The Aberdeen University Swing Dance Society is proud to be the northernmost Swing Dance Society in the UK, as well as to offer the longest-running Swing Dance Festival in the North-East of Scotland, Hop Potato. As a group of Swing and Blues dance enthusiasts, we always do our best to make sure that our members have an excellent time with us, whether through attending our weekly classes, taking part in our two annual weekend workshops, coming along to our weekly social dances, dancing in our performances, or simply hanging out with us. We are committed to being welcoming towards anyone who wants to join, both students and non-students, and to make sure everyone feels welcomed in the Swing community, whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced dancer, whether you're looking for a place to dance and socialise every once in a while, or you want to improve your dancing as much as you can. Joining the society is like having another wee family!

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WHAT IS SWING DANCE?

“Swing dance” is most commonly known as a group of dances that developed with the vintage swing style of jazz music in the 1920s-1950s. The “Golden Age of Swing” in the 1930s and 1940s was when clubs were packed with swing dancers and big bands were the hottest ticket in town! Venues like The Savoy Ballroom in Harlem NYC were renowned across the country and the African American community was instrumental in developing both the music and the dance moves that would become mainstream across all of the USA by the time of WW2. Decades later, former professional dancers Al Minns and Frankie Manning were coaxed out of retirement to help bring back both the music and the dances they inspired. It worked. Thirty years on, there are now thriving swing dance communities worldwide.

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WHAT IS LINDY HOP?

Lindy Hop (or just “Lindy”) is what you will see most of the time when you come to a Swing Dance. It’s an energetic dance that involves both 8-count and 6-count rhythms with triple steps, as well as elements borrowed from Charleston and Vernacular Jazz. Although performance Lindy Hop (such as with routines or within a “jam circle”) often involves lifts and high flying aerials (also known as air steps), social dancing Lindy Hop doesn’t require leaving the ground! Lindy Hop is characterized by a low, relaxed posture, an elastic connection to your partner, and a rhythmic bounce–or pulse–that matches the music.

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WHAT IS BLUES DANCE?

Blues dance is an umbrella term for a family of dances done to blues music and blues structures.  It is an improvisational dance form primarily danced with a partner, but also solo or in a group. Parallel to blues music, blues dance is based on social dance styles created from African and European roots in America between the 1800s and mid-1900s, although it has experienced significant evolution within the last 10-15 years.

Rooted in African movement, blues dance places a high value on rhythm and individual movement.  Today there is a strong emphasis on connection with your partner, the music, and the community.

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WHAT IS COLLEGIATE SHAG?
Collegiate Shag is a specific kind of partnered shag dancing which was the hottest new thing for European-American students during WWII. Shag dances are many and varied as they developed as responses to new swing and jazz music trends in different spots of the US during the 1930s and 1940s. Collegiate shag is characterised by its up-beat speed, elongated lines, and often closed connection. The steps consist of slows and quick-quicks. There are many (sometimes crazy) footwork variations to allow dancers to show off on the dance floor, no doubt being the main attraction when the dance first hit New York’s Harvest Moon Ball in 1937! While the dance is quick, upbeat, and showy, it actually allows dancers to use less energy when dancing to faster music.

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Information about prices and how to join can be found here.

And here are some videos to give you a better idea of what we're talking about. Enjoy!