To say that this summer has been packed is an understatement. There’s more going on this summer in London that’s swing dance related than ever before, and much if it is free. Some of the highlights coming up include:

SDL’s Swing Dance Picnics, organised by Adrian McDowall, this August’s installment takes place this Sunday. If you can’t make it, another is planned in September, so you’ll still be able to bring along a strawberry or two to share with everyone.

The Bank Holiday weekend is going to be a hot one, at least for us dancers. The National Theatre’s Watch This Space season continues with a dance weekend, featuring a Lindy Hop night, Jay Craig and his Orchestra playing a late night gig and a Sunday afternoon tea dance.

Sunday afternoon is also the setting for the Shoreditch Festival, where the London Swing Dance Society will be joining the organisers for a 1948 themed street party in Hoxton to celebrate the handover of the Olympics. (1948 was chosen as that was the last time London held the Olympics.) In the evening, catch a performance by the Ugly Bugs and follow that up with a dance with the BBC Big Band, both of whom are playing in Shoreditch Park.

And if you miss the BBC Big Band play at Shoreditch, they’re back with guest singer, Tina May, at Canary Wharf on Tuesday 26 August.

Earlier that day, More London hosts the CREATE Dance Festival, where the London Swing Dance Society will be holding some workshops in The Scoop.

Which then takes us into September and on of the biggest highlights of the year, the Thames Festival. This year there will be a Jive Stage, with classes by the London Swing Dance Society (again!), live music from a number of bands including Ray Gelato’s, and DJ’s playing all things swing.

I guess it’s fair to say that this summer, London swings!

Upcoming events

Date	Time	Event	Venue	Map
Fri 15 Aug 2008	7:00pm	Wonderland Festival
Sun 17 Aug 2008	3:00pm	SDL Swing Dance Picnic – August Edition	Regent’s Park
Fri 22 Aug 2008	6:30pm	Lindy Hop at the National Theatre	The National Theatre
Sat 23 Aug 2008	8:30pm	The Jay Craig Orchestra at the National Theatre	The National Theatre
Sun 24 Aug 2008	1:00pm	Tea Dance at the National Theatre	The National Theatre
Sun 24 Aug 2008	6:00pm	Shoreditch Festival: Ugly Bugs	Shoreditch Park
Sun 24 Aug 2008	1:00pm	Shoreditch Festival: Hackney Handover	Hoxton Hall
Tue 26 Aug 2008	7:30pm	The BBC Big Band and Tina May	Canada Sq Park, Canary Wharf
Tue 26 Aug 2008	12:00pm	LSDS at the CREATE Dance Festival	The Scoop, More London
Sat 13 Sep 2008	12:00pm	Thames Festival 2008	Jubilee Gardens