Outdoors summer dancing in Uppsala

Tuesdays are dancing days in Uppsala during the summer. If you go down to the park by the river, you'll find lindy hoppers and balboa dancers all over the place from 18 o'clock and until we run out of batteries for the boombox or run out of dancers, whichever happens first.

Many people bring food and drinks and have a picnic while they rest for a while. Many other (not yet dancing) people pass by on the walking paths beside and stay for a while and look. This is a perfect opportunity to introduce your friends to the dance.



Nobody has yet fallen into the river by accident but last Tuesday one guy jumped into river all by himself.

The event has expanded to Mondays when tap dancer try their rhythms on the quayside.

The event seems to be getting some attention since earlier this week the local radio station phoned me and wanted to get in contact with some dancers.

There are also other outside dances in Uppsala, if you dance tango, go to Smultron at Svartbäcksgatan on Tuesdays between 19 and 23 and if dance Swedish Bugg, go to the river between Skolgatan and Eddaspången on Thursdays after 18.

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to buy or license them.

What do you think of the outside dancing by the river in Uppsala? Have you been there yet? Please comment.

1920s Charleston at the Gatsby Picnic 08 - Lynne and Peter

I really like this video clip from the Gatsby Picnic 2008 where Lynne Koehlinger and Peter Varshavsky perform a 1920's partner charleston routine to Jimmie Noone's Apex Orchestra song "Every Evening (I Miss You)".

The charleston dancing looks very airy and light and there is all sorts of charleston in the routine; partner charleston, solo charleston and breakaways (that later on developed into lindy hop swingouts). I'd like to get better at charleston, it's been a while since we had charleston workshop in town.

What do you think of the video clip? Please comment.

Dance picnic with Lennakatten Aug 31st

Join me on Sunday Aug 31st at the annual dance picnic that Swingkatten organizes. We take the steam train Lennakatten out to the station in Länna and walks to Kopphagens dansbana where the band Canal Street Syncopators will play swing in a 1930's style.

The train leaves the station Uppsala Östra (Bergsbrunnagatan 2) at 11.25. The ride costs 45 kr for for swing dancers and the fee for the dance is 60 kr.

There will be hamburgers, lemonade and cakes for sale.

The video clip above is made by me from fotage from the very first picnic in 2005.

We made an extra ride with Lennakatten this spring, check out this video clip to see more of Kopphagens dansbana.



Will you join us on Sunday? What do you think of my promotion video? Please comment.

Dancing at the quayside in Uppsala

For the last three years (maybe longer) we've had as a tradition to dance outside along the quayside in the harbour of Uppsala in the summer. We got the idea from "Lindy in the Park" in San Francisco and have called it "Lindy at the Quayside" (in swedish: bryggdans). Now with the pretty strong balboa scene here in Uppsala, maybe we should just call it "Dancing at the Quayside".

The concept is simple: somebody brings a boom blaster and some swing music. Everybody else comes there and dance and hangs out with their friends. You can bring some picnic if you like. Clean simple fun. And you may also get applauses from people passing by (Yeah, we are that good ;-)). The edge is quite close but to this date nobody has fallen into the water.



Previous years this event has taken place at weekends, but now there seems to be a new informal group that will arrange this on Tuesdays between 18-21. Yay for more people doing stuff. You're great!

What do you think of Lindy at the Quayside? Do you do a similar thing? Please comment.

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.

Dance picnic at Kopphagens dansbana tomorrow

Tomorrow, Saturday, there is a dance picnic at Kopphagens dansbana. Our swing dance society Swingkatten joins the celebration of the steam train organisation Lennakatten, which celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Take the steam train from the station Uppsala Östra at 11:20. The dance starts at 12:30 and I will be djing until 16:00. The ride and the dance is free. You are very welcome to dress up in 1920-1940s style clothing.

You can buy pie, cakes and soft drinks there. You can also bring your own picnic basket. The dj enjoys all kinds of tasty food if you decide to bring him some ;-).



Swingkatten's show group MessAround will perform at some point. If you miss them then you can catch them again at night back in Uppsala when MessAround perform at Filurarverkstan at 18:15 (Skolgatan 7).

The weather forecast says: Sun, warmth and everything nice. Come and join us for a dance picnic tomorrow.

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.

Have you been at a dance picnic at Kopphagens dansbana before? Tell me.

Canal Street Syncopators at Kopphagens dansbana: Photos

Last Sunday swing dancers and jazz lovers took the steam train Lennakatten out to Länna outside Uppsala for a dance picnic. We had a wonderful weather, probably the last varm sunny day of summer.

This was the third year in a row we did dance picnic and every year the orchestra Canal Street Syncopators have played their music for us. It was great to hear that they picked up the song Cavernism, I danced with one of my favorite followers to that song.



Before the band played we had taster lessons in partner charleston and solo charleston. I was the sound technician of the day so I set up the sound system and mixed the band. After the band ended I stayed behind the sound table and dj:ed a couple of hours.



The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.

Where you at the dance picnic at Kopphagens dansbana? What did you think of the day? Tell me.

Dance picnic with Lennakatten

On Sunday the 26th, there will be a dance picnic in Länna outside Uppsala organized by the dance organisation Swingkatten. For the third year in a row we will take the steam train, Lennakatten, to Länna and the outside dancing place known as "Kopphagens dansbana".

There will be taster lessons in lindy hop and charleston and live music will be played by the orchestra Canal Street Syncopators. After the band have finished I will dj a set with great swing music.

The theme of the picnic is the 1920s-1930s, so if you got any clothing that resembles that era, please wear it, othervise, wear your sunday best clothes.

Read more about the dance picnic at Swingkattens website.

"[A] picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors, ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape. [Wikipedia]"

Are you planning to join the dance picnic? Do you want me to play a certain song? Tell me.