CAPE TOWN SWING

A community of dancers in Cape Town sharing their love of Swing Era jazz dances: Lindy Hop, Solo Jazz Charleston, Balboa, Blues. We offer classes, host events, and work with musicians.


Spreading
joy
through dance

Established in 2015, Cape Town Swing is a community organisation driven by jazz-loving dancers sharing the joy of Lindy Hop and other Swing Era dances.

Our values are grounded in safe and inclusive community, jazz roots appreciation, and our unique South African context.


Our story and values

Coming up...


  • I first joined Cape Town Swing as it looked like fun but it became so much more - a safe and diverse community where the joy of dance, history and music is celebrated. I learned about Frankie Manning, shim sham, 6-step, 8-step, etc. Join and find out more!
    Kobie
  • Cape Town Swing is a fabulous community of dancers and lovers of Swing and Jazz music. Affordable & enjoyable classes and regular swinging socials, what more could you need!
    Jasmine
  • I joined the Truth dancing classes in town, and it was awesome!
    Julian
  • Great community, super fun classes. Awesome way to meet new people.
    Lise-Mari
  • Very special and connected community with a huge passion for swing dancing!
    Ruby
  • There is a real sense of community at Cape Town Swing - one big playful, energetic and goofy family
    Carmel
  • I am deeply appreciative of both the classes and the community. Dancing in public has always been an extremely anxiety provoking activity for me. Cape Town Swing has created a beautiful, fun, safe space for me to step out of my comfort zone.
    Robyn
  • I've never experienced such a warm and uncompetitive dance community (having done many dance forms before in my life). You can honestly come to a beginner class having never danced before and you will fall in love with this friendly, social, playful dance. Great teachers and community spirit, dance classes for every level, and amazing swing dance socials.
    Jessica
  • So much fun and the only ones organizing swing socials in Cape Town. Their classes are well run and the socials really good fun, especially the ones with live bands.
    Michael
  • What started off as fun dance classes soon became a lifestyle. This is not a dance studio, this is a community of people brought together by the love of Lindy Hop. Great way to meet people and connect!
    Jayne

    On the Blog


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    Celebrating the Sophiatown Legacy with Kofifi

    Before Count Basie and Duke Wellington whipped up dancefloors in Harlem and Lindy Hop swept through America, Sophiatown was already swinging to its own sound. Despite the poverty and resultant violence, Sophiatown became a hub of culture, music, dance and politics, and marabi music emerged in the 1920s as a response to the urbanisation and social changes affecting black South...

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    The Delight and Dark in Dancing: An Invitation to Deeper Vulnerability and Greater Authenticity

    I’ve been away from my Cape Town Swing family for some time now, and perhaps the melancholy of the moment has provoked these musings. In them, I’ve found an invitation to myself, and perhaps this can be an invitation to you too. “What is this invitation?” you think to yourself as you read this over the top of your coffee...

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    Blues Dance: A Journey of Rhythm and Representation.

    My trip to Belgium for the Big City Blues Festival was such a wonderful and eventful experience, filled with warmth, laughter and vibrancy at every corner – from the graffiti-coloured outdoor streets to the indoor dance floors packed with dancers drunk on the intoxicating energy that only the blues can give. I fell in love with the quirky little city...

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