Balboa

A typical class starts with a warm-up and a recap, then the teachers show a move or concept a piece at a time. Leads and follows usually swap partners every few minutes, so you dance with everyone and nobody needs to bring a partner. Expect to laugh, to get it wrong a few times, and to leave with something you can use straight away on a social floor.

Balboa is a close-embrace swing dance from 1930s Southern California, built for crowded ballrooms and fast music. Its tiny, shuffling footwork and subtle shifts of weight make it look effortless; 'Bal-swing' adds open turns and variations. Read our full guide.

Blues dancing is a slower, grounded partner dance to blues music, with a close connection and lots of room for musical interpretation. Many swing scenes run blues classes and late-night blues rooms alongside their Lindy Hop nights. Read our full guide.

Non-profit Edinburgh swing group with weekly Balboa, blues/shag and Lindy classes, Balboa and St Louis Shag workshops, and live-music socials. We list 8 of their sessions, running on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. See everything from Edinbop.