Swing Dancing in SF!

Now that I'm fully hooked on swing dancing, here are my recommendations for dancing in San Francisco.

Monday Night:
There is an awesome intermediate Lindy lesson at the Metronome Ballroom from 8-9, followed by an advanced Lindy lesson from 9-10pm. It's in their "dance party" studio around the corner from their main studio. They offer lots of other classes too. Here's their Lindy Hop calendar.

Here's a quick video of some new moves we just learned at Camp Hollywood 2008:


Tuesday night:
If you're already a good dancer and just want to dance to live music, I recommend the Verdi Club on Tuesday nights. For that matter, if you're just learning they have great lessons. I pretty much learned to dance at the Verdi club. They have monthly series in beginning Lindy hop (8-9pm), intermediate Lindy Hop (7-8pm), beginning Balboa (8-9pm), and intermediate Balboa (7-9pm). They also have a drop-in beginning east-coast swing class every Tuesday from 9-9:30. Then Stompy Jones (my favorite swing band) starts up around 9:30 or 10 and plays until midnight with one break. DJ'd music goes from midnight until the wee hours (3am?). Alternatively, some of the best lessons in the country are taught by Carla Heiney & her crew at "Swing Central" aka Redwood City Swing. I've taken a few lessons there, but most of my friends live in SF and dance at Verdi, so I rarely make it down to Redwood City. After their lessons they have DJ'd music that probably lasts until 12 or so.

Wednesday night:
I generally don't dance on Wednesday nights, but I hear that Tin Cup Serenade plays at Le Colonial on Wednesday. And for that matter, Lavay Smith & her Red Hot Skillet Lickers plays at the Top of the Mark on Weds as well. I assume both are at least decent bands to dance to, and great bands to listen to.

Thursday night:
Thurdsay Nights I generally start the evening at the 920 Special which is at the Russian Center on Sutter at Divisadero. They have great lessons, followed by slower DJ'd music from 920 until ??? Huge venue, younger crew, and pretty casual (jeans, t-shirts, etc.) I start with an intermediate Lindy lesson at 7:20pm at the "920 Special". They also have beginning lessons, and occasionally advanced lessons. I had several friends who stay and dance at the 920 after the lessons. However after the lesson I generally go to the Top of the Mark to dance to Stompy Jones again. They play from 7:30 until 11:30 or 12, but I (and most of the dancers) usually get there around 9pm. There are generally only 8-14 dancers there (vs. 100+ at Verdi), but it's great fun!

You can also go to Le Colonial on Thursday's as well. There are many more young people 25-40 at LC, but the dance floor is really really small, so I don't go very often. But I have heard good things. On Thursday's & Sunday's the Martini Brothers play, and on Wednesday Tin Cup Serenade plays.

Friday Night:
I tend not to dance on Friday nights, but I hear that the Metronome (now Cheryl Burke Dance) has a fun 20's charleston classed followed by a "swing dance party". It's DJ'd music, but the instructors there are really fun, so I bet the vibe is great. I know I really enjoyed the 2 Lindy classes I took there last night.

Alternatively, in the early evening DJ Raul spins at Le Colonial from 5:30 to 9:30 pm or so.

There's also "Blues Dancing". Much slower music, and much less structure, but it can be fun. We have Friday Night Blues in SF, which consists of a class followed by DJ'd music. Blues dancing is sometimes done fairly... um.... close to your partner. Check out FNB's site and videos. It's great for helping your connection with your partner and leading & following to slower music, if you're into it, but it's not for everyone.

Weekends... not sure about Saturday PM, but Sunday-day there is "Lindy in the Park" in Golden Gate Park. I've never been, but I hear it's fun. And Sunday August 19, 2008 is their 11th year anniversary which should be a fun event.

Lastly, there's always the Lindy List for more events, etc. in the SF bay.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Here's a map of many of the SF venues:

View Larger Map