by Degen Pener
Undergarments: Get ready to unleash the exhibitionist within. One of the most fun parts of swing dancing can be showing off a chic or shocking item of lingerie. In fact, that’s one reason to find a skirt that really twirls. For a basic outfit, consider wearing a pair of vintage seamed stockings (dead-stock is still fairly easy to find) with a garter belt, or a girdle with garter straps. “It all depends on whether you want to show your knickers or not. The more modest girl might wear a slip,” says Annamarie Firley of Revamp (which, under the label Dark Garden, makes innovative garter belts with two extra straps to help hold up the stockings of even the most athletic dancers). But even if you don’t want to show off, it’s fun “dressing vintage inside and out,” adds Firley.
Other possibilities include tap pants, flouncy crinolines, fishnets, and fifties Betty Page-style bullet bras. At the wild and popular Monsters of Swing camp in Ventura every spring, styles get even more outrageous. The brashest women have brought down the house wearing leopard garters, panties with shiny blue polka dots, and once even a pair that read “Hi, Lee,” a surprise message for festival organizer Lee Moore of the Flyin’ Lindy Hoppers.
Hollywood-style dancers and instructors Sylvia Skylar and Erik Robison at Swing Dance Catalina.(LISA C. BOREL)
CHAPTER 7
A night on the Town: The City-by-City Guide
From the local club to far-flung spots from Sweden to Singapore, swing is everywhere. Arranged alphabetically by state, followed by international entries, here’s the most comprehensive list so far of where the coolest places are to dance and hang out with fellow Lindy fans, who the swing dance teachers are in your city (instructors will often have varying specialties; make sure to inquire before you sign up for a class), plus which Web pages to check for the most up-to-date listings of area swing events. (My apologies to those clubs and instructors who aren’t on the list. In some cases, clubs have been selected based on longevity and popularity. For certain cities, just a Web site is listed.)
Before heading out to a club, it’s recommended that you call ahead. Nights and locations change. (Bars also aren’t always consistent about supporting swing nights since dancers don’t drink very much.) Better yet, check those Web pages religiously. If you give them your e-mail address, the most organized sites will send out weekly notices detailing upcoming swing events. Keep on swinging!
United States
ARIZONA
Phoenix-Scottsdale Area
NIGHTSPOTS
Backstage
7373 Scottsdale Mall
Scottsdale
602-949-1697
Call for details
The Bash
230 Fifth Street at Ash
Tempe
602-966-8200
Swing three nights a week, with a DJ on Tuesdays, live music on Thursdays and Saturdays
Bobby McGee’s
7000 East Shea
Scottsdale
602-998-5591
Lessons and DJ on Tuesdays
The Rhythm Room
1019 East Indian School Road
Phoenix
602-265-4842
Long-running swing events; call for nights
Rockin’ Horse
7136 East Stetson
Scottsdale
602-949-0992
Live music and lessons Wednesday through Saturday, age 18+
DANCE CLASSES
Steve Conrad, cofounder of the Arizona Lindy Hop Society, and Aaryn Green
888-494-8932 (within Arizona)
Paul Maranto, cofounder of the Arizona Lindy Hop Society, and Kristi Bullock
602-222-9493
WEB SITES
www.azls.com
Homepage of the Arizona Lindy Hop
Society, with statewide listings
www.rhythmandmoves.com
Paul Maranto’s Web site on the swing
scene in the Phoenix area
www.lauricon.com/lindycircle
Steve Conrad’s Web site for Lindy events
Tucson
NIGHTSPOTS
Club Congress
311 East Congress
520-622-8848
Books live bands; call for nights
Rialto Theater
318 East Congress
520-740-0126
Books swing bands approximately once a month
DANCE CLASSES
Irene Stojanov and Brian Fabig
602-263-7553
WEB SITE
www.azstarnet.com/~lstrojny
West Coast swing site also provides info on Lindy in the area
CALIFORNIA
Fresno
WEB SITE
www.hepcentral.com
www.webfresno.com/swinglink/
Guides to events in the Fresno area
Los Angeles Area
NIGHTSPOTS
Bobby McGee’s
200 South State College Boulevard
Brea
714-529-1998
Great old-timers and youngsters mixer
with DJ music; call for nights
Carillo Recreation Center
100 East Carrillo
Santa Barbara
805-569-1952
Thrown by renowned instructors Jonathan Bixby and Sylvia Sykes, this dance is held every first and third Friday of the month (with free lesson)
Coconut Club
Beverly Hilton
9876 Wilshire Boulevard
310-285-1358
Great bands and dancing on Saturdays
Conga Room
5364 Wilshire Boulevard
323-656-8363
(Swing Set hotline)
Heidi Richman’s Wednesday-night Swing Set dance
The Derby
4500 Los Feliz Boulevard
323-663-8979
LA’s premier swing nightclub offers live music every night of the week in the gorgeous building once occupied by the famous Brown Derby
Memories
1074 North Tustim Avenue
Anaheim
714-630-9233
Swing dancing Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and late on Saturdays in this forties-style supper club
Nicholby’s
404 East Main Street
Ventura
805-653-2320
Home turf of the Flyin’ Lindy Hoppers; Wednesday swing nights
Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association
Fellowship Hall
997 East Walnut (in back of Lutheran Church)
Pasadena 626-799-5689
Long-running event held on Saturday; no age limit
Rhino Room
7979 Center
Huntington Beach
714-892-3316
Wednesday swing nights with lessons and live music
Satin Ballroom
Veterans Memorial Building
4117 Overland Avenue
Culver City
310-358-6935
Hundreds of swingers boogie once a month on a seven-thousand-square-foot floor
Twin Palms
101 West Green Street
Pasadena
626-577-2567
All-ages dance on Sundays
DANCE CLASSES
Jonathan Bixby and Sylvia Sykes Santa Barbara
http://www.reson.com/dance/tj&s.htm
805-569-1952
Kim Clever and David Frutos
805-641-3676
Flyin’ Lindy Hoppers
Terri Moore
Ventura
www.flyinlindyhoppers.com
805-643-3166
Rusty Frank and Peter Flahiff
Swing Shift and On Tap!
818-753-7968
Steven Mitchell
818-468-9995
Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association
Erin and Tami Stevens
http://home.earthlink.net/~pbda1
626-799-5689
Sylvia Skylar and Erik Robison
213-389-6691
Audrey Wilson
&nbs
p; Irvine, Orange County
http://home.earthlink.net/~audreydancin/
714-551-3443
WEB SITES
http://home.earthlink.net/~margiekate/swingspots.html
Margie Cormier’s super-comprehensive Southern California Lindy Society homepage
www.nocturne.com/swing/swing.shtml
A cool guide to Los Angeles after dark
http://welcome.to/laswing
This LA guide offers club listings, links, and a music and book store
Riverside-San Bernardino
WEB SITE
www.pe.net/~jstairs/
Riverside Station’s guide to inland south
California swing
Sacramento
WEB SITE
www. midtownswing.com
The capital’s swing guide
San Diego Area
NIGHTSPOTS
Belly Up
143 South Cedros
Solana Beach
619-481-9022
Occasional Friday and Saturday happy hour with swing music
Cannibal Bar
Catamaran Hotel
3999 Mission Boulevard
Pacific Beach
619-539-8650
Hops on most Wednesdays with live
music (usually Big Time Operator)
Characters Bar and Grill
La Jolla Marriott
4240 La Jolla Village Drive
619-597-6394
Saturdays with a big dance floor
The Flame
3780 Park Boulevard
619-295-4163
Mondays with free lessons
Papa Jack’s
502 Fourth Avenue at Island
619-696-7272
Swing on Sunday nights with live music
The Rocket Club
3094 El Cajon Boulevard
North Park
619-447-7247
Spacious all-ages club features live music either Friday or Saturday, DJ on casual Tuesdays
Tio Leo’s
5302 Napa Street
Bay Park/University of San Diego
619-542-0562
Rockabilly swing nights Thursdays plus occasional live shows
DANCE CLASSES
Swing Time San Diego
Meeshi Sumayao
619-271-7061
Emily Belt
619-677-0353
Jamie and Elisha Exon
760-734-4875
Jon Costa
760-720-0491
Elizabeth O’Grady
760-633-1510
WEB SITES
www.swingtimesd.com
Web site for Swing Time San Diego—complete guide to venues, classes, and other events
www.anyswinggoes.com
San Diego-based on-line swing magazine
www.angelfire.com/ca/SDLindyHop
San Diego Lindy Hop Society homepage
San Francisco Area
NIGHTSPOTS
Allegro Ballroom
5855 Christie Avenue
Emeryville
510-655-2888
Call for details
Bimbo’s 365 Club
1025 Columbus Avenue
415-474-0365
This club’s occasional swing nights are worth waiting for; it’s got an amazing dance floor
Café Cocomo
650 Indiana Street
415-824-6910
This small club in Potrero Hill offers classes and bands on Wednesdays
Café du Nord
2170 Market Street
415-861-5016
The home turf of singer Lavay Smith; call for details
Club Deluxe
1509 Haight Street
415-552-6949
Small art deco lounge where the neoswing movement first took off
Cocoanut Grove
400 Beach Street
Santa Cruz
831-423-2053
Call for information
DNA Lounge
375 Eleventh Street
415-626-1409
Saturday night’s Swinging with Spencer in the Ultra Lounge draws the hard-core scenesters
Hi-Ball Lounge
473 Broadway
415-397-9464
The swankest spot in North Beach and San Francisco’s only six-night-a-week swing club; offers great classes too
330 Ritch
330 Ritch Street
415-522-9558
Wednesday night classes
Top of the Mark
Mark Hopkins Hotel
999 California Street
415-392-3434
Catch the best views of the city at this recently renovated club; lessons on Tuesdays
DANCE CLASSES
Broadway Studios
435 Broadway
415-291-0333
Paul Overton and Sharon Ashe
The International Center
50 Oak Street
415-626-0255
Metronome Ballroom
1830 Seventeenth Street
415-252-9000
Michael Marangio and Persephone
Shagtime Dance Instruction
www.zootsuitswank.com
510-528-7858
Micah Jacobson and Jena Chalmers
1-800-97-MICAH
Rob van Haaren and Diane Thomas
Swing Central
650-367-9464
Belinda Ricklefs and Ken Watanabe East Bay
[email protected]
510-893-1519
WEB SITES
www.eswing.com
The best events calendar for northern California and beyond
www.lindylist.com
Weekly listings of dances and band appearances
www.maybe.com/swingside
An opinionated guide to a week in the life of Bay Area swing
COLORADO
Denver
NIGHTSPOTS
Bluebird Theater
3317 East Colfax Avenue
303-322-2308
Call for listing of swing events
Mercury Café
2199 California
303-294-9281
Swings on Thursdays and Sundays with local bands, DJ on Tuesdays
Ninth Avenue West
99 West Ninth Avenue
303-572-8006
Swing and supper club has featured many of the country’s best bands; call for details
DANCE CLASSES
Matthew Donalen
303-382-6997
James Glader
www.allswingevents.com
303-861-8094
Victor Ward
303-280-1807
Russell Enloe
303-733-2237
Karen Lee Dance Studio
303-825-1116
Marcy and Keith Hellman
Contact c/o Mercury Café
303-294-9258
WEB SITES
www.swingcolorado.com
Good listing of weekly events plus in-depth coverage of clubs in and around Denver
www.oneimage.com/~ dswing
Another source for swing info in the Mile High City
Fort Collins
DANCE CLASSES
Eden Ellman and Diane Montgomery
970-493-3718 or 970-493-3741
WEB SITES
www.jivecats.com
Site for Fort Collins swing dancers
http://lamar.colostate.edu/~ swing
Homepage for Colorado State University swing club
CONNECTICUT
NIGHTSPOTS
Cinedrome 360 Nightclub
Foxwoods Resort and Casino
Route 2 near Norwich
860-312-4231
Live music and dancing on Sundays; age
21+ only
Connecticut Swing Dance Society
AMC Hall
University of New Haven
420 Orange Avenue
West Haven
203-458-6772 or 203-985-1112
&nbs
p; Hartford Swing Dance
West Hartford Town hall
50 South Main Street
West Hartford
860-649-0482
Live music and dancing the first Friday of the month
Shoreline Swing Dance Society
East Lyme Community Center
Society Road
East Lyme
860-739-0697
www.havetodance.com/shorelineswing
Live music and dancing the third Saturday of every month
Wethersfield American Legion Hall
275 Main Street
Wethersfield
860-563-8723
Thursday dances, plus Swing Jam fourth Saturday of the month
DANCE CLASSES
Jane Dumont aka Jitterbug Jane
Hartford area and also New Haven
www.havetodance.com/danceworks
860-267-0613
WEB SITES
http://www.havetodance.com/dancec.thtml
Dance venues and instructors throughout the state
www.havetodance.com/hartfordswing
Jane Dumont’s weekly listings
www.ctswing.org
Homepage of the Connecticut Swing
Dance Society
FLORIDA
Melbourne