Swing Club, where the huge crowds of enthusiastic dancers were a real pleasure to play for. He enjoys playing a mix of music including big band and small group swing, rhythm and blues, boogie-woogie, rock and roll, hillbilly boogie and western swing.

Steve has a great interest in the music of the 30's to the 50's and often researches the background of musicians and bands.  

He is a member of the Guild of Professional Teachers of Dance, Movement to Music and Dramatic Arts.