Weekly Swing Dance Nights in Toronto

There are many options for swing dancing in Toronto. The following is a list of the “main” dancing opportunities that happen across most nights of the week. This is where you will usually find most of the local lindy hoppers out dancing.

Saturday

Swing Toronto (formerly “Odd Socks”)
Swing Toronto presents Saturday Night Swing, a swing dance party every Saturday Night with a swingin live band and beginner dance classes at Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Rd. Plus special event weekends with some of the foremost Lindy Hop teachers in the world. Saturday Night Swing is very beginner friendly! For up-to-date info for Swing Toronto events check out http://www.swingtoronto.com

Sunday

Starting in 2010, there is a new dance every Sunday night at The Imperial Pub in downtown Toronto!  Presented by The Swing and Tap Academy of Toronto this “Swing and Blues” night will feature Toronto’s best DJ’s as they spin the best blues and swing music for your dancing pleasure!  The cost is FREE and the night is very beginner friendly so be sure to check it out!

The Imperial Pub is located at 54 Dundas St. E (one block east of Dundas Station on Yonge St.) and the dance starts in the back room on the 1st floor 8:30 pm every week.

Monday

Reservoir Lounge
A favourite venue among Toronto lindy hoppers, The Reservoir Lounge is a cozy jazz bar offering live music six nights a week. On Monday nights the featured performer is “Sophia Perlman & The Vipers” who start around 9:30 PM and there’s a “pay what you can” cover on the set breaks. The Reservoir Lounge is at 52 Wellington Street E (just west of Church Street).

Tuesday

Alleycatz Live Jazz Bar
Come every Tuesday night to Alleycatz for one of Toronto’s biggest weekday dance events with great live swing music. Introductory Swing Dance Lesson starts at 7:30 PM and the band plays at 8:30 PM. Cover is $5 with or without lesson. Alleycatz is located at 2409 Yonge Street about three blocks north of Eglinton Ave.

Wednesday

U of T Swing Dance Club
UT-Swing is a student-run group dedicated to the fun and fabulous
 social dances of the ’20s-’50s, focusing on the Lindy Hop and the
Charleston. Our ‘big thing’ is our Wednesday events, when we host
swing dancing lessons and social dances every week.  Lessons run from 7:00-8:00 PM and social dancing takes place from 8:00 PM onwards.  The venue changes from week to wee so check out the official UT Swing website at  http://swing.sa.utoronto.ca.

Reservoir Lounge
On Wednesday night, The Reservoir Lounge is the place to be again with live music featuring “Bradley and the Bouncers”. This is typically the biggest night of the week at The Reservoir Lounge as far as swing dancing goes.  The band starts at 9:30 PM and goes until 1:30 AM.

Thursday

Reservoir Lounge
On Thursday nights most lindy hoppers head back to The Reservoir Lounge for another night of dancing. This time it’s to the live jazz sounds of “Janice Hagan”. The Reservoir Lounge is at 52 Wellington Street E (just west of Church Street) and there’s a $5 cover.

Friday

Toronto Swing Dance Society
Every second Friday the Toronto Swing Dance Society hosts a swing dance at the Lithuanian House.  The dances rotate between East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, and Lindy Hop.  For more information, check out http://www.dancing.org/tsds .  The Lithuanian House is located at:  1573 Bloor Street West and is close to the Dundas West subway station

Swing Toronto
Every third Friday of the month Swing Toronto hosts at “Swing and Blues” night at Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Road.  It features a live band and a blues lesson before the dance begins.  Full details on all dances at Swing Toronto can be found on their website schedule.