The dance hall is on the third floor (only accessible through stairs) of the 119 S Cayuga St Ithaca Movement Arts building. Walk up the stairs to the third floor into studio A on the right (room 301). Street entry is a few doors down to the right of Hawi.

Class is sometimes held on the 4th floor.

You can park on street or at the Seneca garage for a fee. You can park on the streets further away from the commons for free. Street parking is also free after 6pm or on weekends.

Wear something comfortable and resistant to sweat. Bring shoes with smooth bottoms (We do recommend closed toed shoes). Be careful with heels and make sure they are not too sharp.

Please maintain proper hygiene. Please do not wear overpowering or strong fragrances. If you are prone to perspire, consider bringing a change of shirt and a towel.

Please bring clean shoes or clean your shoes before entering the dance floor - especially in the winter months.

Absolutely nothing! The crash course at the start of each dance will teach you everything you need to know to enjoy your first night dancing. The members of our community are always happy to dance with new people. Come ready to make new friends!

No problem! If we’re offering a free crash course before every dance, you’re welcome to join. If not, simply mention to one of the organizers that you’re new and we will be sure to show you the basic steps. It’s a friendly group, so you’ll be dancing before the night is out!

Nope! Just come on out! It’s always a good idea to check Facebook/Instagram/mailing list for any last-minute cancellations, especially in bad weather, but no registration required.

No! While swing dancing IS a partner dance, you don’t have to supply your own. Just come to the dance and ask someone to dance with you, or be prepared to be asked. Everyone gets danced!

Please come talk to us, send us an email, or send a message through one of social media pages. Your safety and comfort are our number one priority! Talk to us at the first sign of something weird. It does not need to be serious for us to help. See the code of conduct page for more information.

If the cost of the dance would cause financial discomfort, then please come talk to us or message us. We are happy to spread the love of dance and we can work out something to help you out. P.S. We always need more volunteers, who get in for free if they work a shift!

The Shorty Gorge plays songs all the way from the 1920s and ‘30s, while some are more recent. We focus primarily on Lindy Hop swing, but will also play some songs for East Coast swing, Balboa, and blues. Please see our resource page page for some example songs.

Certainly. The CSMA venue where we meet is right next to the Ithaca commons, with sidewalks and an elevator. The crowd is very friendly, and especially welcoming to newcomers. And, anyone uncomfortable walking back to cars at the end of the night need only mention it to one of the volunteers and we’ll secure you an escort.

Yes, we do! Check the lessons pages and calendar for upcoming dates!

We sometimes take pictures of people dancing for social media. If you’re in one of our pictures and would like for us to remove it, please let us know!

It’s a friendly dance community where everyone dances with each other. There are some general Swing dance etiquette tips that may be helpful to newcomers. Check out these tips on the FAQs and code of conduct page or send us a message.