Howdy Swingkids! Hopping into Easter, Can you believe it? This first 1/4 of 2025 has been a ride! Thanks to everyone who has come on the journey with us so far! A busy year coming up for major swing dance schools across Australia, NZ & The world! I remember a time when there was nothing to go to and we had to create our own dancing experiences at local pubs and nightclubs and hosting private parties at home for the few of us swing dancers around…. fast forward 25 years …. and now… Oh my Lord! There is something on every night of the week around Australia NZ and the world.. no matter where you go there is a swing dance event to go to.. How lucky we are. I remember talking to Frankie Manning in the early 90’s and he asked all the emerging leaders of the swing dance scene at that time to promise to never let the dance die out again, and true to their word, the earlier resurgence pioneers here and abroad (I count Ray and I in this group too) pushed on and through consistency, determination, passion and a promise, and now this dance is as popular now (if not more) than it ever was and we could not be more proud of that. Understanding the history and respecting the roots of this dance is paramount to the culture of our Swing Dance scene so we encourage you do deep dive into it. A great start is HERE .
In this newsletter:
- Byron Bay Lindy Exchange
- Classes, Gold Coast, Mullum & Pottsville
- A Very Fabulous Affair – Supper Dance for Charity
- Cooly Rocks On Dance Classes and Harvest Moon
- Summer Jamboree Italy
- Throwback to our first Affair – A Very Swellagant Affair
- Swing Dance OZ & NZ – Major Events FB Group – Worth tapping in to
BYRON BAY LINDY EXCHANGE (BBLX) – The Postcard Experiment
In this fast-paced digital world, the art of writing a letter—pen to paper, stamp to envelope, and walking it to the postbox—has become a bit of a rarity. Let’s be honest, when was the last time you opened your letterbox and found something that wasn’t a government window envelope?
So, for BBLX, I’ve decided to bring back a little magic from the past with a fun project I’m calling The Postcard Experiment.
Remember those quirky postcards you used to find in tourist shops at every holiday destination? The ones that said “Greetings from…” with a sun-drenched photo and a handwritten “Wish you were here!”? Well, I’ve recreated that vibe with a set of retro-style “Greetings from Byron Bay” postcards—complete with info about our upcoming Byron Bay Lindy Exchange, October 17–19.
Here’s how it works:
•Pick up a postcard at class.
•Choose a swing dance school (anywhere in the world!) to send it to.
•Write them a little note—introduce yourself, say hello from Byron, tell them about BBLX!
•Stick on a stamp, pop it in the postbox, and send a little joy out into the world.
But before you post it, snap a photo or film a quick video of you sending it off, and send it to me! We’ll compile all the footage into a sweet little reel of postcards flying off from Byron Bay to dancers around the globe.
It’s simple. It’s vintage. It’s joyful. And I think it’s a pretty cool way to connect the swing world—one stamp at a time.
Love to have you on board!
Miss Chrissy x
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Classes: Gold Coast, Mullum & Pottsville
Gold Coast and Mullumbimby classes are running as per normal schedule through Easter break so we will see you this Wednesday and Thursday.
Pottsville Classes with Grace & Chris: Their first term was a hit with many locals coming along to try out this new thing called Lindy Hop, their daughter Stella was an awesome asset on the door doing the meet and greet! Taking the school Holidays off for a well earned break, Grace and Chris and Stella will kick off again for next Term on Tuesday 29th April at 6.30pm at The Pottsville Beach School Hall. Now that daylight savings has finished, Ray and I look forward to making it along to a class for some fun learnings with the Swing On In Pottsville Crew.
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A Very Fabulous Affair – Supper Dance for Charity
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✨💃 Get Your Glitter On! 🕺✨
It’s time to dust off those disco shoes, shimmer in sequins, and get down for a good cause…
🎉 A Very Fabulous Affair returns in 2025 with a brand-new Soul/Funk/Disco twist—and you’re invited to dance the night away under the mirror ball in full fabulous style!
📅 Saturday, 27 September 2025 – Doors open at 6.30pm
📍 Albert Waterways Auditorium, Broadbeach Waters
🎟️ Tickets ON SALE NOW:
👉 Book here!
Last year’s event was nothing short of magical—and this year, we’re turning up the volume with a ten-piece powerhouse band SOUL’D bringing the heat with classic Soul, Motown, Funk, R&B, Blues, Disco, and more! Expect infectious rhythms, soaring horns, powerhouse vocals and non-stop dancefloor vibes!
🎶 Entertainment:
Introducing SOUL’D – a ten-piece soul & funk sensation!
Featuring a 4-piece horn section, 2 sensational vocalists, and a rockin’ rhythm section, SOUL’D will get you up and grooving to legends like Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, The Trammps, Amy Winehouse, and the Village People.
🍾 What’s Included:
💋 Red Carpet Arrival + Bubbles
🍽️ Decadent Supper Included
🎁 Raffles, Prizes & Giveaways
💖 Feel-Good Fun — All for a GREAT cause!
🎟️ $85 per person + booking fee
🎟️ $800 table of 10 (in one transaction)
Cash bar available
✨ All profits go to Beauties Feeling Fabulous (BFF) – a local charity providing free pamper services to women undergoing cancer treatment. From massage, nails, and facials to handmade comfort ponchos—BFF delivers care, dignity, and a safe space when it’s needed most. 💕
📽️ Want to see the magic?
🎥 Watch last year’s highlights here:
https://vimeo.com/1075026790?share=copy
This night is not just about glitz and glam—it’s about making a difference. Help us spread joy, dance for a cause, and raise funds and awareness for an incredible organisation.
✨ So go on… get fabulous with us!
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Cooly Rocks On Dance Classes and the Moonlight Swing Dance
Coming up fast.. The Cooly Rocks On Festival is mostly free and full of live music, shopping, dance lessons and of course the Harvest Moon Swing Dance hosted by us at Swing On In. Get your tickets for this glamorous swing dance event! Frock Up and dance the night away to Australia’s Hottest Swing Band – Lucky Seven who will also be our band at the Byron Bay Lindy Exchange Vintage Ball.
Ray and I will be teaching back to back classes in Level 2 Lindy Hop – Swing by for a cheap $10 classes at the festival for some Lindy Hop fun with us!
Thursday 9 June at 10.15am and 11.30am – Level 1 The Strand outside Georges Paragon Restaurant.
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Summer Jamboree Italy
Because we don’t have enough on this year already Ray and I decided to skip off to Italy & Barcelona for a couple of weeks in August! It was Mel & Isabels fault really as they went to this festival last year and made the mistake of showing us and that was that! Tickets and Accommodation booked and we are jetting off to SUMMER JAMBOREE (Thanks redraw mortgage options :)! ) Hey, you only live once! *Wink*. Joining us will be Mel, David, James and Amanda from Swing On In so expects FOMO spam hitting our socials whilst we are away! Don’t worry, our regular classes will still be happening and will delight you with some guest teachers to keep the tires burning at home whilst we are cooling down on the beaches of Seningallia and Barcelona!
10 days of live music, dancing and basking in all things Swing, Boogie Boogie & Rockabilly! Have a look at the promo here!
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Throwback to our first Affair – A Very Swellagant Affair
Ray and I have always put ourselves out there—taking risks to create new and exciting swing dance events.
This video takes us back to our very first “A Very Swellagant Affair” dance. I remember how incredibly stressed I was at the time. It took Ray, our sons, and a handful of our most faithful friends over 12 hours just to set up. And after the last dancer left around 11 PM, our little bump-out crew didn’t get home until 8 AM the next morning!
These are the behind-the-scenes moments no one sees. That year, we took a big hit financially. But what we gained was invaluable: lessons learned, a deep respect for event promoters, and a stronger sense of purpose.
Now, we’re a well-oiled machine (though always learning!). We know how to create a show that people remember — the kind that leaves your heart full and your feet sore from dancing all night. And I think most of our swing dance community, near and far, trust that when we put our name behind something, you’re in for a great night.
We’re still so proud of this little event. It may have been our first of its kind and scale, but it planted seeds for so much more. Sure, we’ve done huge things — like flying in the Harlem Hot Shots from Sweden, hosting them in our home, running epic workshops, and throwing an event for 400 people! That was massive.
But honestly, it’s these smaller, more intimate events that we pour our blood, sweat, and tears into that stay with us. They mean just as much — because they’re built on love, passion, community, and connection. And as I look through the faces in this video, I see so many who are still in our world today… and now, great friends.
Thank you for coming on this journey with us. 💛 Video by Mircha Mangiacotti
Our next major event and the biggest one to date will be The Byron Bay Lindy Exchange.. Have you heard of it? Jump online and have a sneak peak here.. Get your tickets! You won’t regret it! (Byronbaylindyexchange.com.au) Get your tickets HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/byron-bay-lindy-exchange-early-bird-full-weekend-pass/tickets
SWING DANCE OZ & NZ GROUP (AND THE WORLD)
This is a super great all in one place calendar of swing dance events around Oz, NZ and the World.. Started all those years ago by a great mate, Rob Bloom, he keeps this thing updated everyday! A great resource as a first go to if you want to see what’s happening around the swing dance scene further afield.
OK, thats it from me but stay tuned for a few more things in the pipeline like:
M ARTS MONTHLY LIVE BAND SWING DANCE – DATES TO COME!
SWELL SCULPTURE SWING DANCE PARTY – SEPTEMBER!
xx Chrissy, Ray, Deryn, Grace & Chris and the whole team at Swing On In