FAQ

When and where do you have dances? 
We hold dances every Thursday at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. The cost of admission to weekly dances is $7.00 for non-members or $5.00 for members/students/affiliates (with valid ID).

Fort Worth Community Arts Center

1300 Gendy St.

Fort Worth, TX 76107

What are the benefits of being a FWSDS member?
Benefits include $2 off admission to regular FWSDS events and $5 off admission to live band dances. Our membership is also accepted by other Texas swing dance organizations. For example, Dallas Swing Dance Syndicate will honor our membership and let us in for their member price. Membership also entitles you to run for an officer position and to vote when elections are held. The cost is only $15 for a full year membership. 

I'm not a member; can I still attend your dance?
Yes, we welcome everyone. 

Do you have dance lessons?
Yes, we have a beginning swing dance lesson before each dance. The variety of swing varies depending upon instructor, but could include east coast swing, lindy hop, charleston, shag, or balboa.

Do I need to bring a partner?

No. In fact, we encourage dancing with different people to improve your dancing skills. We also encourage follows to ask leads to dance as well as leads to ask follows to dance. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to dance!

What kind of music do you play at your dance?
Our DJ’s play a variety of swing tunes ranging from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s through today. 

What kind of shoes do you recommended for dancing?
We recommend comfortable shoes with smooth leather soles or dance shoes with felt soles. Flip flops, open toe shoes, strappy heels, and rubber soled shoes are discouraged due to possible injury to your feet or knees (or other dancers). 

What do I wear to your dance?
The type of dress at our dances ranges from jeans and t-shirts to full vintage attire. Clothing that you feel comfortable in is the most important factor. Swing dancing can be very active, and it is common for both leads and follows to bring an extra clean and dry shirt to change into. We do request that when wearing a skirt, undershorts (such as Spanx or Soffe shorts) be worn underneath, as we are a family venue.

What is good dance etiquette?
Be aware of the other dancers around you on the floor. If you try to execute a move and mule kick another dancer in the knee, apologize. Accidents do happen, but we can do our best to try and keep them to a minimum. If you decline a dance with one person, it is generally unacceptable to begin a dance to the same song with another partner, unless the dance had been pre-agreed upon.

Can I volunteer?

Yes! We are always seeking reliable, self-starting volunteers. If you are interested, please email: president@fwsds.org

Note to Beginners:

Do not become discouraged by dancers that may seem more experienced than you are presently! Everyone was a beginner at one point, but continued to grow as a dancer through practice and dedication. It is through you that the swing dance community continues to grow! Social dancing is a great opportunity to make new friends, and it all starts with a dance.

Photography by Amelia Brown Photography.