BEYOND THE STEPS

How to Teach Lindy Hop with Integrity

Moves fade. Meaning lasts.
Teach with depth, confidence, and cultural respect.

YOU ALREADY KNOW THE MOVES

YOU MIGHT EVEN BE TEACHING THEM, BUT...

You worry about getting it wrong when talking about history or culture.

You want to give students more than just steps, but feel unsure how.

You know Lindy Hop is more than patterns, but you’re not sure how to share that meaning without misrepresenting.

This course gives you tools (not rules) to plan, teach, and talk about culture with care so your classes feel alive, grounded and unforgettable.

MEET YOUR GUIDE

Odysseus Bailer

Odysseus has been part of the Lindy Hop and Blues dancing scene for over 20 years.

Since 2016, he’s been one of the leading voices calling for a shift in how we approach these dances; away from “just steps” and toward a deeper appreciation of their Black American cultural roots.

A cultural bridge-builder, Odysseus teaches Lindy Hop and Blues through the lens of Black American values, practices, and traditions.

In 2022, he released “A Blueprint For Cultural Inclusion: A Guideline for Instructors Teaching Black American Cultural Music and Dance Forms" — the first document of its kind created as a reference for the Lindy Hop and Blues dance community. This course builds on that work, taking its principles to a new level and transforming them into a guided learning experience for teachers.

YOUR INVESTMENT:

Access to all recorded video lessons

Access to the private learning community with Odysseus for discussion and peer support

Recording of all Live Sessions

4 Live sessions with Odysseus

Extra resources (articles, podcasts, videos) curated by Odysseus

$150 USD

$75 USD

Until September 15th

For only $55 USD, you'll get:

Access to all recorded video lessons

Recording of all Live Sessions

List of sources for further education about Black American Culture

Homework tasks to put into practice what you learn

All course material will be available until October 1st 2026

What others are saying

For me the most important message was that teaching about african american culture and the historical background of the dances is not about beeing perfect. That took a lot of pressure from me and motivated me to put even more of it into my teaching. Before, I also used to talk about it in my classes but I was always worrying that I might have gotten things wrong or did not really understand them, especially as Englich is not my native language. I learnt a lot (mostly from books) about the roots of the values but very few about the significance they had for the people.

-Sandra

Piecing a few things together that had been floating around on my mind. Mostly with the help of the values of Black American Culture spelled out for me - possibly not for the first time - yet in this context in a very concised form and connected to everyday-life history in a way that helped gaining lots of clarity for my dancing and for the Lindy Hop classroom. Also: the repetitiveness of aspects most dear to Odysseus. And YES! the "rants" also helped, they helped understand where frustration can lie today.

-Felicitas

It was great to have a platform where we could ask questions about this topic, which can be sensitive, and the space felt like a safe one to get feedback. I feel more confident now in how to address the elements of black history and culture into my teaching. I think it will make the lindy hop space a better and happier community.

-Olivia

FAQs

What's the Course Curriculum?

Part I: The Power of “I Don’t Know”

We all carry bits and pieces of knowledge—and blind spots too. This first class is about noticing both. You’ll start mapping out what you already know about Lindy Hop, Jazz, Blues, and their cultural roots… and what’s missing.

Part II: Moving Past Excuses
Cultural work can feel daunting, but avoiding it comes at a cost.

Here, we’ll examine the most common excuses instructors use (“students just want fun,” “there’s no time for history”) and unpack why they don’t hold up.

Part III: Shifting Your Mindset When Lesson Planning
Lesson plans aren’t just about counts and moves—they’re about what you choose to highlight. This class is about shifting your mindset so you naturally weave cultural context into your teaching.

Part IV: In the Dance Class
What does it look like to apply these ideas in the actual classroom?

This is where it all comes together. How do you actually bring culture into the room when you’re teaching? This class will help you find natural openings—through rhythm, creativity, individuality, musicality—and give you tools to adapt when you’re working with different student levels and needs.

Is this course only for Lindy Hop teachers?

It’s rooted in Lindy Hop, but Blues and Jazz instructors will also benefit. The focus is on how to teach dance in ways that honor Black American culture, so the lessons are bigger than one style.