Swing Riot Dunedin

Social dancing and cultural events

We have an amazing line up of events to come to. Choose one event or come to it all! Please note, The Glenroy Ball is the only night with a taster dance class this year.

Buy a social pass

THURSDAY 30TH MAY

Ōtepoti Blues Sessions

THURSDAY 30TH MAY
8:00pm
ADJO

For years Blues dancers have been pushed into the small hours of the night. We thought it was about time that Blues dancers got pride of place with an actual evening event. We are kicking off this year's event with The Little Eddies Blues Band. Some of Dunedin's best musicians are knocking out the tunes to get this party started. Check out this profile on the band leader, John Dodd on the Audio Culture website. 

Cash bar

Doors open: 7:30pm
Band: The Little Eddies Blues Band
Location: Adjo, 333 George Street
Ticket Price: $20 + BF (or included in your full festival pass)

Friday 31st May

Friday Welcome Brunch

10:30am | Joe's Garage

Break your fast with friends. We'll book the table if you pay your own bill!
RSVPs will be required for this event.

Day Menu Vegan Menu

Lady Be Good; Instrumental Women in Jazz

Documentary screening | 2pm | Yours

This 80 minute documentary film concentrates on the contributions of American women instrumentalists in jazz from the early 1920s to the 1970s and the development and extent of the all-woman jazz groups. LADY BE GOOD captures the lost stories of female jazz musicians in provocative and often humorous interviews with women musicians, big band leaders, jazz authors and historians, Musician and composer Patrice Rushen guides us through these exciting histories with rare photos, previously unseen film and television footage, and scarce recordings.

Writer/Director: Kay D. Ray

Price: Free with your Full or Social Pass, Koha entry for not pass holders

A Swing Riot

FRIDAY 31ST MAY
7:30pm
SARGOOD CENTRE

Right in the spot where the 1925 NZ and South Seas International Exhibition was housed – we will shuffle our socks off in the Sargood Centre. Skin & Bone will rattle out those cobwebs and get you ready for a weekend of learnin' and socialisin'.

Cash bar. Catering Provided.

Doors open: 7:30pm
Band: Skin and Bone (8pm)
Location: Sargood Centre, 40 Logan Park Drive
Ticket Price: $40 + BF - or included in your full festival pass.

There is no taster dance class for this event. Check out the Saturday night event which has a free taster dance class at the start of the night.

Saturday 1st June

The Glenroy Ball

WITH FREE TASTER DANCE CLASS and the Dunedin City Jazz Orchestra

SATURDAY 1ST JUNE
7:00pm Taster Class | 8:00pm Band
THE GLENROY AUDITORIUM

The Glenroy Auditorium is part of the Dunedin Town Hall complex (The Dunedin Centre) which dominates the town's centre, the Octagon.  

Whether you're a seasoned dancer or simply love big band jazz, this event is for you.

New to dance? A taster class to teach you the basics opens the event at 7:00pm.

Catering provided - Cash Bar
Doors: 6:30pm (Band starts at 8:00pm)
Taster dance class for absolute beginners: 7 - 8pm
Music: The Dunedin City Jazz Orchestra
Location: The Glenroy Auditorium (Town Hall Complex), Harrop Street, Central Dunedin
Ticket Price: $50 + BF or included in a full festival pass
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Afterparty – The New Athenaeum
Doors: 11:30pm - No door sales for the afterparty - entry is included in Glenroy Ball ticket or full festival pass
Music: King Leo
Cash Bar

Get a ticket

Sunday 2nd June

Queens of the Blues

TALK BY SHOBHANA NAMBIAR
SUNDAY 2ND JUNE | 1:10 - 1:50PM | NGA MAARA HALL

In this lunchtime talk, Shob will explore the era of the Blues Queens, from 1920-1930.  These trailblazing, courageous and supremely talented Black women changed blues music and left a musical, cultural and political legacy that is still so powerful today. 

FREE

10th Birthday Party

SUNDAY 2ND JUNE
7:30pm
DUNEDIN PUBLIC ART GALLERY

 

It's been a fab ten episodes of the little festival that could so it's about time we threw some birthday party love its way. Come along and celebrate with us - you wear your best birthday party outfit; we'll bring the cake and the music. Musical chairs anyone?

 

Details: catering provided, cash bar (EFTPOS facilities available)
Doors: 7:30pm (Band starts at 8:00pm)
Music: Silverlocks (Chch)
Location: Dunedin Public Art Gallery, The Octagon
Ticket Price: $40 + BF or included in a full festival pass / Social events pass

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Afterparty – The New Athenaeum
Doors: 11:30pm - No door sales for the afterparty - entry is included in 10th Birthday Party ticket or full festival/social events pass
Music: King Leo
Cash Bar

MONDAY 5TH JUNE

Out for the 8 count

MONDAY 5TH JUNE

"I'll try my best not to cry
By and by
When the final farewells must be spoken."

After the last class on Monday we will have a place to congregate for food and a bevvy. We will have a DJ playing some tunes so you can have a farewell dance or just rest those legs to some familiar tunes.

This is a free event.

Venue: Moons
Time: From 1pm