The Story of Lindygroove on its 25th Anniversary, as Told by Ben Yau

Yesterday, award-winning Swing dancer, instructor, and promoter Ben Yau posted a touching history of Lindygroove on its 25th anniversary on Facebook. I thought he perfectly captured what Lindygroove meant to me and so many other people in the Southern California Swing dance scene, and the huge impact it had.

So, with his permission, I’m re-posting it here in case you’re not on Facebook or didn’t see the post. Enjoy! – Brian

For my lovely dance friends (and yes for my non-dance friends too!) a story about the “little dance venue that could”… LindyGroove ❤️ who celebrates 25 years this Thursday

(so yes also a plug to go to the LindyGroove 25th anniversary party ..this Thursday 5/7/26!)

Okie dokie ..story time … 🥰 about a venue that Sheri and I hold dear .. that has been a huge part of our lives.

Way, way back, at the turn of the century (ooh Y2K .. remember that?), anyway, way back when, a guy named Lance started learning swing dancing (specifically this thing called “Lindy Hop”) via private lessons from this great dancer, Doug. Lance quickly fell in love with Lindy, so much so that he then started taking regular private lessons from this other amazing Lindy dancer, Debbie. And boy did Lance’s passion for Lindy just blossom. Like exponentially!

And just like that: he decided he wanted to rent out a hall once a week… just so he’d have a place to dance, for him and his group of friends, and for really whoever else wanted to come. He wanted to share his love of Lindy to anyone who wanted to try it. Everyone was welcome.

He decided to call it LindyGroove.

Lance once told me that when he started this venue, he thought maybe 20 or 30 people might start attending regularly. He wasn’t all too sure about the numbers, but he said it didn’t matter much, he just wanted somewhere to dance every week. ❤️

Suffice it to say, as the years went on, this little venue that could grew into something much much MUCH larger, and one of the most well-known (if not *THE* most well-known) weekly dance venues in the world.

Along the way, he met his wife Vicky.❤️🙏 And together running LindyGroove, it became a home for many local dancers, and a beacon to the rest of the dancers around the world. Dancers from out of town knew that when they came to the LA area, visiting LindyGroove on Thursdays was a “must”.

Sure, there were lean times also. Months of thin attendance, people wondering if this “swing dance fad” would last. Yet through it all, this little venue just kept going. After all, Lance’s goal was still simple: really just wanted a place to dance every week, and a place to share his love of Lindy. Every Thursday night. No matter what.

And then as the years went on, LindyGroove eventually growing and growing, it withstood the test of time. To a point where it was attracting 250+ dancers a week in its pre-COVID heydey.

Oh.. but then COVID hit.

For a dance built on human connection, what was a venue to do?
Lance and Vicky’s answer: Whatever it could.

It was during COVID that LindyGroove and its dedicated team found a way to keep people connected: reaching remotely into our homes, week after week, with its own unique “social dance”, giving us dancers a sense of normalcy and connection when we needed it most. LindyGroove kept being LindyGroove, a place that would be there every Thursday for us, no matter what.

And today?

I think Lance would be so proud to see that LindyGroove is still around, and at its core, that LindyGroove still carries forward that same mission that he envisioned: A place where friends familiar and new can go every Thursday. And bask in a wonderful energy … where we can laugh, talk, connect, and of course dance ❤️❤️

On a personal note, during COVID and after COVID, Sheri and I stopped going out dancing regularly. Maybe … once every three months? Because I tell ya, three growing kids with lots of youth sports and extracurriculars, it can definitely sap the schedule (and the energy gas tank!)
But at the same time, there was always something comforting in knowing that LindyGroove was always there whenever we felt in the mood to go dancing.

And I think a lot of people in this community feel that. Whatever is going on in our lives, it’s comforting knowing that LindyGroove is always there. Every Thursday. Like clockwork.

LindyGroove isn’t just a dance. It’s a familiar constant. A rock.

So this brings me to … THIS THURSDAY: LindyGroove celebrates its 25th anniversary .. A milestone! And I hope you consider coming out to celebrate and support this amazing venue that could!

To mark the big occasion, one of the best swing bands in the world (and the very best, in my opinion ☺️), Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five, feat. Hilary Alexander, will be playing live!

So hey … come on out! 🥳🥳 whether a longtime vet or new to dance, it will be a great night of dance and celebration, so hope you can make it! Come and soak in some amazing energy, and let’s have some fun on that dance floor!
Hope to see you out there! 😍

(but hey, if you can’t make it… Don’t worry. LindyGroove will be there next week. And the week after. Just like it always has been. 🙏🙏❤️)

– Ben Yau, 5/4/2026