About Us
South West Swing is a 100% volunteer run not-for-profit swing dance organisation offering opportunities for learning and dancing Lindy Hop and supporting local Jazz musicians since 2014.
Established in 2014 by a couple of passionate Lindy Hoppers, South West Swing has grown into a not-for-profit organisation supporting a diverse swing dance community in Australia's South West.
We are proud to offer a range of activities for our community and anyone interested - from those newly curious to lifelong enthusiasts.
Our community members travel from all over the South West, from Bunbury to Augusta and east to Manjimup. We are proud of our diverse community spanning many ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
Come as you are - you are welcome.
About Lindy Hop
Lindy Hop is a Black American art form born in the late 1920s that evolved alongside the jazz music that was so popular in the same period. It evolved from several dances including the Cakewalk, Breakaway, Texas Tommy and Charleston.
Jazz music and dance are a 'joyous resistance' and 'expression of freedom' borne from hard times, racism, and oppression in the United States.
Jazz greats like Chick Webb, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington performed regularly at ballrooms in New York, like the Savoy. Here, the dance began to develop and evolve right on the social dance floor. Lindy Hop was all about self-expression, individuality, and connection with both the music and your dance partner. In house parties, the air step (or aerials as they are often called today) were incorporated into the dance, wowing audience members with impressive dance moves involving a partner completely leaving the floor in various jumps and flips.
Lindy Hop greats like “Shorty” George Snowden, Frankie Manning, Al Minns, Leon James, Norma Miller, and "Mama Lou" Parks are remembered as some of the founders of the dance, and credited with its development and popularity today.
During the height of its popularity in the 1930s-40s and for years after, professional dance troupes travelled the world performing Lindy Hop, bringing the dance to the world stage and garnering international recognition. Lindy Hop was also a part of several major Hollywood films, the most famous of which was Hellzapoppin' (1941). There's a popular myth that Lindy Hop "died" after World War II, however we know that many prominent dancers throughout the US kept the dance and traditions alive during this time, allowing us to enjoy and celebrate the dance today.
You can learn SO MUCH MORE about the history of Lindy Hop
- Katie Cobalt (Lindy Hop dancer, teacher, performer, and excellent content creator) - History Course and YouTube Channel
- Swungover Blog - Bobby White (another Lindy Hop teacher and performer)
- Lindy Hopper Starter's Guide
Hellzapoppin' - colourised film clip (1941)
A Day at the Races - colourised film clip (1937)
Lindsey
Chairperson
Karen
Vice Chairperson
Linda
Secretary
Jet
Treasurer
The Committee
South West Swing acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet and dance, Wardandi boodja. We pay our respects to elders past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Photos for our website from Red Leopard Photography, Fudz Qazi, and Mark Rotondella. Thank you to these dancers behind the lens.