Swing dance San Diego is a guide to swing dance venues across San Diego county for every night of the week. Swing dance is one of the most popular dance genres in San Diego, California, U.S.A. Check out our complete guide to all the swing dance San Diego venues for swing dancers below!

Below is a list of swing dance San Diego venues including all the different types of swing dance genres: Jitterbug, East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop and West Coast Swing (contact venue to check times, music and updates). See bottom for brief descriptions of the various swing dance genres and some additional helpful information about swing dancing!

Swing Dance San Diego Guide

MONDAYS

Humphrey’s  Monday Blues Party
2241 Shelter Island Dr
San Diego 92106
619-224-3577
Calendar
Map

San Diego Public Library (Central)
Under The Dome Swing Dance (Lindy Hop)
(2nd & 4th Mondays)
330 Park Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101 Map
Admission: FREE

TUESDAYS

Swing Dance San Diego Venue

Tango Del Rey’s West Coast Swing
3567 Del Rey St
San Diego, CA 92109 Map
858-581-1114
Music/Dance Genre: West Coast Swing
Calendar $5 Admission

WEDNESDAYS

Cheers Bar & Grill West Coast Swing
9995 Carmel Mountain Rd
San Diego, CA 92129
Map

 

Queen Bee’s The Firehouse Swing Dance (Lindy Hop)
3925 Ohio St
San Diego, CA 92104 Map

 

THURSDAYS

Starlight Dance Studio WC Swinging
West Coast Swing (every Thursday)
6506-H El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115 Map
Admission: $5

 

FRIDAYS

Dance For 2 Studio – 2 To Groove’s
Friday Swing Jam (Lindy Hop)
7528 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92111 Map

 

Starlight Dance Studio Innovations
West Coast Swing (3rd Fridays)
6506-H El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115 Map
Admission: $5

 

Encinitas Elks Lodge
Friday Dance Live Music (Varies)
1393 Windsor Dr.
Cardiff, CA 92007 Map
760-753-2243
Calendar

 

SATURDAYS

1st SATURDAY:

Starlight Dance Studio Innovations
6506-H El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115 Map
Admission: $5

Infinity Dance Sport Center
First Saturday Swing (Lindy Hop)
4428 Convoy St. #288
San Diego, CA 92111 Map
858-560-4372

2nd SATURDAY:

The Movement Dance Center
WCS San Diego
1255 W Morena Blvd
San Diego, CA 92110 Map

3rd SATURDAYS:

Starlight Dance Studio Innovations
6506-H El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115 Map
Admission: $10

4th SATURDAY:

Starlight Dance Studio Project Swing
(same location as 1st Saturday)

SUNDAYS

Dance For 2 Studio (1st, 2nd, 3rd Sundays)
Jitterbug Club San Diego (East Coast Swing)
7528 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92111 Map

Tango Del Rey Hep Spot (Lindy Hop)
(See location info above)

El Cajon Elks Lodge
San Diego Swing Dance Club (West Coast Swing)
1400 East Washington Ave
El Cajon, CA 92020 Map
858-274-6422
Calendar

Swing Dance Styles & Genres

The term swing dance is an umbrella term for a group of dances that started with Lindy Hop and evolved into East Coast swing, shag, jive, jitterbug, West Coast swing and more, read more about all the different dance styles here!

Lindy Hop swing dance

Lindy hop is the grandfather of all the swing dance genres. It started in the 1920’s at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem with some of the original hopper like Frankie Manning then spread across the United States. It evolved into various other forms of swing as it moved across the country like Carolina Shag, St. Louis shag and Collegiate shag, Balboa and East Coast swing. It eventually lost popularity as the music changed and East Coast swing became the rage in the 1940’s. Check out the swing dance San Diego list above for place to dance Lindy Hop in San Diego!

East Coast Swing dance

The East Coast swing evolved during the 1940’s as dance studios began codifying the various types of swing dances in the United States. It is probably one of the most widely danced forms of swing. Some dancers refer to this form as Triple Step Swing. It was originally called Eastern swing for its dominance on the East Coast but eventually the name changed to its present day form. The triple step form of the dance worked well with the big band and doo wop music of the 40’s & 50’s. A single rhythm form, sometimes called the Jitterbug, evolved for the faster big band music and is still popular today! Check out the swing dance San Diego list above for place to dance East Coast swing in San Diego!

Jitterbug Swing dance (single rhythm East Coast Swing)

Jitterbug is a form of swing dancing that is perfect for most of the big band, doo wop, rockabilly and music that came out during the swing revival in the early two thousands; band like Royal Crown Revue, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Stray Cats, Brian Setzer and Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. San Diego has a huge population of Jitterbug dancers that started in 1983 with Pattie Wells’ jitterbug classes taught citywide and the Jitterbug Club San Diego founded and run by Pattie Wells from 1984 to 2014. Check out the swing dance San Diego list above for place to dance Jitterbug Swing  in San Diego!

West Coast Swing dance

West Coast Swing was the last swing that evolved in the 1960’s on the West Coast. It was originally called Western Swing but the name was changed eventually to its current form. It is a living dance as it continues to evolve to fit contemporary music but also fits R&B, soul, C&W, blues, pop, ballads and rock music. It is a favorite of accomplished dancers as it allows more freedom of expression than most dance genres. The West Coast swing has spread world-wide to place like United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, Brazil and Russia. It is one of the few dances that is danced across the globe. Check out the swing dance San Diego list above for place to dance West Coast Swing in San Diego!

More Info on Swing Dance Resources:

  1. Differences between Lindy, Jitterbug, East & West Coast Swing
  2. Swing Dance Articles
  3. Swing Dance Pattern Review Videos
  4. More on dance lessons in San Diego

Read & watch more swing dance articles and videos here!