The Hep Cat Club
The Hep Cat Club is a relaxed evening where you can enjoy the atmosphere of the jazz era - the dancing, the music and the buzz.
The Hep Cat Club is every Monday at The Twisted Pepper at 54 Middle Abbey Street.
27th February – OSCAR’s SPECIAL come dressed for the red carpet, or armed with your autograph book to see who’s picked up this year’s SWING OSCARS.
The Hep Cat Club swings to fabulous music from the jazz era while the dance floor sways to the oscillating rhythms of the swing dancers and Lindy Hoppers! A relaxed night featuring beginners Swing (Lindy Hop) dance class. Regular guest DJs playing a range of fabulous swing, jazz, jump jive, blues and lounge music. The joint jumps! Entry is €8 for the classes, or just €5 after 9pm.
The evening kicks off with a Level 1 Beginners Swing class at 8.00pm – this is a drop in class which means that you can start when you want. You don't need any experience to join, and you can come on your own or with a partner. Each time we start from scratch, taking you through the basic rhythms and show you some cool moves to get you dancing. The cost of the class is included in the €8 entry price for The Hep Cat Club. There's no need to book your place.
Level 2 Fast Beginners start on Monday 5th March. You're hooked! You've at least 2 months of Level 1 under your belt, and are ready to increase your pace of learning. You're going to enjoy combining moves and rhythms and feeling the thrill of dancing with style.
There is a Level 3 Improvers class at 7.00pm. Sharpen up your steps, polish your styling and get a few more new Swing moves and rhythms under your belt. You've been dancing swing for at least 9 months and are keen to develop your dancing. Again, the price of the class is included in the €8 for the whole night.
There will also be two further classes - one at 7pm and one at 8pm. There'll be a range of swing era dances to choose from - jazz, tap, charleston, blues, balboa. Again, these classes are €8 (or do two for the price of one!)
February 8pm til 9pm – Blues! Is the winter getting you down? Then learn to dance the Blues! No experience required – just a laid back attitude and a love of the music! This class will be with Gill and Gordan in the basement.
February 7pm til 8pm – Jazz! Inject some style and rhythm into your dancing by learning some of the classic jazz steps from the swing era. Once you’ve tasted it, you’ll be hooked! This class will be with Anita in the basement.
February 9pm til 9.30pm – Level 4: Intermediate Exchange: You’re a Lindy Hopper, and you want to spend time with other dancers, sharing your ideas and practicing technique and moves. Bring something to share! This session will be in the basement.
March 7pm - 8pm - Tap! Feeling inspired by The Artist? Want to learn the difference between a shuffle and a flap? Bring your tap shoes, leather soles or flat slippery shoes for some rhythmic fun!
March 8pm - 9pm - Intermediate Balboa Practice. You love this fast, close and cute dance and want to spend some time polishing the floor with your tootsies.
March 10pm til 10.30pm – Level 4: Intermediate Exchange: You’re a Lindy Hopper, and you want to spend time with other dancers, sharing your ideas and practicing technique and moves. Bring something to share!
Here's what Le Cool magazine have to say about the Hep Cat Club -
"Lads, bust out the Brylcreem; girls, twirl up those Victory rolls and let's hold hands and sashay down to the Hep Cat Club for a cheeky fling around the dancefloor. Twirling, kicking and flicking is back in vogue with jazz and showband influences creeping into music at the moment, getting us moving again after a decade of the almost stationary pump and grind. Don't worry if you don't know your Jitterbug from your Charleston, you can go over all Fred and Ginger with lessons for beginners at 8pm .... The beginners lessons start from scratch every week and the post-lesson extravaganza is where you can really finesse your new skills and advance them by dancing with the seasoned regulars, so hop on down!" Kate Coleman