About
RED ACES DANCE CLUB
Community
We’re a non-profit that was established in 2015 for the love of dance and wanting to bring swing dance to Red Deer. We believe dance and music have the power to bring people together and we’ve watched a community grow and flourish since inception.
We love swing dancing for its playful nature, rich history, and freedom of expression. Most of all, we love the community that grows when people come together to learn, laugh and share the dance floor.
We offer lessons in 6-week sets - 2 sets from September to December and 2 sets from January to April.
Lessons are Wednesday nights and have a 1-hour duration and run from either 7-8pm or 8-9pm. They’re hosted at the Scott Block Theatre in downtown Red Deer.
We teach several different styles of swing dance, predominantly Lindy Hop with some Charleston and Balboa mixed in. Beginner, intermediate and advanced tracks are offered for Lindy Hop. The other dances are offered based on the needs of the group.
A Beginner Lindy Hop lesson set is offered during every 6-week set, so you have many opportunities to join us!
You’ll learn foundational steps, rhythm, musicality, and partner connection, with plenty of room to experiment and make the dance your own. No partner or previous experience is needed. Come as you are, learn at your own pace, and enjoy the process.
Lessons
We host social dances every 3 weeks on either Friday or Saturday evenings. These are typically hosted at the Scott Block Theatre in downtown Red Deer, but the venue can sometimes change. Most dances are DJ’d with recorded music, sometimes with a theme, and a few times per year we’re able to bring in a live band for a special event.
Social dances include a beginner lesson, included in the price of admission, at the start of the evening. Typical timing is as follows:
Doors Open: 7:15pm
Beginner Lesson 7:30-8:30pm
Social Dancing 8:30-11pm
What to expect at a social dance:
$12 entry fee is typical, includes beginner lesson. Admission is more for live bands and special events and will be posted.
It’s social! You may ask anyone to dance regardless of skill level. We have more fun and get better when we dance with more people.
DJ’d tunes with one person running the playlist for an evening. Sometimes there is a special theme and a few times a year we dance to a live band.
Complimentary snacks, feel free to chip a couple bucks in for the next dance.
Social Dances
Lindy Hop is a joyful, energetic partner dance that originated in the African American communities of Harlem, New York, in the late 1920s and 1930s. It flourished at the legendary Savoy Ballroom, which opened in 1926 and welcomed Black and white dancers during an era of widespread racial segregation. Inspired by jazz and big-band swing, dancers developed new steps through rhythm, creativity, and improvisation.
The name “Lindy Hop” is commonly linked to aviator Charles Lindbergh’s famous 1927 transatlantic flight. According to dancer Frankie Manning, Harlem dancer “Shorty” George Snowden popularized the name during a dance marathon.
During the 1930s and early 1940s, Lindy Hop became a defining dance of the Swing Era, fueled by the music of bandleaders such as Chick Webb, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington. Its signature swing-outs, playful footwork, and improvisation allowed partners to connect with the music while expressing their individuality. Frankie Manning, a member of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers from 1934, helped popularize aerials and innovative choreography. The troupe performed internationally and appeared in films, introducing Lindy Hop to audiences far beyond Harlem.
Although Lindy Hop faded from mainstream popularity after the Second World War, its traditions survived through dancers and films. In the 1980s, a new generation of dancers sought out original Lindy Hoppers, and Frankie Manning returned to teaching and performing, helping spark a worldwide revival.
Today, Lindy Hop thrives in dance communities around the world. Its enduring spirit lies in rhythm, improvisation, partnership, and musical connection. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced dancer, every song offers a new opportunity to learn, express yourself, and share the joy of swing.
SWING DANCE
Specifically, Lindy Hop
