Mad About Swing: the heart of Plymouth’s Swing Dance scene since 2007
Socials and Events
Our social evenings are suitable for dancers of all abilities. It's a great opportunity to practise the moves you've learnt and to socialise with other dancers.
Expect a chilled out and friendly atmosphere. Unless the evening has specific requirements, there's no dress code, but most people wear smart casual. Others make a real effort with suits and dresses… the choice is yours! Bring your own drinks.
Venue, parking, drinks and payments details
For a flavour of the atmosphere that we try to capture at our events, the following footage reel illustrates the vibe at one of our previous large-scale Speakeasies:
Saturday 1st February 2025
The Speakeasy
The Speakeasy returns with another evening of vintage splendour, giving you the opportunity to dress up in your glad rags and experience the frivolous jazz-fuelled lifestyle of the 1920s and 1930s.
Hot Jazz
We're honoured with a superb lineup of inspiring talented acts who'll be performing throughout The Speakeasy over the course of the evening. All the way from Weston, we have the extraordinary Marvin Muoneké. Marvin possesses an incredibly rich, soulful voice and, together with his astonishing trumpet skills, he's like a modern day Louis Armstrong. From the depths of Cornwall hail Swingology, igniting your senses with irresistible rhythms and rich melodies in the spirit of 1930's Hot Club de France. A force to be reckoned with, we also have the sassy untamed Mama Tokus: soul, blues, gospel and ragtime from a lady who is entertaining, edifying, funky and funny. Last, but not least, we have Hot Ginger who play swingin' carefree music, straight from the roaring twenties, dirty thirties and prohibition speakeasies.
Entertainment
From start to finish, there's heaps going on. In addition to the live bands, there'll be a fun-fuelled Charleston class (suitable for all, including those with two left feet!), a Bootlegger Bar (serving cocktails and a fine selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks all at Weatherspoon's prices), dance performances (choreographed by Jenny Thomas from Strictly Come Dancing and performed by her Dartmouth Jazzettes troupe), burlesque acts, a gambling snug (typically Black Jack and Roulette) and so much more...
A Dancer's Paradise
In additional to the Main Ballroom, this year boasts two additional dance spaces, each with their own live band. In fact, if you're someone who wants to dance all night without disruption, this one's for you: from start to finish, there will be at least one dance floor open for business and often a choice of three! Charleston, Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag... we've got you covered!
Is it fancy dress?
This isn't a fancy dress event but there is an expectation that all attendees make an effort. This is an opportunity to don your glad rags for an evening of glitz and splendour. Some attendees go all out in vintage attire (gorgeous flapper/cocktail dresses adorned with feathers and pearls – pinstripe suits, top hats, spats); some treat this as a black tie affair, rocking up in evening dresses or their best suit. But it needn't be onerous: a simple black dress or smart shirt/trousers are perfectly acceptable – just don't wear jeans or anything that screams 'modern!'. For a flavour of what people have worn in the past, check out this footage from a previous speakeasy: https://youtu.be/rE4fO1oBqDQ.
Photography
With so much going on, there'll be plenty of picture-worthy opportunities you'll want captured throughout the evening. We have professional photographers who will be doing just that. In addition to roaming shots, you'll have the option of posing for studio style shots. Dressed in your finery, you'll be wanting to take away a memento: digital downloads will be available for a mere £5 or 10×8" prints can be purchased (and taken away) on the night for £10.
The Venue
Abbey Hall is situated in the heart of town, tucked behind St Andrew's Church and adjacent to The Treasury (PL1 2AD). What makes this the perfect location is not only the fact that it's fittingly one of the oldest buildings in Plymouth (15th century, grade 1 listed!) but it comprises a labyrinth of hidden rooms, nooks and crannies that enable us to pack so many intriguing elements into one evening.
Prices
| Early bird: | £25 | (payment received on or before Tuesday 10th December) |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced: | £27 | (payment received on or before Tuesday 21st January) |
| Full price: | £30 | (thereafter and on the door) |
Saturday 1st March 2025
Swing It! The hottest social in town
No live band – just top-quality swing tunes from start to finish. We are passionate about dancing to live music but on this occasion, we're looking to showcase an evening of recording music, drawing upon a broad variety of artists from past and present.
Timings
7.30pm ‐ 10.30pm.
Prices
| Bundle: | £5 | (if also attending the Balboa Daylight Sessions on the same day) |
|---|---|---|
| Early bird: | £8 | (payment received on or before Tuesday 4th February) |
| Advanced: | £10 | (payment received on or before Tuesday 25th February) |
| Full price: | £12 | (thereafter and on the door) |
The Cosy Balboa Twilight & Daylight Sessions
So what is Balboa?
Whereas Lindy Hop was born in Harlem in New York, Balboa originated on the west coast of America in and around the Balboa Peninsula, California. Stylish and harbouring an air of sophistication, it's fun to dance and a great addition to your Lindy Hop repertoire. Balboa can be danced to slow songs but is generally associated with faster music. You can make it energetic but if you're looking for something to suit those super fast tracks without breaking a sweat, this is it!
Daylight Sessions | Twilight Sessions
Balboa Daylight Sessions
Balboa workshops with Duncan and Louise split into two halves. The first half tackles core fundamental Balboa principles – suitable for complete beginners but also essential for anyone who doesn't dance Balboa frequently (Yep, that's pretty much everyone) or wants to embellish their technique. The second half assumes previous knowledge and is only suitable for dancers with a fair grasp of the basics. The complexity and the prerequisites required will differ; if you'd like to attend but aren't sure if the content is suitable, please ask. The Daylight sessions often coincide with an evening social but are not explicitly linked. The evening social can be tagged on at the reduced price of £12, making the bundle a complete bargain!
Timings
| First Half (Core Fundamentals) | 3.30pm – 4.50pm |
|---|---|
| Practice/Social Dancing (All Levels) | 4.50pm – 5.10pm |
| Second Half (Next Steps) | 5.10pm – 6.30pm |
Prices
| Early bird | Advanced | Full price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both Half Sessions (3 hrs) | £20 | £23 | £28 |
| One Half Session (1 hr 40 mins) | £13 | £16 | £20 |
Dates
| Date | Book | Corresponding social (bundle available) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st March 2025 | Swing It! The Hottest Social in Town | |
| 3rd May 2025 | The Joint Is Jumpin' starring the Mama Tokus Swing Quartet | |
| 5th July 2025 | The Swingin' Summer Social | |
| 4th October 2025 | The Sugar Foot Stomp |
How to Book
Balboa Daylight Sessions and the Evening Social (if any) on the same day are booked in the same booking form.
To book a bundle, please select at least one of the Daylight Sessions and the Evening Social in the same booking. The total price will be calculated for you (including the Social for just £12), and you can then make a single payment.
There is no time limit for booking bundles with the discounted £12 rate, but please book early to take advantage of early bird/advanced rates for the Daylight sessions, and to ensure availability for the social.
For example, if you select both Daylight sessions and the Social at the early bird rate, you will be asked to make a single payment of £32.
Balboa Twilight Sessions
An MAS concept that combines elements of the Daylight Sessions with the buzz of a social whereby the lesson content is intertwined with live music. For added pizzazz and to keep everyone fuelled, we include a candlelit dinner section. Attendees provide their own food and drink but we provide plates, cutlery and the all-important ambiance complete with candles and music.
Dates
No dates currently scheduled
Details
The following details apply for all events unless otherwise stated.
| Venue: | Abbey Hall, Behind St Andrew's Church (and adjacent to The Treasury), Catherine Street, Plymouth PL1 2AD |
|---|---|
| Parking: | You can find on street parking on Catherine Street directly outside the venue. The Guildhall car park is also a stone's throw away. Pay and display is required for both of these options. The cheapest place to park nearby is possibly The Barcode. At the time of writing, this was £3 after 5pm. |
| Drinks: | Bring your own drinks (the exception to this is The Speakeasy, which has a fully licenced bar). Tap water is provided. |
| Payment & Cancellations: | Tickets can be purchased online or via our classes. A bank transfer is preferred but cash is accepted if you don't have access to internet banking. Mad About Swing does not issue refunds (ⓘ why?) but tickets are transferable – just let us know the recipient of your ticket. We reserve the right to make changes to our events at any time without notice. |
| Code of Conduct: | We aim to be a welcoming, supportive and friendly organisation, and follow the S.T.E.P.S. Code of Conduct, which applies to all team members and attendees. |
Map
– Swing Dancing in Plymouth, Devon, UK
| Contact us |
|