This is the home of the Kitchener-Waterloo Swing Dance Society (KWSDS). Feel free to email us with any questions or to find out more about swing dancing in the Waterloo Region. You can also join our mailing list to receive announcements about things such as dances, lessons, and special events. Oh, and the KWSDS has a facebook group too!
Big events coming up:
Dances
There are dances in Waterloo on a weekly and monthly basis.
Dancing in Waterloo Park (Thursdays weekly)
Every Thursday we gather by the gazebo on Silver Lake to dance and socialize while enjoying the summer weather.
Special edition on Aug 21st! The Waterstreet Blues Band is giving a
free concert in the park and we're going to dance there instead of at the gazebo. Look for the stage on the west side of the park, near the baseball diamonds and Father David Bauer Drive. Music starts at 7:30 sharp!
- Where ~ Waterloo Park, Silver Lake gazebo (by the playground) ~ Google map
- When ~ Thursdays, 8:00 to 11:00
- Details ~
- Free!
- Weather permitting
- Parking entrance off Albert St and Young St East
Blues Jam at Bobby O'Briens (Wednesdays weekly)
Wednesdays at Bobby O'Briens (formerly The Still Bar & Grill) come and join us for some live blues music and blues jamming. With a nice new wood floor and a huge patio open in the summer, this is a great venue to get a cold drink and practice your moves.
- Where ~ Bobby O'Briens, 125 King St West, Kitchener ~ Google map
- When ~ Wednesdays, 8:00 to 11:00
- Details ~
- Free!
- Live blues music and DJ'ed swing in the breaks
- Parking in the lot across the street
KWSDS Monthly Dance (3rd Friday each month)
Our "official" regular swing dance, this event draws plenty of the local dancers as well as visitors from Toronto, Brantford, Windsor, and elsewhere.
- Where ~ Waterloo Naval Association, 315 Weber St North, Waterloo ~ Google map
- When ~ The 3rd Friday evening of each month, 8:00 to 12:00 (next one on August 15th)
- Details ~
- Free beginner swing dance lesson every month
- Cash bar
- DJs, bands, performances, and other features every month!
- This month's dance (August 15) ~
- Cost is $8 ($6 for students)
- Free intermediate swing dance lesson from 8:00 to 8:30
- Free beginner swing dance lesson from 8:30 to 9:15
- Music by DJ Brooke (from Toronto!) and DJ Andrew
Classes
The KWSDS itself does not offer weekly dance classes, but there are several groups that do.
New classes are starting up! Brooke, Troy, and Maria have been working together to get dance lessons started up in Waterloo. Brooke will be teaching 2 classes: an intermediate lindy class and a teaching class. Classes run for 6 weeks beginning Sunday, August 10th (no classes on the Labour Day weekend). Cost is $75/course or $130 for both, or by drop-in. Email Maria for more information or to register.
Otherwise, here are other places we know of where classes can be found:
- The UW Swing Club runs weekly lessons for UW students;
- Drop-in and Swing! There are drop-in lessons offered by local teachers before Dancing in Waterloo Park on Thursdays; *
- Lessons are offered before the KWSDS monthly dances (see above);
- Addicted to Dancing offers private lessons and also can teach classes by request.
* Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:00 in Waterloo Park, $5 regular, $2 students/seniors (see directions above). Email Dave for more information. (Also, here is a flyer from some of the local instructors.)
Events
We've got some great events coming up!
Summer Party Dance Potluck (Sunday August 17)
To wrap up the last month of summer on a high note, everyone is invited out to Jimmy's house for an afternoon and evening of food, dancing, and socializing. This is a great chance to get to know others in the swing dance scene, and for the KWSDS to show our appreciation to everyone who helps make our events possible, as well as to all the dancers who make our community what it is.
It's a potluck, so bring out your favourite dish, salad, snack, or dessert, and we will have burgers and drinks already there. Jimmy's got a BBQ available to use and we'll be laying out a dance floor outside.
- Where ~ Jimmy's place, 325 Keewatin Ave, Kitchener ~ Google map
- When ~ Sunday August 17, 3:00 to 10:00 pm
- Details ~
- Potluck, with burgers and drinks provided
- BYOB
- Outdoor dance floor, and space to put out your lawn chair too
Road Trip: Buffalo Spectacular (Saturday August 30)
The Waterloo Swing Crew has been invited to teach and perform in Buffalo, and they want you to come along! They will be giving a short workshop in the afternoon, and then there is dancing at night as well as some performances. It sounds like there might even be some Waterloo-style socializing lined up for after the dance, if you know what I mean...
There is a flyer showing the details, and a facebook group with the information as well. Contact us to arrange transportation and housing. Here is the summary:
- Where ~ Buffalo, NY
- When ~ Saturday August 30, 2:00 to 11:00 pm
- Cost ~ $8 for the workshop and $8 for the dance (prices are both $5 for students)
- Schedule ~
- 2:00-3:00: Beginner class and DJ class (2 rooms)
- 3:00-4:20: Beg-int class and Intermediate class (2 rooms)
- 4:30-5:00: All-levels class
- 8:00-9:00: Beginner class
- 9:00-11:00: Dance and performance
Past Events
Here are some of the major swing dance events that have been held recently in Kitchener-Waterloo.
- Dance It Up at the KBF ~ Aug 8-10 ~ Dancing at the Kitchener Blues Festival, as well as a lesson from the KWSDS and a performance by the Waterloo Swing Crew
- MezzJelly Waterloo Blues Weekend ~ Jun 20-22 ~ A weekend of great blues dancing including classes with several well-known instructors and dances all day and night
Performances
There is a swing dancing performance group in KW named the Waterloo Swing Crew. They perform for many events such as fundraisers, formal evenings, and community events. They have entertained at many venues throughout KW, including Kitchener City Hall, the Waterloo Inn, Victoria Park Pavilion, Kitchener Public Library, and St. Mark's Parish.
The Waterloo Swing Crew can be reached by email at waterloo.swing.crew@gmail.com. They also have a promotional video online which we invite you to check out.
Calendar
Local events are listed in red, out-of-town events (road trips) in brown. To view details just click on the event! For more information, or to get in touch with the contact people listed for road trips, please email us.
Links
Here are a few websites to go to for event information, or for general information about swing dancing:
These websites contain information on various styles of dance:
