Boston Lindy Hop

Boston Lindy Hop teaches authentic swing dance in the Boston area, with classes held Mondays in Harvard Square, Tuesdays and Thursdays in Brookline. The studio offers Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Vernacular Jazz—all rooted in the dance tradition developed by the Black community in Harlem during the 1920s and 1930s.

Classes are structured by level. Lindy 1 (Level 1) is the introductory series, split into two six-hour courses: Lindy 1: Movement and Lindy 1: Partnership. These cover the basics of partner dancing, fundamental movements, rock steps, triple steps, and early combinations like the swingout and boogie stomp. Lindy 2 (Level 2) consists of three distinct six-hour series—Rhythm, Timing & Music; Connection; and Momentum—which can be taken in any order. These classes build on Level 1 foundations and develop musicality, partner communication, and efficient movement. Lindy 3 (Level 3) is the highest ongoing level and covers advanced topics including Slow Lindy, Competitions/Jams, Charleston, and Fast Dancing. Six-week beginner series classes start almost every month.

The Starlight Pass is a structured progression program for advanced students at Level 3 and beyond. Completion requires five distinct Lindy 3 series on specified topics, two additional Fundamentals courses, a retake of one Lindy 1 series, and two Level 2 classes. Students who complete 5 classes receive a free class voucher plus a voucher to give a friend a free Lindy 1 class. Those who finish all 10 requirements earn an exclusive Starlight track jacket and a free consultation-style private session with a BLH instructor to discuss personal next steps. The Starlight Pass name honours Kimball's Starlight Ballroom, an outdoor dance palace in Lynnfield, MA (1932–1963) where major jazz acts including Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb performed.

The studio employs a roster of experienced instructors. Andrew Selzer is the owner and director; he has nearly 15 years of teaching experience and has performed with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band while playing clarinet with The River Street Six and The Summer Street Stompers. Andrea Byrnes came to Lindy Hop after two decades of Irish step dancing and has studied Charleston, Balboa, Authentic Solo Jazz, St. Louis Shag, and Collegiate Shag. Karen Turman discovered Lindy Hop during the Swing craze in 1998 and has competed at Lindy Focus, the Lone Star Championships, the Ultimate Lindy Hop Championships, the Boston Tea Party, and Camp Jitterbug; she holds the "Spirit of Lindy Hop" award from both Camp Jitterbug (2005) and the International Lindy Hop Championships (2010). Cassandra Filios teaches partnership and musicality; she also organizes for several Boston swing dance organizations. Edgar Herwick III learned under Daryl Begin and Jennifer Stout at Providence Swings in Rhode Island and has competed in Jack & Jill competitions; he also emcees dance events and works as a radio host and producer for 89.7 WGBH. Cari Meisel started with Penn's West Philly Swingers and moved to Boston in 2013; she emphasizes creativity and comfortable connection. Mariel (Mari) Adams has swing danced for more than two decades and has taught and choreographed various styles including Latin dancing, west coast swing, hip hop, jazz, ballet, modern, and west African dance. Kevin Sihlanick values relaxed posture, clear communication, and strong musicality and plays jazz guitar with The River Street Six. Katie Piselli trained professionally in dance and Musical Theater Performance and was introduced to Lindy Hop by her husband.

Beyond class, the studio runs social dance events. BLH Presents: Bayou Bounce is held at First Church in Cambridge. The studio also organises the Somerville Stomp and lists workshops including Kind of a Big Deal, Boston Tea Party, and Beantown Camp. Private lessons and corporate/private events are available. The studio does not maintain a waitlist for sold-out classes and does not sell partial class series. Gift certificates are offered.

Boston Lindy Hop beginner series classes are six hours long (typically split into weekly two-hour sessions over three to six weeks) and teach the fundamentals of partner dancing, basic movements, and early combinations. You will learn to dance on time to the music with clear rhythm, prioritize connection with your partner, and understand the history of Lindy Hop as a Black American art form from the Harlem Renaissance.

The studio employs ten instructors with deep swing dance expertise. Director Andrew Selzer has nearly 15 years of teaching experience, performs with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and plays clarinet with local jazz bands. Other lead instructors include Andrea Byrnes (Irish dancer turned multi-style swing dancer), Karen Turman (competitor and "Spirit of Lindy Hop" award recipient), Cassandra Filios (organizer and partnership specialist), Edgar Herwick III (Jack & Jill competitor and radio producer), Cari Meisel (former Penn Swingers member), Mariel Adams (two decades of swing experience), Kevin Sihlanick (jazz guitarist), and Katie Piselli (Musical Theater trained).

Level 1 is explicitly designed as the introductory level; the studio recommends and notes it is common for students to retake both Lindy 1 series courses to solidify foundational concepts.