Scuttlebutt

Swing Shift Lindy Hop are back with another Scuttlebutt on Saturday 17 October, their regular Bournemouth social dance. It's at BOH Studios on Commercial Road, running from 2pm to 5pm, so it's a proper afternoon session rather than a late one.

If you've not come across the name before, Scuttlebutt is what they call their Bournemouth social, billed as the venue's 'jazz & swing social dance'. The name comes from three places at once: the nautical word for the water barrel where sailors would hang about and gossip; an Artie Shaw tune; and, roughly, what you do on a dancefloor. It's a bit of a wink to the social side of things as much as the dancing.

Behind it all is Swing Shift Lindy Hop, who teach authentic Lindy Hop — the original swing dance rooted in African American culture and 1930s-40s jazz. They trace it back through legends like Frankie Manning and Norma Miller, and they keep the focus on improvisation, rhythm and responding to your partner in real time. Beyond the classes, they run a performance troupe that takes genuine 1920s-40s Lindy Hop, Charleston and solo jazz to festivals, corporate events and private parties.

For this one, the music comes from DJs TK Mixx and Big Vern, who'll be keeping the floor going throughout the afternoon. It's £10 on the door, cash or card, at BOH Studios, 104 Commercial Road, Bournemouth BH2 5LR, from 2pm to 5pm.