ATLAS SOCIAL FAQ
Please also read our Atlas Social page for important cultural and behavioral expectations for all participants.
WHAT IS ATLAS SOCIAL AND WHAT THE HECK DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH HEALTH AND WELLNESS?
Atlas Social is satisfying one of the 3 pillars of health. The 3 pillars according to the World Health Organization (which Dr. Hartwig for the most part doesn't trust) are as follows; Physical Health, Psychological Health, and Social Health Pillars. And according to the WHO these 3 pillars are necessary to achieve a truly healthy life.
Psychologically the partner-based dance known as the Lindy hop helps establish confidence, benevolence, and self-efficacy in socialization for both men and women with regards to friendships and in some cases developing and renewing romantic relationships.
Socially it provides a fun healthy environment to meet new people or develop long term friendships that are meaningful and real. Lindy Hop social dancing was one of the most popular and inclusive social dances starting in 1927 at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem New York and in American society up until the 1960's. It was regaining popularity with return of one of the most important creators of the dance Frankie Manning back in 1984 and was gaining huge popularity until the pandemic of 2019.
Physically Lindy hop is the most intense and high energy partner dancing out of all the ballroom dances and unfortunately it can lead to injuries if the body is not ready to participate in "the Dance". Lindy Hop typically runs between 120 up to 220 beats per minute and thus it is the one of the most effective means to an end when it comes to losing body fat and keeping your cardiovascular system in tip top shape!
DO YOU GIVE DISCOUNTS FOR ATLAS SOCIAL EVENTS FOR AGE OR SERVICE-RELATED GROUPS?
No we do not. However, members of Powerhouse Gym in Stuart, FL do receive a discount and only pay 5 dollars per day for social dancing or classes.
DO YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO DANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN ATLAS SOCIAL EVENTS?
Absolutely not! If you are an experienced dancer or have absolutely no idea what Lindy Hop or East Coast Swing is we want you to come learn how to dance and help others learn the love for "the Dance". The class we host before Social dancing is a "basic drop in class" and is 1 hour in length.
We will be offering offering tiered classes Lindy 1 and later Lindy 2 and 3 but we are trying to get a feel for how many people are interested to learn more advanced dancing and how many people are proficient at the basics of East Coast Swing.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE A DANCE PARTNER TO ATTEND ATLAS SOCIAL EVENTS?
No, you do not need to bring a dance partner and we welcome couples and hope to attract single men and women whether you come alone or if you want to bring 10 friends.
In fact if you are sitting at home alone and you don't come out dancing we at Atlas Health and Wellness would give you a resounding, "shame on you!"
HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO ATTEND ATLAS SOCIAL EVENTS?
We allow all ages to participate in Atlas Social events but require that at least one chaperone accompany all dancers under the age of 18 years old. Chaperones do not have to pay for classes or social dancing unless they are participating in class or cannot resist joining in the fun of social dancing.
DO I HAVE TO DANCE WITH PEOPLE OTHER THAN MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER OR THE PARTNER I BRING TO DANCE CLASS?
Yes, you are attending a social dancing event and we would view your reluctance to dance with other participants as 100% anti-social. So, if you’re concerned about social distancing, insist on knowing the vaccine status of others, or are jealous of your partner dancing with other participants please stay home as this might not be the right culture for you to be a part of.
We do not have a problem with individuals who choose to wear masks for their own protection, but we do not “mandate” any behavior other than being respectful to everyone you dance with.
However, if you are actively sick or feel like you “might” be coming down with something please do not come for classes or social dancing.
DO I HAVE TO WEAR A MASK OR BE VACCINATED TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL DANCING?
Attending class or attending social dancing does not require masking or vaccination. You may wear a mask if you feel inclined to do so and we ask other participants not wearing masks to be respectful of individuals that choose to wear masks as we want everyone to be able to socialize and learn to love “the Dance”.
Regarding Vaccination status. We ask that you refrain from asking anyone about anything related to a participant’s personal medical history during class or during social dancing as this in infringing on the private and protected health care information of others and my violate federal and state regulations (HIPPA). If an individual does not feel “safe” around unvaccinated individuals, we ask that you please stay home and remain safe for as long as said individuals feel unsafe about being out in public.
CAN ANYONE BE A LEAD OR A FOLLOW OR CAN PARTICIPANTS DO BOTH?
During class we ask that you choose either lead or follow for the entire hour of class. During social dancing we ask that you choose to be a lead or a follow only during a given song as there is no such thing as having 2 leads or 2 follows in partner dancing.
We do recommend that participants become proficient in leading or following before attempting to learn the other. In fact, we encourage learning both lead and following roles in the dance as this gives perspective and empathy towards the role you may be less familiar.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TAKE LINDY 1 AND WHEN IS IT OFFERED?
Lindy one is not a class that is paid for at the time of each lesson, but it is paid for in advance of the class which is 6 weeks in length and then restarts again one week after the ending of the last class period. The class costs 120 dollars and is non-refundable if classes are missed. However, the class will be held 2 times a week to ensure participants are able to attend and the classes will be 100% the same each week. We also allow participants to partake in both classes for no additional charge (as some of us need more help than others as was true with Dr. Hartwig).
Lindy 1 class dates and times have yet to be announced but will be available on our website sometime in Mid June 2022.
WHEN WILL LINDY 2 AND 3 BE OFFERED?
Lindy 2 classes will be offered at a later time when Dr. Hartwig feels that his Lindy 1 students are ready for more advancement and Lindy 3 will require testing into and will not be available until 2023 at the earlies and is not available to the public unless you are invited to tryout by the owners of Atlas Health and Wellness for participating in the class as this level of skill is usually for individuals hoping to compete at the State, National, and International levels.