Useful links for weekend workshop events

Posted on by Mike Richardson
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Useful links for weekend workshop events

These links are provided only as a service to web users.  Inclusion on this web page or on the Hepcats website Calendar Page does not constitute our approval or endorsement.  If you would a link added (or removed), contact Mike Richardson at 859-420-2426, [email protected].

These lists not intended to be all-inclusive, there may be others I’m not aware of (or just failed to list!).  Check out the Swing Planit web site for info on Lindy Hop and Balboa events all over the world (and even that web site is not all inclusive!).  If you search Google for Lindy Hop or Balboa workshops/events/dances, etc.., make sure you search “Lindy Hop” or “Balboa”, and not “swing dancing”.  If you search “swing dancing”, you’ll get some pretty strange results!

Note:  Caveat emptor!  Hyperbole is rampant and commonplace these days in swing dance event promotion on FB and event web sites:  words and phrases like “awesome”, “amazing”, “coolest ever”, “fabulous”, “incredible”, “super amazing”……are so vastly overused they’ve almost lost any real meaning.  It can be a challenge separating fact from fiction in swing dance event promotion – – so buyer beware!

Note:  this page updated Sep. 26, 2024.  As we get further away from COVID, hopefully more swing dance weekend workshops will get back on the schedule.

National Level Weekend Workshops

  • All Balboa Weekend (ABW), Cleveland, OH.   This is the premier Balboa event in the Balboa swing dance community for live music for Balboa dancing, workshop classes, and competitions.  This is one of the best weekend events for swing dancers that want to learn and improve their Balboa, and attend a fun event!  If you are serious about your Balboa, you should attend this annual event on a regular basis – it’s that good!  Normally the third weekend in June.  Note: no ABW for 2020-2024….hopefully the event will take place in 2025!  
  • Camp Hollywood, LA, CA.  One of the premier events in the Lindy Hop/Balboa swing dance community for competitions, workshop classes and dancing.  If you can make it to L.A., this is a great event to attend.  Normally over the Labor Day holiday weekend. 
  • Lindy Focus, Asheville, NC.  Takes place from the day after Christmas to New Year’s eve.  Nightly dances featuring the music of the great big bands, such as Chick Webb, Jimmie Lunceford, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, et al.
  • International Lindy Hop Championships (ILHC), NYC area.  A very good Lindy Hop/Balboa swing dance community for competitions, workshop classes and dancing.  Normally takes place Memorial Day weekend.   
  • California Balboa Classic, LA, CA area.  A great event to attend if you can make it to So Cal.  Normally takes place in January.
  • Camp Jitterbug, Seattle, WA.  Normally takes place over the Memorial Day weekend.
  • Beantown Camp, Boston, MA area.  Normally takes place around the 4th of July.
  • Swing Out New Hampshire.  Normally takes place around mid August.
  • American Lindy Hop Championships (ALHC), NYC area.  Normally takes place in October.

Regional Level Workshops 

  • Dayton Swing Smackdown, Dayton, OH.  A weekend workshop event featuring a team competition.  Normally the last full weekend in February.
  • Smorgasbord of Swing, Cincinnati, OH.  This event sometimes takes place the Saturday of the Thanksgiving weekend.  The  Swing Gallery web site may have details.
  • School of Hard Knox, Knoxville, TN.  Workshop classes and competitions.  The event was May 3-5 for 2024.

Other out-of-town swing dance scenes.  Mike and Mary have attended Lindy Hop and Balboa events all over the United States.  If you’re traveling and are looking for places to swing dance, feel free to ask Mike & Mary for more info on our experiences, recommendations, etc.

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