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 …
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 …
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 …
The 26th of May is the day we Lindy Hoppers get to give a whole-hearted, joyous, and jazzful thanks to the dance that has been instrumental in our lives. It is a day when I feel most connected with the international community, trusting that at any point along the multiple time zones where Lindy Hop is danced and loved, someone …
This blog explores the power of swing dance to bring together and connect people of different ages in a positive, joyful way. It is written as a series of first-person reflections between Lizzie and Selina, (both members of Cape Town Swing) and also includes some written contributions from different generations within their own families that were sparked by this blog. …
Born and raised in Durban, no one loves a good deal like I do. My love of thrift shops started when I lived in Korea. I was too cheap to spend thousands on the latest long puffer down or branded ski jackets to get me through just two winters, so I hit the local thrift shops – Cue Macklemore “I’ll …
Are you having social dancefloor anxiety? Just not getting that one move right? Becoming a more confident Lindy Hopper doesn’t happen overnight. It takes practice, practice and some more practice.At Cape Town Swing, we want to help nurture everyone’s growth in both confidence and skills as dancers with regular practice sessions. Why is practice so important? We’ve all heard it: …
I’m not one for New Year resolutions or 30-day ‘anything’ challenges. In fact, I had no intention of even working on improving my solo jazz. Then I saw a dear friend’s post on Instagram about taking on the Jazzuary challenge. I was curious – I was intrigued. It took me seven days of thinking about it before I decided to …
The transition from one year to the next is usually a time for reflection and resolutions. This invariably entails some disappointment for not fulfilling the previous year’s resolutions, but let’s not get hung up on that! There’s always time. However, sometimes we get to bask in the glow of a year well spent. Perhaps I’m looking at 2023 like an …
When my housemate, Ruth, first asked if I’d heard about Swing, I thought she meant dating as a couple. In her mind, it was a potential hobby to help me soothe my break-up blues. We only cleared up the confusion once Ruth said she took a few classes with hundreds of people before she got married. Still, I could do …