Lindy exchange
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A lindy exchange is a gathering of lindy hop dancers in one city for several days to experience the dance venues and styles of that local community, and to dance with visitors and locals alike. Travelling for exchanges has contributed to the development of a global or international lindy hop community. Although the focus of lindy exchanges is on lindy hop, related swing dances such balboa, charleston, blues dance, and collegiate shag are common at 'lindy' exchanges as well, and 'exchanges' targeting these other dance styles specifically have also been organised. The term 'exchange' is derived from school or university 'exchange' programs, where students travel to another country or city to experience the local culture. Exchange students often 'swap' or exchange their own home or place at their home university with another traveller. Visitors at lindy exchanges are often hosted by local dancers, staying in their homes for the duration of the event.
Exchanges can vary in size. Some of the older exchanges, such as the Chicago Lindy Exchange and the D.C. Lindy Exchange, can easily attract 400 or more dancers. The first two San Francisco Lindy Exchanges attracted around 500 people, and the Yehoodi 5th Anniversary Exchange in New York City pulled in over 600 people. Exchanges in cities with smaller dance communities may have fewer than 50 people. Lindy exchanges typically do not have lessons or workshops since the focus is on social dancing, yet exchanges in more isolated countries such as Australia or New Zealand may include workshops to increase the attraction and versatility of their events for visitors who could have to spend a large amount just on traveling to the host city. Similarly, lindy exchanges can also occur simultaneously with a major swing-related event, such as the Canadian Swing Championships, which is simultaneously a national competition, a workshop, and a large exchange. Despite these differences, the themes of exchanges internationally are still 'hospitality' and cultural and social 'exchange', on the dance floor and in the host dance community.
[edit] History
The first lindy exchange, 'The Weekend', occurred on December 4-6, 1998, in San Francisco, California, between the cities of Chicago, Illinois, and San Francisco, CA. The Chicago participants included Nicolle Wood, Riley Wymes, Julie Hamberg, Margot McGraw, Jimi and Young Jin Kim. The intent of this exchange was for nineteen dancers visiting from Chicago to experience the dance styles of San Francisco by attending many of its established venues and dancing with the lindy hoppers there. As the popularity of the lindy exchange increased in the United States, the events changed from a strict city-to-city swapping of dancers to an open-invitational gathering of lindy hoppers from around the country (and, in some cases, from international locations) to one central city for a particular weekend. Now, many cities around the United States and around the world host annual lindy exchanges.
[edit] Format
The schedule of a lindy exchange varies with each exchange, but there are certain features that are common to many of them. Usually, there is an opening Friday evening dance followed by a late night party, which goes on into the early morning. On Saturday, there is usually an afternoon dance, an evening dance, and another late night dance. On Sunday, there is usually an afternoon dance and an evening dance. Some exchanges also have an evening dance on the Thursday before the event, a Sunday late night dance, or a Monday evening dance, and the daylight hours are often filled with other, non-dancing social activities such as communal meals or shopping trips. Many cities also include various sight-seeing activities during the days of the exchange for the visiting dancers to get to know the host city. The late night dances often feature a "blues room" with music that better accommodates blues dancing and frequently lasts until - or after - sunrise. The venues chosen for each dance are often picked to feature the highlights of the dancing or culture of the host city, although some of the more established exchange cities have a challenge balancing the large capacity and demand for exchange attendees with trying to display the smaller, more intimate venues that might be a more accurate depiction of the local social dancing scene. Live swing bands based in the host city are often chosen for some venues, particularly the evening dances.
