Swing Victoria - Victoria Lindy Exchange 2026

The Swing Dance Association of Victoria has a Financial Assistance Fund to help dancers who require financial assistance to attend Swing Dance Association of Victoria workshops and events. If you need to access the Financial Assistance Fund please email us at hello@swingvictoria.net

You can learn about the fund or contribute to the fund here: https://www.swingvictoria.net/faq/financial-assistance-fund

Buy Your Pass

Schedule and Information

*subject to change

Friday November 6, 2026

8 pm - 11:30 pm: Red Hot Swing (not included in Weekend Pass)

Every Friday evening, Red Hot Swing puts on a dance party! Total beginners are always welcome; their drop-in beginner lesson will have you dancing in no time. Neither partner nor experience are required, but pack a spare sense of humour!

Following the lesson, the dance features fantastic live music perfect for dancing the night away whether you’re mad about lindy hop, charleston, balboa, or collegiate shag.

Time: 7:50 pm doors open, 8:00 pm drop-in beginner lesson starts, 9:10 pm social dancing with live music until 11:30 ish

Price: $18 general or $15 for student

Location: Dance Victoria - 2750 Quadra St, just north of Hillside.

https://www.redhotswing.com/?page_id=22

Midnight - Late: Late Night Dance

Music from DJs Johann and Andrew.

Doors open at midnight.

Location: Broad Street Studio, 1303 Broad St, Victoria, BC V8W 2A8

Saturday November 7, 2026

10:30 am: Doors Open

11 am - 12:30 pm: Mini Swing Session with Bailey and Casey

This class is about nurturing your inner social dancer. Lindy Hop is a social dance, but we rarely talk about what it means to be a good social dancer. During this class, we will work on waking up our bodies, listening to music, and showing appreciation. Expect to get a little sweaty in this all-level class.

Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9

1 pm - 3:30 pm: Fast Feet Social Afternoon Dance

Love balboa, shag, and fast dancing? The Fast Feet Social is for you.

Live Music from Slim Sandy and the Atomic Cocktails.

Partnered Competition: Faster, Swing! Dance! Dance!

Theme: Event Wear (event t-shirts)

Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9

4 pm - 5 pm: Community Conversation with Jean-Michel and Liana

Our Community Consent Conversation with Liana and Jean-Mi will be a space for dancers to explore issues related to partner comfort and safety, effective communication, consent and boundaries.

Dancers will have the opportunity to reflect on personal experience, engage in small group discussions, and practice communication strategies as we witness and hold each other accountable.

Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9

7 pm: Audio Engineering for Organizers

For organizers, learn the basics of live audio engineering by Dave Henderson Sound.

Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9

8:30 pm -11:30 pm: Evening Dance

Evening Social Dance with Live Music from Kelby MacNayr's Tiny Rhythm Kings, featuring Louise Rose.

Theme: Colour Formal (sparkly, colour, bolder the better)

Doors open at 8:30 pm with music from DJ Jean-Michel, Live Music at 9 pm

Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9

Midnight - Late: Late Night Dance

Live Music from Avram McCagherty and his Late Night Lads.

Doors open at midnight.

Location: Broad Street Studio, 1303 Broad St, Victoria, BC V8W 2A8

Sunday November 8, 2026

9:30 am: Doors Open

10 am - 11 am: Sunday Morning Cartoons with Joel

Start the day with Joel Schwarz and his amazing jazz dance video collection. Joel will take us on a journey through his favourite jazz dance cartoons and live action videos, plus some favourite breakfast treats!

Theme: Comfy PJs

Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9

11 am - 1:15 pm: Early Matinee Dance

Live Music from the Dave, Clark and Al Trio.

With over 150 years of traditional jazz, early swing, hokum, and blues these Victoria legends will make magic on the dance floor.

Solo Competition: Catie Says Solo Jazz

Theme: Show us your Plaid

Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9

1:30 pm - 3 pm: Music Bingo and Lunch

Get your ears and dabbers ready for Music Bingo with Dave!

Pre order your lunch at the front desk on Saturday.

Partnered Competition: So You Think You Can't Dance (to that)? (sign up at front desk required)

Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9

3 pm - 6 pm: Fireside Music Chat and Afternoon Dance

Afternoon Dance with Live Music from Avram McCagherty and his Proper Nouns, featuring Lloyd Arntzen.

Theme: Best Lloyd Arntzen Thrift Shop Special

Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9

Getting Around Victoria

Taking BC Transit? Victoria has a public transit system. Check out the BC Transit website for bus information.

Riding your bicycle? The Victoria is very bike-able, but make sure you lock up your bike carefully as bike theft does happen here. Victoria also has a Bike Valet downtown. Check out the City of Victoria's website for more information on Bike Routes and the Bike Valet.

Victoria has paid street parking and downtown paid parkades, as well as free street parking. Street parking and Parkades can be paid for via the Park Victoria App. Be mindful of the street parking restrictions. Please review the parking restriction signs and pay particular attention to the restrictions. Check out the City of Victoria's website for more information on parking availability and the Park Victoria App.

Event Locations and Information

Broad Street Studio (formerly Solwood Studio)

Broad Street Studio (formerly Solwood Studio): 1303 Broad St, Victoria.

Note: there is a steep staircase to go up to access the studio.

Taking BC Transit? Victoria has a public transit system. Check out the BC Transit website for bus information.

Riding your bicycle? Getting to the Broad Street Studio is very bike-able. Check out the City of Victoria website and the Victoria Bike Valet website for secure bike lock up information.

Driving to the Broad Street Studio? The City of Victoria has parkades and some pay street parking is available but please review the parking restriction signs and pay particular attention to the restrictions. Check out the City of Victoria website for parking information.

Victoria Edelweiss Club

The Victoria Edelweiss Club is located at 108 Niagara St, Victoria.

Taking BC Transit? Victoria has a public transit system. Check out the BC Transit website for bus information. The Victoria Edelweiss Club is only a short walk away from the #2 and #5 bus routes.

Riding your bicycle? The Victoria Edelweiss Club is very bike-able.

Driving to the Victoria Edelweiss Club? The Hall has plentiful parking in it's very own parking lot. Some street parking is available but please review the parking restriction signs and pay particular attention to the restrictions.

Food and Drinks near Broad Street Studio

Rise and Grind

Coffee and delicious sandwiches. 1294 Broad Street. Hours: Monday- Sunday: 9 am to 3 pm. https://alanrenyh5.wixsite.com/risengrind1294

Le Crossiant Chaud

French bakery with coffee, yum! 1315 Broad Street. Hours: 9 am to 3 pm. https://www.instagram.com/lecroissantchaud.ca

Bodega

Intimate fixture featuring Spanish tapas, wine & cocktails in a warm atmosphere, plus patio seating. 1210 Broad Street. Hours: Monday - Sunday 12 pm to 10 pm. http://bodegabar.ca

Coop's Chicken and Smash Burgers

Crave-worthy fried chicken and sizzling smash burgers, made fresh and served fast in the heart of downtown. 609 Yates Street. Hours: Monday - Sunday 11 am to 9 pm. https://www.coopschicken.ca

La Fogata Mexicana Restaurant

Relaxed stop serving Colombian fare, with vegetarian options, arepas & empanadas, plus takeout. 1310 Douglas Street. Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11 am to 8 pm, Sunday 12 pm - 7 pm. https://fogatamexicana.com

QV Cafe & Bakery

All-day menus focused on classic coffee shop beverages, baked goods, & cafe fare in a warm space. 1701 Government Street. Hours: Monday -Sunday 8:30 am to 10 pm. https://qvcafe.ca

Food and Drinks near the Victoria Edelweiss Club

Polka Food Truck

Homemade polish cuisine (Saturday only). White Eagle Hall parking lot. 90 Dock Street. https://www.victoriapolishhall.com/dev/?page_id=199

Breakwater Bistro

Coffee, baked goods, breakfast items, plus full service restaurant. 199 Dallas Road. Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 9 am - 10 pm https://www.breakwaterbistro.ca/restaurant

Discovery Coffee

Coffee and super great doughnuts. 281 Menzies Street. Hours: Monday - Sunday 7:30 am - 4 pm https://discoverycoffee.com/pages/locations

The Bent Mast

Pub drinks and food. 512 Simcoe Street. Hours: Monday - Sunday 11:30 am - 12 am. https://www.thebentmastvictoria.com

Courtyard Café

Coffee, baked goods, take-and-bake hotel entrées. 463 Belleville, in the Grand Pacific Hotel. Hours: 6:30 am - 6 pm https://www.hotelgrandpacific.com/dine-courtyard-cafe

Heron Rock Bistro

Tasty brunch, lunch, and dinner. 4-435 Simcoe Street. Hours: Monday - Sunday 9 am - 10 pm https://www.heronrockbistro.ca

Floyd's Diner

Funky, friendly atmosphere with diner style food. 425 Quebec Street. Hours: Monday - Sunday 8 am - 3 pm https://floydsdiner.ca

Red Barn Market

Super deli sandwiches pre-made or custom counter. 325 Menzies Street. Hours: Monday - Sunday 8 am - 8 pm https://www.redbarnmarket.ca/locations/james-bay

The Coriander

Laid-back restaurant offering breakfasts like omelettes & poached eggs, plus classic Indian dishes. #1 230 Menzies Street. Hours: Wednesday - Monday 12 pm - 10 pm https://thecoriandervictoria.com

The Bop

Low-key restaurant offering traditional Korean specialties like bulgogi & jjigae. 239 Menzies Street. Hours: Lunch and Dinner https://thebop.ca/

Murder Burger

Everything you want to eat, dry-aged smashburgers. tallow fries. confit wings. soft serve. shakes. beer. 332 Menzies Street. Hours: 12 pm - 9 pm https://www.murderburger.com

Bands and DJs

More information coming soon.

Slim Sandy and the Atomic Cocktails

Slim Sandy’s Atomic Cocktails play a mix of swinging Jazz, and rhythm and blues from the 20’ to the 50’s. The Atomic Cocktails are the perfect band for Shag, Balboa, and fast Lindy Hop enthusiasts.

Peter Sandmark, vocals, guitar, harmonica; Tracey Nelson, vocals, percussion, kazoo-o-phone; German Ebert, drums; Bryn Badel, trumpet; and Johnny Acker, bass

At the Saturday Fast Feet Social Afternoon Dance.

Kelby MacNayr's Tiny Rhythm Kings, featuring Louise Rose

Kelby MacNayr's Tiny Rhythm Kings swing music from the time of Counts, Dukes and Kings - Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, and more!

Louise Rose is a living treasure with experiences and stories from a life well lived. Highlights include: studying piano with Oscar Peterson, conducting with Leonard Bernstein, arranging with Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington, and independent studies with Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald, and B.B. King. Louise is also conductor of the highly successful Victoria Good News Choir, which specializes in blues, gospel, semi-classical, and jazz.

At the Saturday Evening Dance.

Avram McCagherty and his Late Night Lads

Avram McCagherty and his late Night Lads were bit by a radio-active Jazz Bug and they will use their super powers of Dirty Jazz stylings to keep you dancing all night long.

Avram McCagherty on guitar and banjo, Ryan Tandy on bass, and Matt Pease on drums.

At the Saturday Late: Late Night.

Dave Harris with his friends Clark and Al (Doug Rhodes subbing for Al Pease)

With over 150 years of traditional jazz, early swing, hokum, and blues these Victoria legends will make magic on the dance floor.

Dave Harris has long been a fixture of the local music scene, famous for his commanding presence in the downtown busking scene and his appearances at cafés, bars, nightclubs, and music festivals. A celebrated and legendary one-man band, Dave draws on blues, early jazz, swing and hokum traditions.

Clark Brendan is a highly regarded mainstay of the local music scene and a founding member of some of Victoria’s most successful and best-loved swing, traditional jazz, and early blues groups, including the Big Band Trio, the Flying Saucers, the Blue Lights, and many more.

Al Pease is Victoria traditional jazz royalty. A brilliant improviser in the tradition of clarinettist Benny Goodman and tenor saxophonist Lester Young, Al has toured the world — and, luckily for us, has made Victoria his musical home for the past forty years.

Dave Harris on guitar, harmonica, and drums, Clark Brendon on bass, and Al Pease on clarinet and saxophone.

At the Sunday Early Matinee Dance

Avram McCagherty and his Proper Nouns, featuring Lloyd Arntzen

What can be said about Lloyd that hasn't already been said? His father could have invented Jazz, but Lloyd embodies Jazz. Lloyd is Jazz Grandpa, praise the Lloyd.

Join Arvam, Lloyd, and Friends as they takes you inside the music we love, as we merge a Fireside Music Chat and Afternoon Tea Dance.

Lloyd Arntzen clarinetist, soprano saxophonist and vocalist. Lloyd has been arranging, playing and researching vintage jazz from the ’20s and ’30s for decades. The style’s continuing survival in Greater Vancouver owes a lot to the elder Arntzen. He founded the Jazz Band Society in 1958 and the series of jazz band balls he started helped create the Hot Jazz Club. Lloyd is a regular fixture on the trad jazz scene in the Pacific Northwest. He has performed at major jazz festivals around the world and has won countless awards, including the Spirit of Lindy Bout. Lloyd is known to many Swing Dancers as Jazz Grandpa.

Lloyd Arntzen on clarinet and soprano saxophone, Avram McCagherty on guitar and banjo, Doug Rhodes on clarinet and saxophone, Scott White on bass, and Matt Pease on drums.

At the Sunday Fireside Music Chat and Dance

Andrew Sanderson (he/him)

All Star DJ representing Victoria!

Friday Late: Late Night

Saturday Late: Late Night Band Breaks

David Boffa (he/him)

All Star DJ representing Victoria!

All Weekend Long!

Jean-Michel Oblette (he/him/il/lui)

All Star DJ hailing from Vancouver!

Saturday Night Band Breaks

Meagan Russell (she/her)

All Star DJ representing Victoria!

Sunday Daytime Band Breaks

Julia Franta (she/her)

All Star DJ representing Victoria!

Competition DJ

Faces at the Victoria Lindy Exchange

Bailey (she/her) - Mini Swing Session Teacher

Bailey McCully has taught and performed across North America and Europe, but happily calls Washington home. She teaches dance to movers of all ages, working in Seattle schools to provide accessible dance classes to young dancers. Her background and work in education has made pedagogical excellence both a passion and defining quality. Bailey always aims to create a class culture in which students feel safe to try, fail, and learn to become the best dancers they can be.

While technique is always a component, Bailey focuses on teaching students about how they can move rather than how they should move. She loves to explore personal style and creativity with her students, using the music as the constant source of guidance and inspiration. Just as jazz music lets you hear the personality of the musician, Bailey believes that jazz dancing should reflect the personality of the dancer. Dancing with a partner or dancing solo, Bailey radiates the joy of jazz with every step.

Casey Connor (he/him) - Mini Swing Session Teacher

Casey Connor took a strange and winding road to jazz piano from his youth spent listening to Whitney Houston and They Might Be Giants in central Ohio. His early obsession with Ragtime piano eventually blossomed into compulsive practice of scales over blues progressions and a stint in A Cappella music in college. He studied sitar in India and spent longer than he probably should have chasing singer songwriter dreams up and down the West Coast.

After landing in Bellingham, WA, he fell in with American fiddle tune players and was a member of Rattletrap Ruckus, playing tenor banjo in a band lead by the late, great Lucas Hicks on button accordion. He found his way into jazz via piano in the Hothouse Jazz Band organized by Pace Rubadeau. He played guitar in The Wandering Seas, a trio playing original compositions on fiddle and cello, and currently plays melodica, accordion, and sometimes even a normal piano in The Hot Tomatoes.

He produced a series of videos on YouTube about music theory, psychoacoustics, and related subjects. He has played on the street in Kolkata, India, on makeshift stages at protests, on stage in Islamabad, Pakistan, for pigeons in France, at a hostel in Beijing, for kids at a Grief Camp, and around innumerable campfires... but mostly by himself in his bedroom. Throughout all his musical life the spirit of improvisation has inflected and guided his music, and his most natural and enduring home has been in and around the traditions of jazz, blues, and all music that connects us fully to the past and our own creative future.

Joel Schwarz (he/him) - Sunday Morning Cartoons

Joel has been digging jazz for over 25 years. Utilizing his skills as a filmmaker, he began interviewing and learning from many of the living legends. Together with his wife Louise, they made it their mission to preserve and pass on as much of this knowledge as they could. Joel built up a collection of jazz on film and started hanging out with members of Vancouver’s legendary 78’s Record club.

Louise and Joel organized live jazz at venues throughout Vancouver, including the historic Hot Jazz Club. They produced a series of dance weekends such as the Funky Butt Jazz Gathering. Joel has created film presentations that have been popular at dance events all over western Canada and the USA. He has also been an MC, DJ and Video DJ.

His future endeavors include DJing vinyl and filming local masters in a series called BC Heritage Moments. Joel and Louise enjoy teaching jazz dances to their children, Amy and Alice. They perform as the Schwarz Family Dancers.

Natalie Hobbs (she/her) - Minister of Media

Natalie Hobbs was born and raised in Celista, BC. In 2004, she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Simon Fraser University. While living in Newfoundland she fell in love with swing dance. Natalie then started taking pictures and videos of her dancing friends. This eventually led to writing newsletters and creating social media. She loves to capture the joy of swing dance and its unseen beautiful moments.

Safer Spaces Team

Our Safer Spaces Team exists to address your code of conduct and safety concerns in a friendly and compassionate manner. All concerns will be taken seriously and treated with care.

Safer Spaces Team members will be wearing green light up arm bands for easy identification during the event. You can reach Safer Spaces Team members in person at all times at the event. If you have a concern that you would rather handle via email, please reach out to saferspaces@swingvictoria.net

Catie Fissel (she/her)

Dave Henderson (he/his)

Ryan Kim (he/him)

Sunny Enkin Lewis (she/her)

Competitions

Get ready for free, fun, fabulous, competitions! No need to sign up ahead of time, except So You Think You Can't Dance (to that).

Saturday Afternoon: Faster, Swing! Dance! Dance! (Partnered Competition)

A high-intensity stamina challenge where dancers must continuously perform swingouts to the music.

DJ Julia Franta will DJ amazing swing for swingouts, with the pace increasing to push physical endurance, rhythm maintenance, and core compression rather than just flashy tricks.

Judging via tap out.

Dancers keep executing swingouts non-stop. If you miss the beat, fall out of rhythm, or stop, you are eliminated.

Sunday Early Matinee Dance: Catie Says Solo Jazz (Solo Competition)

Catie gives physical or mimetic instructions (like "suzie q" or "jump three times").

DJ Julia Franta will play super fun music for solo jazz.

Players must obey the command only if Catie says the phrase "Catie Says" first (e.g., "Catie Says, suzie q").

If Catie gives a command without saying "Catie Says" first (e.g., just saying "suzie q"), players must not do the action.

Anyone who follows a command that did not start with "Catie Says"—or fails to follow a valid "Catie Says" command—is out of the round.

Judging self elimination and tap out.

Winning: The last remaining player who avoided every trick wins the game.

Sunday Music Bingo (Individual, non dance)

Music bingo replaces traditional numbers with song titles and artist names. You listen to short music clips played by Dave, check your card, and mark off matching tracks until you complete a winning pattern.

Get your card: Pick up your bingo card featuring a grid of song titles and artist names (with a free space in the center).

Listen to the music: Dave will play short snippets of songs—usually around 20 to 30 seconds.

Mark your card: If you recognize the track or match it to a song listed on your card, you mark it off using a dabber or pen.

Call "Bingo!": Once you complete the required pattern, yell out "Bingo!". Dave will verify your Bingo Card

Sunday Music Bingo: So You Think You Can't Dance (to that)? (Partnered Competiton, Sign up at front desk on Saturday required)

Dancers will be challenged with a variety of tempos and styles from non swing genres played by DJ Julia Franta

Format: Battle

Round 1 (8 couples): Dance one at a time for about 30 seconds each then 45 seconds all-skate

Round 2 (4 couples): Dance one at a time for about 30 seconds each then 45 seconds all-skate

Final Round (2 couples): Dance one at a time for about 45 seconds each then another 45 seconds each, then an all-skate

Judging via crowd pointing to the winner of each round.

Clothing Exchange

Clothing exchanges are environmentally friendly. It’s sustainable fashion. You’re just exchanging clothes you no longer want for new to you clothes that you’ll actually use anyway.

The Victoria Lindy Exchange will have a clothing exchange. Everyone is welcome to participate.

We just have three simple rules: All clothes must be freshly washed. All clothes must be in good condition. All left over clothes will be donated to WIN (Women in Need Shop)

All Day Saturday and Sunday at the Victoria Edelweiss Club

Housing and Hosting

Are you looking for housing or can you host an our of town guest? Car pooling?

Check out the Victoria Lindy Exchange Community and Housing!

Things to Bring and Consider

No aerials are allowed at any time during this event.

Indoor shoes for dancing. We recommend shoes with suede or leather soles.

Water bottle. Stay hydrated.

Towel. Stay dry.

Wearing a mask is encouraged for events. If you are asking a person who is wearing a mask to dance or chat, please ask them if you should wear a mask. Masks are available for your use at events (for free). Note: masks may become mandatory depending on local health guidelines, and what it required to keep our community safe and healthy.

For the safety of attendees with allergies and sensitivities, please avoid wearing strong scents (perfume, cologne, scented lotion) at all SDAV events.

The Fine Print

By registering for this event I agree to adhere to the Swing Dance Association of Victoria’s Code of Conduct

By registering for this event I agree to the Swing Dance Association of Victoria’s Cancellation Policy

By registering for this event I agree to the Swing Dance Association of Victoria’s Covid Plan

By registering for this event I agree to the Swing Dance Association of Victoria’s Event Waiver

VicLx Photos 2025

VicLx Photos 2024

We hope you enjoy these photo highlights!

If you took photos and want to share, send them to hello@swingvictoria.net or hashtag them with #viclx

-Catie, President of the Swing Dance Association of Victoria

Buy your Pass

Page updated

Report abuse