Swing Warm-Up: Bounce, Kick Ball Change and Triple Step

A solo warm-up built on the basic elements of swing: the bounce, triple step, rock step and kick ball change, linked with joint mobility. It prepares the ankles, knees and hips and helps students feel the swing rhythm before partner dancing.

How to play

1. Gentle bounce in place with a knee bend on every beat, plus shoulder mobility (2 min).
2. Triple step in place and traveling, counting 1-and-2, 3-and-4 (2 min).
3. Rock step and kick ball change, alternating sides (2 min).
4. An eight-count sequence linking everything, with claps on 2 and 4 (2 min).

Rules

• The bounce is gentle: the heels barely leave the floor.
• Keep the back tall and eyes forward.
• No partner contact, with space all around.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: marks the bounce and triple step with the shoulders and hands.
• Visual impairment: a classmate describes each step and taps their shoulder on count 1.
• Overweight: keeps the heels down and takes short steps.

Learning goals

• Prepare lower-body joints for dancing.
• Feel the pulse and syncopation of swing.
• Review the base steps of lindy hop.

Equipment for a class of 25

• speaker: 1

Teacher tip

Use swing music around 120 BPM. If you see stiffness, stick with the bounce before moving on.

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