Swing dancing, Balboa, and Lindy Hop in Los Angeles and Orange County
Back in November 2021, the Big Butter Jazz Band played an awesome gig at Ivy Station near the Venice Metro stop in Culver City. This was a really great event with lots of dancers showing up to picnic, plus a…
In a welcome sign that things are truly opening up, the Original Farmers Market on Fairfax in mid-city Los Angeles has announced their “Summer Sounds on the Plaza” series with acts performing on Thursdays and Fridays 5-7PM from May 27…
Organizers behind the Cicada Club, Camp Hollywood, and other venues are starting to announce the first new Swing dance events since the start of the pandemic, with the requirement that patrons show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. While the vast majority…
The Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association has been giving dance lessons since 1983. Sisters Erin and Tami Stevens have taught thousands of people how to swing dance (including me!) So, as the pandemic dragged on, I was wondering how PBDA and…
Sarah Breck posted on the SwingDance.LA Facebook page today that she and Dax Hock are selling the Lindy Loft dance studio along with almost everything in it including the hardwood floors, sound system, mirrors, chandeliers, etc.. She cited COVID as…
In this era of COVID-19, I feel like partner dancing will probably be one of the last activities that will resume in a way that we remember it. It’s hard to imagine a worse activity in a pandemic: physical touch…
The COVID-19 shutdowns are a huge challenge to the livelihoods of our local and worldwide musicians, who’ve had nearly all of their gigs canceled. And, it’s a bummer for us fans who miss hearing the great music they make. So,…
Guest Post by Jack Malmstrom I’m very grateful to Brian Shim for inviting me to share information about a new law that prohibits many workers from being independent contractors and may threaten our live music scene. Musicians invented the “gig”…
Dean Mora and his Orchestra played in front of a packed house at the Cicada Club’s New Year’s Eve “Eve” Party on Monday night. Dean’s band, “Mora’s Modern Rhythmists” was the Monday night house band at the Derby starting in…
On Friday, July 5th, the last Vintage Rhythm Night was held at Dax Hock and Sarah Breck’s Lindy Loft in Downtown Los Angeles. The sold-out farewell event was headlined by Jonathan Stout’s Grand Slam Sextet and Dave Stuckey and the…
I was shocked and saddened to learn today that the Lindy Loft will be closing on July 30th. Dax Hock and Sarah Breck, owners of the Lindy Loft, made the surprise announcement by email this morning. Here it is: Hello…
One of the organizers of Swingtronic at Pour Vous has informed me that turnout will be evaluated this Wednesday March 20th and Wednesday April 3rd to determine if Swing dancing is “worth keeping” there. (There will be no event on…
Swing dancing has returned to Clifton’s after a brief hiatus, to the relief of many Swing dancers. I waited for two consecutive weekends of Swing dancing there before publishing this, just to be sure it was true! Many Swing dancers,…
Instructors David Stockin and Barbara Yeh have revived Swing dancing at SOHO Dance LA, located just east of the 405 and north of Santa Monica Blvd. It will be happening every 3rd Sunday of the month, making it one of…
UPDATE 3/8/2019: It was announced on the Clifton’s Irregular Regulars page that Swing dancing is back at Clifton’s! Sailor Mike will be DJ-ing tonight with The Fabus Four featuring Natalie Mendoza playing tomorrow. Let’s hope it lasts! Original story below.…
In a surprising and disappointing development, Shesha and Nikki Marvin announced yesterday that they are being forced to close the newly-opened ATOMIC Ballroom Fullerton effective today due to the landlord transitioning the lease to the CF Dance Academy, the children’s…
3/3/2019 UPDATE: The Cicada has been closed for a week for filming (something that occurs frequently there). Unfortunately, I don’t know the fate of the free Swing dance nights with Jack’s Cats after the filming. There seems to be some…
On Thursday, October 25th, LindyGroove in Pasadena had its annual Haunted Halloween Ball and it was EPIC! Granted, LindyGroove’s Halloween parties are always good, with amazing decorations, good music, a huge turnout, and most of all, over-the-top incredible costumes.…
I really like the energy in this 1956 clip from Don’t Knock the Rock featuring Bill Haley and the Comets performing Rip it Up. The only thing is, please don’t try these moves on the social dance floor! These are…
OK, last Camp Hollywood, video for now, I promise! This routine by LA Varsity Shag came in third place but many thought it should have been first! What do you think? – Brian