The Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown by the New Orleans Swing Dance Festival is coming up as dancers polish their dancing shoes for the festival starting on Thursday, October 1st, running through Sunday, October 5th in various locations across the Crescent City.
The festival attracts lindy hop dancers from around the world and features music from a variety of New Orleans traditional jazz bands, including Meschiya Lake & the Little Big Horns, the New Orleans Jazz Vipers, The Shotgun Jazz Band, King James & The Special Men and more.
The musicians will maintain a steady beat for a series of dance contests, a second line is set to parade through the French Quarter on Friday, and swing dance classes will also be offered throughout the weekend.
The festival organizers have announced that this year’s Lindy Hop Showdown would be the last edition. “I am incredibly proud of the profound contribution The Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown has made to the community and intend to still work to inspire it in other ways,” reads a blog post signed Amy Johnson and the rest of the New Orleans Swing Dance Festival crew.
After events outdoors, at the Old U.S. Mint and at the Wax Museum, the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, the festival’s main contest, will take place on Saturday evening, October 4th at NOCCA’s Solomon Family Hall.
All evening events are $60 each, after hours parties on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday are $20 starting at 1am. French Market events are free and open to the public. A full weekend ticket is $210 at the door for access to all events. Cash at the door only. No checks or credit cards accepted.
Full Schedule
Thursday October 1st
Showdown Pre-Party
Old US Mint – 400 Esplanade Ave
Music by Meschiya Lake & The Lil Big Horns
7:00pm Check-in for weekend tickets and contests reg begin.
7:30pm Doors open
8:00pm Live Music Starts
9:00pm or Beginning of 2nd set – Jack & Jill Prelims
11:00pm or Beginning of 3rd set – Jack & Jill Finals
Friday October 2nd
12:00pm
Second Line • Starting at Royal & Frenchmen Street
Ends near The French Market at St Phillip
1:00pm-5:00pm
French Market Stomp • Outdoor Concert & Dancing. No Contests.
Dutch Alley Performance Pavilion.
Music by The Palmetto Bug Stompers
7:30-Midnight
Live Music, Dancing, & Contests
Wax Museum 917 Conti
Music by Duke Heitger & Friends
6:00pm Team Division Rehearsals
6:30pm Check-in and contest registration begins.
7:30pm Doors Open to the Ballroom open.
8:00pm Live Music Starts
8:45pm or on the first band break – Team Division
9:00pm or beginning of 2nd set – Showdown Battle Prelims
10:00pm or beginning of 3rd set – Solo Prelims
1:00am-4:00am
After Hours Party • Bamboula’s
514 Frenchmen St (back room)
Music by The Western Sweethearts
No Contests.
Saturday October 3rd
Dance Classes. Old US Mint – 400 Esplanade (3rd Fl)
10am-11am – Jazz with Giselle Anguizola
11am-Noon – Jazz Era Foxtrot with Laura Manning
12pm-1pm – Lindy Hop with Andy Reid
1:00pm-5:00pm
French Market Stomp • Outdoor Concert and Dancing.
Dutch Alley Performance Pavilion.
Live Music by The Russell Welch Quartet
7:30pm-Midnight
Live Music, Dancing, Contests, & Vintage Expo Marketplace
NOCCA’s Solomon Family Hall – Press St Between Royal & Chartres
Live Music by Ben Polcer’s Swingin’ Seven Featuring Miss Sophie Lee
6:30pm Chorus Girl Rehearsals
7:30pm Doors Open
8:30pm – Chorus Girl Division
9:00pm or beginning of 2nd set – Showdown Quarter Final Battles
10:00pm or beginning of 3rd set – Showdown Semi Final TEAM Battle
11:00pm or beginning of 4th set – Showdown Final
1:00am-4:00am
After Hours Party • Bamboula’s
514 Frenchmen St (back room)
Live Music by The New Orleans Jazz Vipers
Endurance Contest on first band break
Sunday October 4th
Dance Classes. Location: Jazz Park Dutch Alley (916 N Peters)
1:00pm-2:00pm – 2nd Line with Darryl Young
2:15pm-3:15pm – Lindy Hop with Kerry Genese
3:30pm-4:30pm – Blues with Chance Bushman
1:00pm-5:00pm
French Market Stomp • Outdoor Concert & Dancing
Dutch Alley Performance Pavilion
Live Music by The Shotgun Jazz Band
No Contests
7:30-Midnight
Concert, Dancing & Contest Viewing
The Wax Museum – 917 Conti
Music by Meschiya Lake & The Lil Big Horns
7:30pm Doors Open. Slow Dance Contest Reg Only.
8:00pm Live Music Starts
9:00pm or beginning of 2nd set – Slow Dance Prelims
10pm or beginning of 3rd set – Solo Finals
11:00pm or beginning of 4th set – Slow Dance Finals
1:00am-4:00am
Showdown After Party
Bamboula’s – 514 Frenchmen (back room)
Music by King James & The Special Men
No Contests.
