Welwyn Garden City Swing Festival 2027

A festival or weekender packs classes, socials and live music into a few days. Most offer graded class tracks (you may be asked to pick a level honestly), party passes for the evenings only, and plenty of social dancing late into the night.

Lindy Hop is the original swing dance, created by African-American dancers in Harlem in the late 1920s and 1930s and danced to big-band swing jazz. It is a partner dance built on an eight-count swingout, mixed with six-count moves, and it is famously improvised – lead and follow play with the music rather than repeating a routine. It suits any age, and most classes rotate partners. Read our full guide.

Charleston is the high-energy jazz dance of the 1920s, named after the city of Charleston, South Carolina. It is danced solo, side by side or with a partner, and Lindy Hoppers use it constantly – it is the quickest way to add kicks, swivels and personality to your dancing. Read our full guide.

Hertfordshire swing school; Welwyn Thursday Lindy Hop courses at Digswell Village Hall, pre-booking only. We list 11 of their sessions, running on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. See everything from Jiveswing (Welwyn).