The Beginning of the Revival (1995)

The Revival officially started 13 Aug 1995 in Sydney with a workshop organized by Rob Bloom & Nicky Haslam. That is when regular services started and the first school was founded to spread the love of Lindy Hop. This marked the official beginning of the modern Sydney swing dance scene, though it’s worth noting that Lindy Hop arrived first in Australia in 1937 when Frankie Manning toured Australia’s East Coast and NZ with the Big Apple Dancers.

Key Dance Schools and Organizations

Sydney Swing Katz

One of Sydney’s most prominent swing dance organizations is the Sydney Swing Katz. The Sydney Swing Katz are recognized as Australia’s premier and most renowned dance troupe, specialising in classic vintage dance styles from the 1920s to the 1950s. Founded in 2000, this ensemble comprises some of the most skilled, vibrant, young and passionate dancers from various regions of New South Wales [1].

Justin has been an integral part of the Kats since its inception in 2000 with his roles as head choreographer and principal instructor. He was one of the original founding members and has been dancing for 20 years [2]. Justin Ocello, whose mother Anna Ocello founded Blue Suede Shoes Dance School in 1991, has been a key figure in the troupe’s success.

The Swing Katz have achieved significant recognition:

• They have had the honour of performing with some of the most talented musicians, artists, and shows, including The Beach Boys, John & James Morrison, The Bloody Beetroots at The Big Day Out [1].
• They performed at the Sydney Olympic Games
• They offer classes across multiple Sydney locations including North Strathfield, Emu Plains, and other venues

Swing Patrol Sydney

Swing Patrol Sydney is another major player in the Sydney swing scene, offering regular classes and social events. They operate in North Sydney with instructors Jo Yuen, Andy Firth, and Derek Carruthers. The organization runs:

• Weekly beginner and intermediate Lindy Hop classes
• Monthly social dance events called “Swing Central” in Newtown
• Special workshops and events throughout the year

Other Notable Schools

• Swingtime Dance School: Runs swing, rock’n’roll and balboa classes in Sydney’s inner west, taught by Trish and Milton
• 1929 Studios: Offers Lindy Hop classes with teacher Ramona Staffeld
• Blue Suede Shoes Dance: Founded by Anna Ocello in 1991, this school has been instrumental in keeping swing and rock’n’roll dancing alive in Sydney

Key Events and Festivals

Sydney Swing Festival

The Sydney Swing Festival is a major annual event featuring live bands and international instructors. Dan Barnett was born into music being the son of the legendary Sydney Bassist Cliff Barnett. He began his musical life as a Trombonist and quickly developed a love for singing and has since carved out an enviable reputation on the Australian music scene [3]. The festival features both local and touring musicians.

Sydney Lindy Exchange

Sydney Lindy Exchange: follows the international model of lindy exchanges, bringing together dancers from different cities for a weekend of social dancing and workshops [4].

Bands and Musicians

Sydney has nurtured several swing bands that regularly play for dancers:

Swing City

The first featured group is John Morrison’s Swing City. They are a professional big band based in Sydney Australia. They were featured in the Sydney Olympic opening ceremony [5]. Led by John Morrison, they have been supportive of the Sydney lindy hop scene over the years.

Dan Barnett Big Band

Another one of my favourite Sydney jazz guys is Dan Barnett. He sings and plays a mean trombone. He runs a big band that plays once a month at a pub in Balmain [5]. Dan Barnett has been a fixture in the Sydney swing scene, performing at swing dance events and maintaining the tradition of live swing music.

Other Notable Bands

• The Velvet Set
• The Black & White Big Band
• Various smaller combos and DJs who regularly play at swing dance events

International Connections

Sydney’s swing scene has maintained strong international connections since the revival:

Frankie Manning’s Visits

Manning first visited Melbourne, Australia in 1939 to perform at the Princess Theatre. The swing revival and Melbourne’s Swing Patrol brought him back again in 2002; it was his first visit to Melbourne in 63 years [6]. While this references Melbourne, Frankie Manning also taught workshops in Sydney during his Australian tours in the early 2000s, helping to establish techniques and traditions.

International Instructors

In their passion to keep these dance styles alive in Australia, Sydney dancers have trained and enrolled into many workshops with the best of the international talent, including Frankie Manning, Sylvia Sykes, Sing Yuen Lim, Jonathon Bixby, Ryan Francois, and Rhythm Hot Shots – Mattias & Eva.

Competition Success

Sydney dancers have competed successfully both nationally and internationally:

• Justin and former partner Kelly were the eventual winners of the Marrickville ‘Band of Gold Rock n Roll’ dance competition, taking home $20,000 dollars [2]/
• Sydney dancers regularly compete at Australian championships and international events

Current Scene

Today, Sydney’s swing dance scene continues to thrive with:

• Multiple weekly classes across the city
• Regular social dances at various venues
• Annual festivals and exchanges
• A strong performance culture through groups like the Sydney Swing Katz
• Active participation in the global swing dance community
• Emphasis on acknowledging the African American roots of the dance

The Sydney swing scene represents one of the most active and established communities outside of the United States and Europe, continuing to grow and evolve while maintaining connections to the historical roots of Lindy Hop and swing dancing.

References

[1] Australian Jazz Resources – SwingDJs
[2] Classes – Swing Patrol Sydney
[3] World Swing Dance CouncilTheopenswing
[4] FrankieManning.com – Bio
[5] Find Competition
[6] Australian Dance Crew Championships
[7] Swing Central – Swing Patrol Sydney