Everett City didn't earn its "Little Swing Capital" nickname by accident. With five historic dance halls, a thriving Lindy Hop scene, and more wooden floors per capita than anywhere else in the state, this riverside town has been a magnet for swing dancers since the 1990s revival. Summer 2024 brings the busiest season yet—new class formats, returning festival headliners, and a fresh crop of beginners flooding the floor after last year's Great Gatsby tribute drew record crowds.
Whether you're stepping out for the first time or training for competition, here's exactly where to go, what to pay, and which workshop fits your schedule.
At a Glance: Your Summer 2024 Options
| Workshop | Dates | Cost | Level | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everett City Swing Festival | June 14–16 | $185–$340 | All levels | Downtown |
| Swingin' Saturdays at The Dance Loft | Every Saturday, June–August | $15 drop-in | Beginner | Riverside |
| Lindy Hop Intensive with The Swing Collective | July 20–21 | $220 | Intermediate–Advanced | Bayside |
| Swing Dance Crash Course at Everett Community Center | Select Saturdays (June 8, July 13, Aug. 10) | $35 | Beginner | Northwest Everett |
| Vintage Swing Night at Historic Everett Theatre | First Friday, May–Sept. | $22 | Beginner-friendly | Downtown |
For the All-In Festival Experience: Everett City Swing Festival
June 14–16 | Various downtown venues | $185–$340
The Everett City Swing Festival returns June 14–16 with 40% more class slots than its 2023 sellout. This isn't marketing fluff—you'll feel the difference in the expanded third-floor studio space at the Everett Grand and the new outdoor dance floor under the Maple Street overpass.
Headline instructors include 2023 ILHC champions Marcus Chen and Helena Voss, teaching an advanced track on aerials and active follower technique. Weekend passes cover twenty-plus workshops, three nights of live music (the Red Hot Rhythm Revue plays Saturday), and admission to the Sunday afternoon jam session. Single-day passes start at $85 if you can't commit to the full weekend.
"Last year we had dancers from fourteen states," says festival director Yolanda Reeves, who started the event in 2017. "This year we're adding a mentorship mixer on Friday night—show up solo and leave with a practice partner."
For Drop-In Beginners: Swingin' Saturdays at The Dance Loft
Every Saturday, June–August | 8 p.m. workshop, 9 p.m.–midnight social | $15
The Dance Loft, a converted 1923 warehouse in Riverside, has been Everett's swing hub since 2015. Exposed brick, ceiling fans, and a forgiving sprung floor make it the most inviting entry point for newcomers.
Instructor Danny Okonkwo leads the 8 p.m. beginner workshop with a reputation for patience and bad jokes. "He taught me to stop apologizing when I miss a step," says regular attendee Paula Morales, 34. The social that follows draws a younger crowd—lots of twenty- and thirty-somethings in vintage dresses and canvas sneakers—and the playlist leans toward neo-swing and early rock 'n' roll.
No pre-registration required. Arrive by 7:45 p.m. to secure a spot; capacity caps at sixty dancers.
For Serious Skill-Building: Lindy Hop Intensive with The Swing Collective
July 20–21 | The Swing Collective studio, Bayside | $220
This weekend intensive is not for the faint of heart. Ten hours over two days, with a strict prerequisite: you must be comfortable with swingouts, Charleston basics, and at least one tandem variation.
The 2024 curriculum focuses on musicality and improvisation—less about memorizing patterns and more about speaking the language of the music in real time. Instructors Rafi and Naomi Doron, who trained in Harlem and Seoul respectively, structure the weekend around live band recordings from the 1930s and 1940s. Saturday ends with a two-hour supervised practice session and peer feedback circle.
Class size is limited to twenty-four. Scholarship applications for local dancers close June 15.
For Busy Schedules and Families: Swing Dance Crash Course at Everett Community Center
Select Saturdays: June 8, July 13, August 10 | 1–5 p.m. | $35
The municipal pricing is the first clue this workshop plays by different rules. At $35—including rental shoes if you need them—the crash course is Everett's most accessible swing entry point. The second clue? The 1 p.m
