Cream City Swing Dance
Lindy Hop and swing dance classes, plus weekly socials in Riverwest
A swing dance studio offering instruction in East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, and related swing styles.
Photo: David Klemens via Google
Before your first class
Lindy Hop 101 and open-level classes start from the ground up with no experience or partner required; drop-in is welcome.
Casual—wear whatever you're comfortable moving in.
Comfortable, clean shoes with low traction (like Keds, Adidas, or Converse); a change of shirt if you sweat; layers for temperature changes.
$10 drop-in per class, $25–$30 for series (3–4 weeks); student, teacher, and military discounts available at the door
About this studio
Cream City Swing Dance teaches Lindy Hop and related swing styles to dancers of all levels in Milwaukee. The organisation was founded in 1998 by Lars and Patty Russell, who caught the swing bug within two weeks of their first outing. What began as informal dances around the city has grown into a structured programme: the first Milwaukee Lindy Exchange was held in 2000, followed by additional exchanges in 2010 and 2011. The studio operated from a weekly home in BayView from 2009 to 2014, then relocated to Blue Ribbon Hall at Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery in autumn 2014. In 2016, Cream City Swing introduced a second night dedicated to dance education with levelled classes. The organisation became a non-profit 501(c)3 in December 2016. After closing during the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, they reopened in summer and autumn of 2022 with a new format at Falcon Bowl in Riverwest.
The mission of Cream City Swing Dance is to cultivate an inclusive and supportive community through education and promotion of Lindy Hop and social swing era dances, while honouring and respecting the Black American history of jazz music and dance. The organisation seeks to build on the way these moves developed—among diverse peoples banded together in networks of mutual support and care, using movement to express a range of human feelings.
Classes run on Monday nights at Falcon Bowl (801 E. Clarke St in Riverwest) and follow a progressive, levelled structure. Lindy Hop 101 focuses on fundamentals of partner connection, rhythm, and musicality—no experience or partner needed. Lindy Hop 102 and 103 apply those skills into shapes including swingouts, circles, and basic Charleston. Lindy Hop 200 is for dancers with prerequisites like familiarity with the swingout, circle, send out, pass by, and tuck turn; it focuses on skill building and expanding creativity with topics ranging from vocabulary and musicality to intermediate Charleston and solo movement. The studio also teaches solo vernacular jazz through choreographies including the Shim Sham, Trickeration, Tranky Doo, and the Big Apple. Charleston, 6-count swing, blues, and Balboa are also part of the curriculum.
After classes end, Cream City Swing opens the floor for a practice and play social hour with no cover charge (donations appreciated). Attendance at class is not required to join the social. The venue has an all-gender restroom and welcomes dancers aged 18 and up. Swing is taught as a social dance, so partners are rotated during lessons. Both leads and follows are encouraged to choose whichever role they feel most comfortable in, regardless of gender.
What to expect
Your first visit
Arrive early to check in. Class begins with a warmup and recap of previous material, followed by skill-building instruction. You'll rotate partners throughout. After class, the floor opens for an informal social hour where you can practise what you've learned. The venue is casual—bring comfortable shoes and clothes you can move and sweat in.
Instructors
Who teaches here
Current leadership includes Shannon Brennan (Board Member), Mitch Keim (Tax Director), Lyndsey Kuhlmann (Director of Operations), and BJ Szyjakowski (Board Member). The source does not name individual class instructors.
New to dancing?
What beginners can expect
Lindy Hop 101 and open-level classes start from the ground up with no experience or partner required; drop-in is welcome.
What to wear and bring
Before your first class
Dress code
Casual—wear whatever you're comfortable moving in. Some dress up more for social nights, but there's no pressure.
What to bring
Comfortable, clean shoes with low traction (like Keds, Adidas, or Converse); a change of shirt if you sweat; layers for temperature changes. Shorts or leggings under skirts are helpful to avoid them flying up during spins.
Studio history
Cream City Swing Dance was founded in 1998 by Lars and Patty Russell. The first Milwaukee Lindy Exchange was held in 2000, with additional exchanges in 2010 and 2011. The organisation operated from a weekly home in BayView from 2009 to 2014, then relocated to Blue Ribbon Hall at Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery in autumn 2014. In 2016, a second night of dance education with levelled classes was introduced. The organisation became a non-profit 501(c)3 in December 2016. After closing during the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, programming reopened in summer and autumn 2022 at Falcon Bowl in Riverwest.
Styles offered
9 dance styles taught here
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Amenities
Pricing
Approximate lesson costs
Class schedule
Weekly classes and workshops
Cream City Swing Dancehasn't set up a public class schedule yet.
If you own Cream City Swing Dance, claiming the studio lets you add a public schedule in about 2 minutes. A free Google Calendar is the easiest path — visitors see your class times inline + can add events to their own calendar.
Frequently asked about Cream City Swing Dance
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does Cream City Swing Dance teach?
Cream City Swing Dance teaches Swing, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Charleston, 6-Count Swing and 3 more. The full list of styles is shown above on this page along with each genre's classes and lesson options.
Where is Cream City Swing Dance located?
Cream City Swing Dance is located in WI. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does Cream City Swing Dance offer private lessons?
Contact Cream City Swing Dance directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does Cream City Swing Dance teach kids and adults?
Cream City Swing Dance welcomes students of varied ages and experience levels. Contact the studio to learn which classes fit your age group and level.
How do I sign up for classes at Cream City Swing Dance?
The fastest path is to visit Cream City Swing Dance via their website or check the class schedule above. Many studios offer a free or discounted intro lesson — contact them directly to ask.