About Us
About... The School
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Swing That Thing provides a fun and welcoming environment for all to feel comfortable, safe and included within the community.
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Our aim is to come together regularly and learn this fun, dynamic and exciting dance we all love and pay our respects to those who have paved the way to make Swing in Australia what it is today- and in doing so create a community like non-other.
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We offer weekly partnered classes, a performance/ training troupe, private classes, private group classes and inspiring events open for all our members as well as the public.
For information on hiring dancers/ booking private group classes; please see here.
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Our Monday and Tuesday night beginner classes are drop-in friendly, with new students starting each and every week. See more details on how these classes are formatted below.
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Swing That Thing caters to all people over the age of 18 (16+ if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian)
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Please feel free to contact us via email or through our socials if you have any questions or require further information.
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About... The Dance
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Swing dance is a broad term to describe a variety of partner dances evolving from the 1920s to the present day.
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The history begins with the original Swing Era in 20's and 30's New York, when Big Bands took over pop culture.
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The most well-known swing dance style today is the Lindy Hop. Since its revival in the 1980s it has taken off around the world and become a very popular dance, fun and creative and allows space for improvisation between partners.
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The swing dancing craze continues to expand and today there is a very active (and very friendly!) global swing dancing community, from South Korea to Chile and from the USA to Australia with dancers travelling interstate and overseas to meet fellow dancers, have fun and dance!
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At Swing That Thing, we acknowledge that the style of dances we learn, teach and share originated from African American and Black culture, this also applies for the jazz music we have come to so appreciate and love.
We are extremely grateful to be able to enjoy and experience this art form that was shared with us by those who it originated from, and we acknowledge we never had to face or experience the hardships in which they had to endure.
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Learning about the roots of this dance only helps to strengthen and love this wonderful dance!
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For further information please see: https://www.frankiemanningfoundation.org/
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Monday - Estonian Hall, North Adelaide
200 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide
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Rock n Roll - 6:00pm (beginners Rock n Roll)
All levels RNR
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Level 1 (beginners swing) is a drop-in friendly class with
new students starting each and every week.
With a rotation system in place, you will have the
opportunity to dance with all your peers and therefore
no partner is required to join this class.
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Level 1 - 7:15pm
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Closed Troupe Training - 8:30pm (every week except
on the last Monday of the month)
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Tuesday - Lithuanian House, Norwood
6 Eastry Street, Norwood
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Level 1 (beginner swing) is a drop-in friendly class with
new students starting each and every week.
With a rotation system in place, you will have the
opportunity to dance with all your peers and therefore
no partner is required to join this class.
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Level 1 - 8:00pm
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Level 2 (intermediate swing) - Please speak with the teachers prior to joining this class as there are pre-requisites for this class.
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Level 2 - 6:45pm
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To note:
Monday and Tuesday beginner classes alternate swing styles between the two days - please look at our facebook and instagram for updates on what style is currently offered.
Monthly Social
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Please note; as of 2025 we are taking a break from our monthly social dance. We continue to encourage our community to support the active live music scene Adelaide has to offer.
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This time slot will now we allocated to our Routine Blocks.
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Workshops
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Swing That Thing host different workshops throughout the year featuring a range of different swing styles and different swing teachers.
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To keep informed with all the latest workshops and events head on over to our social media/s.
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Pricing
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Come and Try Class (first class with us, valid at any beginner class) - $10.00
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Standard Beginners/Intermediates Class - $20.00
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5 Class Pass (valid for 3 months from date of purchase) - $85.00
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15 Class Pass (valid for 12 months from date of purchase) - $235.00​
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Private Classes
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Private Classes also available - group, partner or solo.
See here for details.
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Teachers
Melissa
Mel is the Founder and Head Teacher of Swing That Thing,
a vibrant hub for swing dancing in Adelaide.
Her journey into swing dancing began in 2012 when she fell in love with The Lindy Hop. Within just a year, she won the Up and Comers Category at the Australian Jitterbug Competition in Melbourne, and from that moment, her passion for the dance has only grown stronger.
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Mel's dedication to honing her craft led her to travel extensively across Australia and Europe, deepening her knowledge and connection to the global swing dance community.
The more she danced, the clearer her vision became: to create a space where Adelaide's swing scene could thrive and grow. This vision became a reality with the founding of Swing That Thing.
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Under Mel’s leadership, Swing That Thing has flourished, offering both regular classes and the iconic Adelaide Lindy Exchange (ALX). The ALX has put Adelaide on the map as a key destination in the international swing scene, bringing together dancers from across the globe for a weekend of music, movement, and community.
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With her boundless passion and commitment to the dance, Mel continues to inspire and nurture the next generation of swing dancers, sharing the joy and connection of Lindy Hop with the world.
Travis
Travis is a passionate dancer originally from Melbourne, where he discovered his love for dance at just 13 years old through Rock 'n' Roll classes.
This early introduction sparked a lifelong dedication to movement and rhythm.
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In 2016, Travis made the move to Sydney, where he joined The Sydney Swing Katz and was introduced to Lindy Hop.
This opened up new opportunities for training and competition, both across Australia and internationally.
Over the years, Travis has earned numerous accolades, including first place in the Rock 'n' Roll Championships in Victoria (VRRDA) and a three-time winner of the State Aerial Championships.
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In 2022, Travis and his former dance partner competed at the renowned Camp Hollywood in Los Angeles, where they earned first place in the Amateur Lindy Finals and third in the Open Showcase Division—further solidifying his reputation as a standout dancer.
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In April 2023, Travis relocated to Adelaide, where he now shares his expertise and passion for dance with students, teaching weekly classes on Monday evenings in
North Adelaide and Tuesday nights in Norwood alongside Mel. His dedication to the swing
community continues to inspire dancers
at every level.
Contact Us
Melissa Burke
6 Eastry Street, Norwood
Adelaide
200 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide
Email: swingthatthing@outlook.com.au
Phone: 0417824022