A Swing Dance Part II

A Swing Dance comes to the Howard Assembly Room on Friday 6 November, a night built around three parts: a swing dance class, a live band, and a DJ set. It's presented by Opera North, and the whole thing is designed to take you from the basics to the dancefloor, so you don't need to know your way around a swing step to get involved.

Rob and Tina of Swing Dance Leeds lead the teaching, bringing years of experience to the floor. They'll walk you through the basics so anyone can start dancing, and they welcome all skill levels, from first-timers to seasoned Lindy hoppers. After the class, Andy AV8 takes over on the decks; he's a sought-after DJ on the swing dance weekender scene and a Lindy and Balboa teacher, resident at the Red Feather Club in Suffolk.

The live music comes from David Broad and the Meanwood Valley Stompers, a transatlantic country blues and rural swing trio. They play songs hand-picked from the golden era of swing, drawing on figures like Louis Jordan, Louis Armstrong, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Nat King Cole, Robert Johnson and Big Bill Broonzy. Between the teaching, the DJ set and the live band, there's plenty of music to keep you moving.

Doors open at 7pm, with the dance class starting at 8.45pm and the band taking over at 10.30pm. Tickets are £16.50, with an under-30s price of £11.50, both including a £1.50 booking fee. You'll find the Howard Assembly Room at 46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU.