Swing Tyne

Hello everyone! 👋

Great to see so many of you came along on Monday to learn Slow Bal! Want to keep exploring new styles of swing dancing? Then come along next Monday for another solo jazz routine… Mama’s Stew! 😊

The “Mama’s Stew” routine is a classic solo jazz choreography from the Harlem swing scene of the 1960s, named after Mama Lu Parks, a legendary dancer.

But don’t be scared off by the speed! Rathish will be guiding us next Monday by slowing things down and breaking the routine down step by step so everyone can follow along. The routine covers lots of classic solo jazz moves, and you’ll even spot some familiar moves from the Shim Sham we did earlier.

Join us from 7:30 pm for two beginner-friendly tasters. It’s open to everyone, even if you’ve never danced before, so come along, give it a try and have some fun! 😄

We hope you’re enjoying the rest of the summer! Here are some amazing events coming up that you won’t want to miss! 👇

28th August – Hot Club De Heaton – Live at Newcastle Circus Arts

Hot Club de Heaton, a local Gypsy Jazz band, will be playing at Newcastle Circus Arts’ evening celebration, alongside an acrobatic circus show and a dinner provided for guests.

29th August – Bal Brunch Vintage Special

Hosted by Geoff and Mim, the monthly free Balboa Brunch returns at Holy Hobo from 2:30 pm to 5:45 pm. Dress in vintage if you like and come along for a relaxed afternoon of dancing, a bring-&-share table, and a bring-&-buy vintage rail. A friendly and welcoming event, especially for newer dancers.

12th Sep – The Half Hand Hoodoo Blues Band – Live at Billy’s 

Chicago & roots blues from this fiery four-piece band from York. Performance starts at 7pm – free entry! 

13th Sep – Alligator Gumbo – live at the Cluny

Alligator Gumbo are a Leeds-based band who have played in Newcastle several times. They’re coming back to The Cluny for an evening of live New Orleans jazz.

17th Sep – Front Porch Blues, Live at The Black Swan Bar 

Join Anders, Alec, Owen and Jon for a laid-back, rootsy acoustic take on classic blues, jazz, country and soul. Relaxed and soulful, while bringing these varied styles back to their roots and the dance floor. Performance starts at 7:30pm – free entry!

See you all soon! 💃🕺

Hello everyone! 👋

We hope you all enjoyed learning St. Louis Shag with us last Monday! Let’s keep exploring new styles and different ways to dance in Swing, and next Monday is .… Slow Bal! 😊

Ever wondered what you can dance to slower songs? Slow Bal could be a great option! Balboa doesn’t always have to be danced to fast music — it can be just as groovy, smooth and relaxed.

Graeme and Sarah will be teaching us next Monday. Join them from 7:30 pm for both beginner taster classes. It’s for everyone, even if you’ve never danced Balboa before. So come along, give it a try and have some fun! 😄

We hope you’re enjoying the rest of the summer! Here are some amazing events coming up that you won’t want to miss! 👇

29th August – Bal Brunch: Vintage Special

Hosted by Geoff and Mim, the monthly free social dancing returns at Holy Hobo from 2:30 to 5:45 pm. Dress in vintage if you like and come along for a relaxed afternoon of dancing, a bring-&-share table, and a bring-&-buy vintage rail. A friendly and welcoming event, especially for newer dancers.

12th Sep – The Half Hand Hoodoo Blues Band – Live at Billy’s

Chicago & roots blues from this fiery four-piece band from York. Performance starts at 7pm – free entry!

17th Sep – Front Porch Blues, Live at The Black Swan Bar

Join Anders, Alec, Owen and Jon for a laid-back, rootsy acoustic take on classic blues, jazz, country and soul. Relaxed and soulful, while bringing these varied styles back to their roots and the dance floor. Performance starts at 7:30pm – free entry!

See you all soon! 💃🕺

Hello everyone! 👋

We hope you all enjoyed learning the Shim Sham on Monday! Hopefully, the next time you see people dancing the Shim Sham, you’ll be able to jump in and join them too. 😊

Next Monday, Hillary & Mike will be teaching St. Louis Shag. Both classes are beginner-friendly taster sessions, so come along and give it a try!

St. Louis Shag is an energetic swing dance that developed in St. Louis, Missouri, during the mid-1930s. Unlike the Collegiate Shag you’ve been learning in our regular classes, it features a rhythmically varied eight-count basic and starts in a side-by-side position. Historically, St. Louis Shag wasn’t a stand-alone dance but formed part of the wider family of Shag and jitterbug styles.

Feel free to invite your friends too! Newcomers are always welcome to join us and try dancing completely free of charge. Doors open at 7pm — no booking or partner is required.

Check out these amazing events happening for the rest of the summer! 👇

8th August – Slow Bal workshop at Penrith  

Graeme and Sarah from ST will be teaching an introductory Slow Bal workshop, suitable for complete beginners with no previous Balboa experience. Discover a more relaxed side of Balboa through musicality, connection, and expression.

8th August – Hoodoo Blues monthly party

Join them for a fantastic evening of blues dancing, starting with a beginner-friendly class. It’s the perfect chance to enjoy great music, groovy moves, and a welcoming dance community.

9th August – Social dance at Carlisle

Join them every other Sunday for a free social swing dance in Carlisle! This week’s social is a Slow Bal Special, giving everyone a chance to practise what they learned at the Slow Bal workshop the day before. With music spanning a wide range of jazz styles, there’s something for everyone. 7:00–10:00 pm – everyone is welcome!

9th August – Venus Beach Club at Billy’s

Join Jane and Elise for their monthly vintage soul and R&B party. Music starts around 5:00 pm, with plenty of space to dance and enjoy the atmosphere.

29th August – Bal Brunch: Vintage Special

Hosted by Geoff and Mim, the monthly free Bal Brunch returns at Holy Hobo from 2:30 to 5:45pm. Dress in vintage if you like and come along for a relaxed afternoon of dancing, a bring-&-share table, and a bring-&-buy vintage rail. A friendly and welcoming event, especially for newer dancers.

See you all soon! 💃🕺

Hello everyone! 👋

A huge well done to everyone who joined us on Monday to try out Hip Hop! 🙌 Hope you all enjoyed the classes and the social afterwards.

Have you ever seen a whole room full of swing dancers grooving together, synchronised with rhythmic footwork and playful jazz moves like the Shorty George and boogie backs?

It’s the Shim Sham—one of the most well-known and joyful solo-jazz routines, and a shared language among swing dancers wherever you are in the world.

Next Monday, Rathish will be teaching the routine, along with some fun Solo Jazz moves. Both classes are beginner-friendly, so come along, give them a try, and be there or be square! 😄

Feel free to invite your friends too! Newcomers are always welcome to join us and try dancing completely free of charge. Doors open at 7:00 pm — no booking or partner is required.

Check out these amazing events happening for the rest of the summer! 👇

8th August – Slow Bal workshop at Penrith 

Graeme and Sarah from ST will be teaching an introductory Slow Bal workshop, suitable for complete beginners with no previous Balboa experience. Discover a more relaxed side of Balboa through musicality, connection, and expression.

8th August – Hoodoo Blues monthly party

Join them for a fantastic evening of blues dancing, starting with a beginner-friendly class. It’s the perfect chance to enjoy great music, groovy moves, and a welcoming dance community.

9th August – Venus Beach Club at Billy’s

Join Jane and Elise for their monthly vintage soul and R&B party. Music starts around 5:00 pm, with plenty of space to dance and enjoy the atmosphere.

29th August – Bal Brunch: Vintage Special

Hosted by Geoff and Mim, the monthly free Bal Brunch returns at Holy Hobo from 2:30 pm to 5:45 pm. Dress in vintage if you like and come along for a relaxed afternoon of dancing, a bring-&-share table, and a bring-&-buy vintage rail. A friendly and welcoming event, especially for newer dancers.

Can’t wait to see you at the next class! 💃🕺 

Hello everyone!

Our amazing Summer Programme kicks off next week!

We’re starting with Hip Hop, taught by Rob during Summer Tyne Swing. Both classes are beginner-friendly, so we’d love for you to join us for both.

Our usual social dance will follow afterwards, with everything taking place at Summerhill Bowling Club ONLY.

Feel free to invite your friends—newcomers are always welcome to try it completely FREE of charge! Doors open at 7:00 pm. No booking or partner is needed—just come along, have fun, and enjoy the evening!

Check out these amazing events happening this summer! 👇 

25th July – Bal Brunch: Hawaiian Special

Hosted by Geoff and Mim, monthly Bal brunch returns to Holy Hobo from 12:30–16:00 (please note the different time!) with a Hawaiian theme. Dress colourfully and enjoy a relaxed afternoon of Balboa, alongside a bring-and-share table and vintage sale rail. A friendly and welcoming event, especially for newer dancers.

25th July – Live Blues from Twenty One Twenty at Hexham 

Enjoy a free evening of live blues with Twenty One Twenty, a four-piece band playing an energetic mix of Delta and Chicago blues. 

26th July – Swing social dance at Carlisle 

Join them every other Sunday for free social swing dance event in Carlisle! Music for all range of jazz, 7pm-10pm, everyone is welcome. 

31st July – The King Bees at Billy’s 

The King Bees, a five-piece Rhythm & Blues band from Newcastle, will be playing live at Billy’s from 8pm. Expect an evening of Chicago blues and plenty of opportunities to hit the dance floor.  

8th August – Slow Bal workshop at Penrith  

Graeme and Sarah from ST will be teaching an introductory Slow Bal workshop, suitable for complete beginners with no previous Balboa experience. Discover a more relaxed side of Balboa, exploring musicality, connection, and expression.

See you all soon! 💃🕺

Hello everyone!

Next Monday, we’ll be running Lindy Hop and Balboa classes for beginners and improvers.

A reminder that it’s the last class of our Balboa Beginners’ Block! New dancers are still very welcome — we’ll recap key skills from previous lessons while continuing to build on them.

Doors open at 7pm. No booking or partner needed — just come along and enjoy dancing with us! Newcomers are always welcome to try their first class completely free of charge.

Check out these amazing events happening this summer! 👇

25th July – Bal Brunch: Hawaiian Special

Hosted by Geoff and Mim, monthly Bal brunch returns to Holy Hobo from 12:30–16:00 (please note the new time!) with a Hawaiian theme. Dress colourfully and enjoy a relaxed afternoon of Balboa, alongside a bring-and-share table and vintage sale rail. A friendly and welcoming event, especially for newer dancers.

25th July – Live Blues from Twenty One Twenty at Hexham 

Enjoy a free evening of live blues with Twenty One Twenty, a four-piece band playing an energetic mix of Delta and Chicago blues. 

26th July – Social dance at Carlisle   

Join them every other Sunday for free social swing dance event in Carlisle! Music for all range of jazz, 7pm-10pm, everyone is welcome. 

31st July – The King Bees at Billy’s    

The King Bees, a five-piece Rhythm & Blues band from Newcastle, will be playing live at Billy’s from 8pm. Expect an evening of Chicago blues and plenty of opportunities to hit the dance floor.  

8th August – Slow Bal workshop at Penrith  

Graeme and Sarah from ST will be teaching an introductory Slow Bal workshop, suitable for complete beginners with no previous Balboa experience. Discover a more relaxed side of Balboa, exploring musicality, connection, and expression.

If you fancy some live music, here are a few places you might want to check out:

The Black Swan Bar

They hosts weekly free jazz jams, live jazz gigs and sessions featuring local musicians. From traditional jazz and swing-inspired performances to funk, soul and blues influences, it’s a great spot to enjoy live music and discover local talent.

The Globe

They weekly hosts jam sessions and some live jazz gigs. There is also some space for dancing, so it’s a great place to enjoy live music, soak up the atmosphere and move along if the music takes you.

The Tyne Bar 

They host free gigs every weekend, including bands such as Doctor Brown and the Groove Cats, bringing high-energy West Coast Swing, jazz and funky blues to the stage. The stage is located in front of the outdoor seating area, so there isn’t really any space for dancing.

Billy Bootleggers  

They host free live music every weekend, featuring styles such as rockabilly, rock & roll, blues, R&B, soul and Americana, with its vintage-inspired atmosphere. This indoor venue also has a dance floor area, although it can get quite busy during popular events.

See you all soon! 💃🕺

Hello everyone!

Next Monday we’ll be running Lindy Hop & Shag classes for beginners and improvers. Doors open at 7pm. No booking or partner needed, just come along and enjoy. Newcomers are always welcome to come along and try it out for free of charge.

Our Summer Programme is now out! There’s a great variety of dancing class coming up, so if you know anyone who might be interested, please share it with them. 👇 

We know Winter feels a long way off, but we don’t want you to miss some of the exciting events we have planned. We’ll be sharing more details closer to the time, yet for now, save the dates in your diary!

Check out these amazing events happening this summer! 👇 

11th July – Hoodoo Blues monthly party

Join them for a fantastic evening of blues dancing social, starting with a beginner-friendly class. It’s the perfect chance to enjoy great music, groovy moves, and a welcoming community.

11th July – Swing social dance at Penrith  

A welcoming social evening with a varied mix of music and tempos. Come along to dance, chat, and enjoy a relaxed night on the dance floor. All levels are welcome!

12th July – Venus Beach Club at Billy’s

Join Billy and the gals for the next in their series of monthly vintage soul and R&B parties. Music kicks off around 5pm. 

25th July- Bal Brunch: Hawaiian Special

Hosted by Geoff and Mim, monthly Bal brunch returns to Holy Hobo from 12:30–16:00 (please note the new time!) with a Hawaiian theme. Dress colourfully and enjoy a relaxed afternoon of Balboa, alongside a bring-and-share table and vintage sale rail. A friendly and welcoming event, especially for newer dancers.

25th July – Live Blues from Twenty One Twenty at Hexham 

Enjoy a free evening of live blues with Twenty One Twenty, a four-piece band playing an energetic mix of Delta and Chicago blues.

31st July – The King Bees at Billy’s  

The King Bees, a five-piece Rhythm & Blues band from Newcastle, will be playing live at Billy’s from 8pm. Expect an evening of Chicago blues and plenty of opportunities to hit the dance floor.  

8th August – Slow Bal workshop at Penrith 

Graeme and Sarah from ST will be teaching an introductory Slow Bal workshop, suitable for complete beginners with no previous Balboa experience.

See you all soon! 💃🕺 

Hello dancers,

Next Monday we’ll be running Lindy Hop and Balboa classes for beginners and improvers.

Don’t forget it’s the second class of our Balboa beginners’ block! New dancers are still very welcome, as we’ll be revisiting the fundamentals before building on them with new skills.

🚪 Doors open at 7:00 pm.
💃 No booking or partner needed – just turn up!
✨ Newcomers are always welcome to join their first night for free

Check out these amazing events happening this summer! 👇

4th July – Charity Concert at Cramlington

Join a special summer evening of live music, food, and community spirit. This free charity concert is raising vital funds for Ukraine and features performances from House of the Black Gardenia, Strictly Smokin’, alongside a range of talented musicians and performers, bringing a mix of jazz, folk, swing and contemporary music throughout the evening.

11th July – Hoodoo Blues monthly party

Join Hoodoo Blues for a fantastic evening of blues dancing social, starting with a beginner-friendly class. It’s the perfect chance to enjoy great music, groovy moves, and a welcoming community. Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience.

11 July – Social dance at Penrith

A welcoming social evening with a varied mix of music and tempos. Come along to dance, chat, and enjoy a relaxed night on the dance floor. All levels are welcome!

25th July – Bal Brunch: Hawaiian Special

Hosted by Geoff and Mim, monthly Bal brunch returns to Holy Hobo from 12:30–16:00 (please note the new time!) with a Hawaiian theme. Dress colourfully and enjoy a relaxed afternoon of Balboa, alongside a bring-and-share table and vintage sale rail. A friendly and welcoming event, especially for newer dancers.

25th July – Live Blues from Twenty One Twenty at Hexham 

Enjoy a free evening of live blues with Twenty One Twenty, a four-piece band playing an energetic mix of Delta and Chicago blues. Grab a drink, have a dance, and experience a different flavour of American roots music at The Heart of Northumberland after a day at the Bluegrass Festival.

31st July – The King Bees at Billy’s

The King Bees, a five-piece Rhythm & Blues band from Newcastle, will be playing live at Billy’s from 8pm. Expect an evening of Chicago blues and plenty of opportunities to hit the dance floor.  

8th August – Slow Bal workshop at Penrith 

Graeme and Sarah from ST will be teaching an introductory Slow Bal workshop, suitable for complete beginners with no previous Balboa experience. Discover a more relaxed side of Balboa, exploring musicality, connection, and expression.

💥November 27 – 29th – Slow Bal on Tyne – weekender💥 

Tickets are now all sold out! Thank you all for your amazing support—we can’t wait to see you soon.

💥 December 5th – Winter ball at John Marley Centre💥 

More details to follow when the time comes, but save the evening for our annual Christmas Ball.

💥 January 29 – 31st – Balboa weekender💥 

More details to follow when the time comes, but save the dates first.

See you all soon! 💃🕺

🎉 75% of tickets are now sold for Slow-Bal weekender!

Current availability:
🟢 Leads – Available (no waitlist)
🟢 Lead & Follower couples – Available (no waitlist)
🟡 Followers – Small waitlist

If you’re thinking of joining, grab your ticket before they’re gone—we can’t wait to see you on the dance floor!

Hello everyone!

Looking ahead to next Monday, we’ll be running Lindy Hop & Shag classes for beginners and improvers. Doors open at 7pm. No booking or partner needed, just come. Newcomers are always welcome to come along and try it out for free of charge.

If you have a birthday during that week and would like a birthday jam during the social dance (where the birthday person dances in the centre of a circle while different partners take turns joining in throughout the song), please don’t be afraid to ask to us or the DJ on the night. We’d be thrilled to celebrate with you through dancing. 🥳🥳

To mark the end of June, don’t forget to join some of the fabulous events👇: 

27th June – Bal Brunch

Join us for our monthly fast-tempo social dance, hosted by Geoff and Mim at Holy Hobo, from 14:30–18:00. Dedicated to lovers of Balboa and Shag, this event is the perfect place to enjoy great music, lively dancing, and a welcoming community. Newcomers are always encouraged to join and experience the joy of swing dancing. To celebrate their SUMMER MADDNESS theme, dress in your most colourful, vibrant, or outrageously fun outfit!  👉Details

27th June – House of Black Gardenia

With support from Magpie of Swing, House of Black Gardenia will be bringing live music to the outdoor terrace at the Cumberland Arms from 2pm. Join them for a relaxing afternoon with live music, dancing, and good company in the open air. Everyone is welcome! 👉 Details

28th June – Social dance at Carlisle 

Join them every other Sunday for free social swing dance event in Carlisle! Music for all range of jazz, 7pm-10pm, Friendly community and beautiful venue. Everyone is welcome.  👉 Details

💥November 27th – 29th – Slow Bal on Tyne – weekender💥 

We’re excited to present a weekend dedicated to Slow Balboa. We’re delighted to welcome Carolin and Iacopo, whose passion for elegant movement, musicality, and thoughtful teaching will guide us as we explore a blend of original Slow Balboa vocabulary and timeless classic movements, helping dancers deepen their technique and expression. This weekender is designed for improvers+, and is limited to 40 dancers due to venue capacity. Tickets go on sale at 6pm. 👉 https://swingtyne.dancecloud.com/dance/39872 

See you all soon! 💃🕺