About
Sway Dance Chicago offers group classes in Salsa/Bachata and Swing at starter, Level 2, and intermediate levels, as well as Dance Fitness, Build Your Own classes, Performance Classes, One-Hour Dance Workshops, wedding dance lessons, and private dance lessons. Salsa/Bachata options include Salsa/Bachata Starter, Salsa/Bachata Level 2, and Intermediate Salsa/Bachata, and Swing options include Swing Starter, Swing Level 2, and Intermediate Swing. The program also offers a dance community with people of all ages, backgrounds, and dance histories.
• Schedule: Six-week sessions for Salsa/Bachata Starter, Salsa/Bachata Level 2, Swing Starter, Swing Level 2, and Build Your Own classes; ongoing Intermediate Salsa/Bachata and Intermediate Swing classes; one-time Dance Fitness classes most Saturdays from 9:00am–10:00am; ongoing Performance Classes on Sundays between 10:00am–3:00pm; and a One-Hour Dance Workshop held one Saturday per month from 10:00am–11:00am
• Price: Salsa/Bachata Starter, Salsa/Bachata Level 2, Swing Starter, Swing Level 2, and Build Your Own classes are $75 per person for each six-week class; Intermediate Salsa/Bachata and Intermediate Swing are $130 for 10 hours per person; Dance Fitness one-time classes are $10 per person; Performance Classes are $130 for 10 hours; the One-Hour Dance Workshop costs $16 per person or $130 for ten hours per person
Salsa/Bachata Starter and Salsa/Bachata Level 2 each run as six-week classes, with specific topics in Level 2 such as Open Break and Opposite Hand Connections, and Cross Body Leads and Two Hand Connections. Intermediate Salsa/Bachata is offered as an ongoing class for 10 hours per person. Swing Starter and Swing Level 2 are also six-week classes, with Level 2 covering themes like Tucks, Turns and Drapes, and Turning Combinations, and Intermediate Swing is an ongoing 10-hour class per person.
Dance Fitness is offered as one-time classes, and the One-Hour Dance Workshop runs for one hour as a way to sample a new style before a six-week session. The Build Your Own class is a six-week class where participants choose dance styles with at least six friends, and a 10-hour punch card can be used for one-hour workshops, fitness classes, heels class, intermediate classes, or performance classes. The studio also offers performance-focused options through Performance Classes and PERFORMANCE Dance Classes.
Sway Dance Chicago describes its instruction as casual but quality, with sessions kept relaxed, fun, and productive. The stated goal is to help students bring the love of movement into their lives in whatever way works best for their learning style and to give students an opportunity to let go of their hectic lives for a few hours and fall in love with dancing. One testimonial from V.M. describes Sway as providing a relaxed and friendly learning environment free of stress and pretension of many traditional studios.
Sway Dance Chicago was founded and opened in 2010 by Teresa Swanson, who is the owner. The leadership team also includes Maggie as Admin Manager. Teresa’s choreography was chosen twice to represent Illinois State University at the National College Dance Festival, and she received the Dance Magazine Award for Best Student Choreographer for her piece “Siren,” performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
The teaching staff includes Sophia, who has performed in many show dance routines, assisted with choreography, and competed in formation competitions. Aynsley has training in ballet, jazz, and hip hop from instructors at Joffrey Ballet, Gallery 37, and After School Matters (ASM), holds a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Criminology, and will be attending a doctoral program in Occupational Therapy. Alejandro has been a member of Tierra Colombiana Folkloric Dance Company for over 15 years. Teresa has studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Modern her entire life and teaches Latin, Ballroom, and Swing. Alex studied dance at Carthage College, has experience in ballet, jazz, tap, salsa, and bachata, and has choreographed showcases including “Points of Departure” and “Away From the Mirror,” as well as student productions of “Legally Blonde: The Musical.”
Sway Dance Chicago is a local, woman-owned business and notes that supporting the studio supports a local, woman-owned business. The studio offers dance studio gift certificates for private lessons and group classes and has three private rooms available for events such as parties, showers, rehearsals, weddings, and more, with space rental available. For classes, participants are asked to bring enthusiasm, comfortable clothing that allows freedom of movement, clean shoes that stay attached to the foot (no flip flops), a water bottle, and a positive attitude ready to learn and have fun.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
• Schedule: Six-week sessions for Salsa/Bachata Starter, Salsa/Bachata Level 2, Swing Starter, Swing Level 2, and Build Your Own classes; ongoing Intermediate Salsa/Bachata and Intermediate Swing classes; one-time Dance Fitness classes most Saturdays from 9:00am–10:00am; ongoing Performance Classes on Sundays between 10:00am–3:00pm; and a One-Hour Dance Workshop held one Saturday per month from 10:00am–11:00am
• Price: Salsa/Bachata Starter, Salsa/Bachata Level 2, Swing Starter, Swing Level 2, and Build Your Own classes are $75 per person for each six-week class; Intermediate Salsa/Bachata and Intermediate Swing are $130 for 10 hours per person; Dance Fitness one-time classes are $10 per person; Performance Classes are $130 for 10 hours; the One-Hour Dance Workshop costs $16 per person or $130 for ten hours per person
Salsa/Bachata Starter and Salsa/Bachata Level 2 each run as six-week classes, with specific topics in Level 2 such as Open Break and Opposite Hand Connections, and Cross Body Leads and Two Hand Connections. Intermediate Salsa/Bachata is offered as an ongoing class for 10 hours per person. Swing Starter and Swing Level 2 are also six-week classes, with Level 2 covering themes like Tucks, Turns and Drapes, and Turning Combinations, and Intermediate Swing is an ongoing 10-hour class per person.
Dance Fitness is offered as one-time classes, and the One-Hour Dance Workshop runs for one hour as a way to sample a new style before a six-week session. The Build Your Own class is a six-week class where participants choose dance styles with at least six friends, and a 10-hour punch card can be used for one-hour workshops, fitness classes, heels class, intermediate classes, or performance classes. The studio also offers performance-focused options through Performance Classes and PERFORMANCE Dance Classes.
Sway Dance Chicago describes its instruction as casual but quality, with sessions kept relaxed, fun, and productive. The stated goal is to help students bring the love of movement into their lives in whatever way works best for their learning style and to give students an opportunity to let go of their hectic lives for a few hours and fall in love with dancing. One testimonial from V.M. describes Sway as providing a relaxed and friendly learning environment free of stress and pretension of many traditional studios.
Sway Dance Chicago was founded and opened in 2010 by Teresa Swanson, who is the owner. The leadership team also includes Maggie as Admin Manager. Teresa’s choreography was chosen twice to represent Illinois State University at the National College Dance Festival, and she received the Dance Magazine Award for Best Student Choreographer for her piece “Siren,” performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
The teaching staff includes Sophia, who has performed in many show dance routines, assisted with choreography, and competed in formation competitions. Aynsley has training in ballet, jazz, and hip hop from instructors at Joffrey Ballet, Gallery 37, and After School Matters (ASM), holds a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Criminology, and will be attending a doctoral program in Occupational Therapy. Alejandro has been a member of Tierra Colombiana Folkloric Dance Company for over 15 years. Teresa has studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Modern her entire life and teaches Latin, Ballroom, and Swing. Alex studied dance at Carthage College, has experience in ballet, jazz, tap, salsa, and bachata, and has choreographed showcases including “Points of Departure” and “Away From the Mirror,” as well as student productions of “Legally Blonde: The Musical.”
Sway Dance Chicago is a local, woman-owned business and notes that supporting the studio supports a local, woman-owned business. The studio offers dance studio gift certificates for private lessons and group classes and has three private rooms available for events such as parties, showers, rehearsals, weddings, and more, with space rental available. For classes, participants are asked to bring enthusiasm, comfortable clothing that allows freedom of movement, clean shoes that stay attached to the foot (no flip flops), a water bottle, and a positive attitude ready to learn and have fun.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
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