ABOUT
Our Story
Edinburgh Swing Dance Society (ESDS) is an informal society of dancers whose mission it 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 in 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.
The Society has always run on a non-profit basis with none of the local contributors taking fees for teaching, administering, or organising classes or events. We remain wholly grateful to and 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.
As there was no formal management committee before 2017, therefore the structure of the Committee is still young and developing every year. After reflecting on and reviewing the structure from previous years, we are working on a more rounded structure where responsibility is as equally distributed as possible and decisions are made as a group.
Helpful Links
Dancing in Edinburgh
There are places to dance in Edinburgh nearly every night of the week! All of the following groups are also on Facebook.
Classes and social dancing – Lindy Hop on Wednesdays, Balboa on Mondays, and Blues on Tuesdays.
Edinburgh University Swing Dance Society (EUSDS)
Classes and social dancing on Monday nights, plus Saturday recap sessions and open practice.
Beginner Collegiate Shag and Improvers Lindy classes on Thursdays, plus monthly socials.
Tap, Swing, and Solo Jazz classes and workshops as well as SwingTrain fitness classes.
Edinburgh Lindy Exchange (ELX)
A whole weekend of social dancing with live music in venues across the city every September.
Friday nights at Heriot’s Rugby Club with live bands and plenty of room to dance.
Live music every night, with Sundays particularly good for a bit of dancing.
Sunday Jazz sessions with a bit of space for dancing.
Dancing outside Edinburgh
Highland Swing
Glasgow Jitterbugs
Glasgow Lindy Hoppers
BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing & UK’s leading Charleston & Lindy Hop Choreographer.
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!
Swing Dancing in Chester, Cheshire, UK.
Swing dancing all over London & Brighton.
Excellent resource for Swing events all over the world.