ABOUT
Our Story
Edinburgh Swing Dance Society (ESDS) is an informal society of dancers. Our mission is to create and maintain a fun and friendly dance community, where we welcome new people to the wonderful world of Lindy Hop and Swing Dance. We run classes, workshops and events and look to promote social swing dancing in Scotland. We pride ourselves on our warm and welcoming atmosphere where all dancers are encouraged to share their experience, knowledge, and passion for swing, music, and culture.
ESDS was the first swing dance organisation in Scotland. It was formed in 1996 by local dancers Rhona and Niall Davies with Russell Sargeant and Carolene Hinds, leading members of The Jiving Lindy Hoppers. As our community developed, we established our first formal Constitution & Committee in 2017 to better serve our dancers. We make decisions as a group, and distribute responsibility as equally as possible.
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The Society has always been run on a non-profit basis. We remain grateful to and wholly reliant on the enthusiasm, commitment, support and goodwill of the many volunteers who have contributed over the years, whether by teaching classes, running events, managing websites, staffing registration desks, storing equipment or filling water jugs and running around clearing up after an evening or weekend of dancing.
Helpful Links
Swing Dancing in Edinburgh
There are places to dance swing and Jazz styles in Edinburgh on every night of the week! Here's a list of groups that we're aware of (and collaborate with on occasion). All of the following groups are also on Facebook.
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Classes and social dancing – Currently running Lindy Hop and Balboa on Wednesdays plus a monthly social (Southside Stomp), mostly at the Greyfriars Charteris Centre.
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Edinburgh University Swing Dance Society (EUSDS)
Classes and social dancing on Monday nights and Saturday afternoons, plus Solo Jazz tuition on Sundays, mostly at the Pleasance Courtyard Complex.
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Improver/Intermediate Lindy classes on Wednesdays. Temporarily relocated to Fairmilehead due to a long overdue floor replacement at their regular location at Marchmont St Giles.
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Currently teaching Improver Lindy Hop on Tuesdays at North Merchiston Club, plus workshops. Likely to offer Beginners' classes in early 2024.
Edinburgh Lindy Exchange (ELX)
A whole weekend of social dancing organised collaboratively by the whole swing dance community, featuring live music in venues across the city, every September.
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Friday nights at Heriot’s Rugby Club with live bands and plenty of room to dance.
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Live music every night, with Sundays particularly good for a bit of dancing.
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Sunday Jazz sessions with a bit of space for dancing.
Dancing outside Edinburgh
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Highland Swing
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Glasgow Jitterbugs
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Glasgow Lindy Hoppers
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BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing & UK’s leading Charleston & Lindy Hop Choreographer.
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The largest Lindy hop dance camp in the world is called Herräng, and takes place every year over 5 weeks during the month of July in Herräng Sweden. We highly recommend it!
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Swing Dancing in Chester, Cheshire, UK.
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Swing dancing all over London & Brighton.
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Excellent resource for Swing events all over the world.
CONTACT & LOCATION
Our Venue:
LifeCare Centre,
2 Cheyne St
Edinburgh
EH4 1JB
Email:
Cover photography by Michael Joyce
&
Page photography by 'Ellie Morag Photography'