San Francisco Swing Dancing & Lindy Hop

San Francisco is lucky to be a city in which you can swing dance almost 7 nights a week. Now that I've been dancing in San Francisco fo ra few years I've put together a list of recommendations of where to go.

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.

If you're already a good swing 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 swing dancing 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 dance classes 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.

There are sevearl options on Wednesday nights. One of my favorite bands, Tin Cup Serenade, plays at Le Colonial on Wednesday. Their music is generally either quite fast (good for balboa) or fairly slow (more like blues or slow lindy). They don't play much in the middle. However, if you do like that medium paced Lindy Hop music, you could try Ben Marcato and the Mondo Combo at the Top of the Mark on Weds. Lastly, Johnny "Blue Jeans" has started up "Wednesday Night Jump" at Bing Crosby's in Walnut Creek.

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.

I tend not to dance on Friday nights, but I hear that the Metronome 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.

I'm 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.

And lastly, here's a great google map of most of the San Francisco swing dance venues:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=113725319780921835230.000001127eacd0bb241ef

Happy dancing!