Victoria Lindy Exchange
Victoria Day Weekend: May 17-19, 2025
Save the date for a weekend of jazzy dance shenanigans!
Passes on sale at noon on February 14, 2025 at the SDAV Square Shop.
Volunteer
Events like the Victoria Lindy Exchange can't happen without help from our community. If you would like to volunteer to make the magic of the Victoria Lindy Exchange happen, please email Maria at volunteer@swingvictoria.net
Pricing
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
Swag
Pre Order your Victoria Lindy Exchange Swag at our SDAV Square Shop. Pre order only available until April 10, 2025. Don't miss out on these bright and happy t shirts and stickers!
T Shirt $25
Our Go-To Fair-wage T-shirt with the Victoria Lindy Exchange 2025 Logo. Sewn in a facility in Mexico, this shirt is light and slightly fitted.
Pre order only available until April 1, 2025.
Sticker $2.50
Our custom-shape sticker, full colour, printed with no-VOC inks of the Victoria Lindy Exchange 2025 Logo.
Pre order only available until April 1, 2025.
Schedule and Information
*subject to change
Friday May 16, 2025
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, 8:45 pm social dancing with live music until 11:30 ish
Location: Dance Victoria - 2750 Quadra St, just north of Hillside.
Price: $18 general or $15 for student
https://www.redhotswing.com/?page_id=22
Saturday May 17, 2025
10 am - 12 pm: Ice Cream and Wander *Free*
Explore Beacon Hill Park. See the flowers, peacocks, and beautiful scenery. Oh and don't forget the ice cream at Beacon Hill Drive-in.
Meet at 10 am at the Beacon Hill Drive-In
Location: Beacon Hill Drive-In, 126 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8V 2N9
1 pm - 2:30 pm: Mini Swing Session
more information to come.
Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9
3 pm to 5 pm: Afternoon Dance
Afternoon Dance with Live Music from Slim Sandy and the Atomic Cocktails.
Live music: 3 pm to 5 pm.
Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9
8 pm -12 am: Evening Social Dance
more information to come.
Live Music: 8:30pm - 11:30pm
Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9
12 am - Late: Late Night Dance
more information to come.
Location: Solwood Studios, 1303 Broad St, Victoria, BC V8W 2A8
Sunday May 18, 2025
11 am - 12 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
12 pm - 3:30 pm: Afternoon Dance
more information to come.
Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9
5 pm - 8 pm: Trivia and Chat *Free, but please buy food and drinks from the Mint*
Come to the Mint for a fun Swing Victoria themed Trivia game (with prizes). Game, meet new folks, and eat good food!
Trivia Game: 6 pm - 7 pm
Location: The Mint, 1414 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8W 2G2
8 pm - 12 am: Evening Dance
more information to come.
Live Music: 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9
12 am - Late: Late Night Dance
more information to come.
Location: Solwood Studios, 1303 Broad St, Victoria, BC V8W 2A8
Monday May 19, 2025
12 pm - 1 pm: Giro de Jeff *Free*
more information to come.
1 pm - 3 pm: Afternoon Outdoor Dance *Free, but please tip the band and buy treats from Murchies*
Join us for an afternoon of outdoor dancing on Government Street to the outrageously talented Dave Harris and friends. Dave Harris, the one man band, plus his friends will keep you dancing all afternoon long to a mix of Jazz, Blues, and Rock n' Roll!
Meet in front of Munro's Books to dance in the street and eat some treats from Murchie's.
Location: Outside of Munro's Books, 1108 Government Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1Y2
3 pm - 5 pm: Survivors Food and Drinks
more information to come.
Locations
Dance Victoria
2750 Quadra St, just north of Hillside.
Red Hot Swing on Friday Night will take place at Dance Victoria.
This venue has amble free parking.
Not included in Weekend Pass.
Beacon Hill Drive-In
126 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8V 2N9
Saturday Ice Cream and Wander
Edelweiss Club
Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9
Saturday Swing Session, Saturday Afternoon Dance, Saturday Evening Dance, Sunday Afternoon Dance, Sunday Evening Dance.
Solwood Studios
1303 Broad St, Victoria, BC V8W 2A8
Saturday Late Night Dance, Sunday Late Night Dance
The Mint
1414 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8W 2G2
Sunday Dinner Trivia and Chat. Delicious food and beverages are available for sale.
Munro's Books
1108 Government Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1Y2
Sunday Afternoon Outdoor Dance location.
Our MC
Elizabeth Blanco
Elizabeth Blanco is a swing dancer, actor, improviser, and Victoria Lindy Exchanges’ first local MC.
Travelling wearily from Edmonton, she will be celebrating living in Victoria for 10 years this coming October. One of her favorite things about Victoria (aside from the ocean air, lush natural landscape, and mild winters) is that this is where she found and fell in love with swing dancing. It wasn’t long after she arrived here that she enrolled in her first swing dance lesson, and could be found swinging out at every event in town. She’s excited to meet and dance with you all!
Saturday Mini Swing Session Instructors
Lisa Marks
Lisa fell in love with partner dancing in 1998. She’s continued to develop her skills as a dancer and instructor with a willingness to explore movement using various techniques and forms in and outside of jazz.
Her goal is to make every social dance, whether partnered or solo, musical and memorable. While instructing, she is interested in exploring and celebrating musicality, creativity and developing your own style.
She is excited to share what she and Claudia have been discovering together and hopes you will enjoy delving into music, movement and partnering in their upcoming class.
Claudia Nobauer
Claudia has been dancing for the better half of her life. The lindy hop is her home and the dance floor is where she comes to rest her feet. Over the past 18 years Claudia has had the immense pleasure and opportunity to learn from Frankie Manning, Dawn Hapton, Chester Whitmore, Anais Sekine, Frida Segerdhal, Joseph Wiggan and countless other incredible dancers.
Claudia’s classes are a mix of rhythm, sweat, and play. Her aim is to help you feel free and safe in your body so that you can express yourself more honestly on the dance floor and in life. Like Dawn Hampton said, “You go to class and you learn the steps, then you get out on the dance floor and throw all that shit out the window and just dance”
Bands and DJs
Saturday Afternoon: Slim Sandy and the Atomic Cocktails
Saturday Afternoon: Slim Sandy's 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.
Slim sings, plays guitar and harmonica, joined by Willa Mae on vocals, Bryn Bad on trumpet and cornet, Big Daddy Bo on bass, and Soda Pop on drums.
Late Night DJ: Andrew Sanderson
You know him and you love his music. A fixture of Victoria's dance scene for over 25 years, he's heard it all. Andrew's passion for music and dancing is contagious and the only cure is more dancing!
Monday Afternoon: Dave Harris and Friends
Dave Harris has been a staple of the Victoria music scene since the 1970s. Perhaps you saw him with the Flying Saucers at Swan’s, as a one-man band busking in the Inner Harbour, or playing with a rotating cast of friends at the James Bay School park through COVID times. He’s been a guest lecturer at UVic for their History of Blues and History of Rock and Roll classes, and he’s published an extensively-researched book about the history of one man bands.
more information to come.
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
Location: Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9
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!
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
Things to Bring and Consider
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
We hope you enjoy these photo highlights!
More photos are posted to our VicLx Photo page!
If you took photos and want to share, send them to hello@swingvictoria.net or hashtag them with #viclx