Gem City Swing

07/24/2024

How we feel after our first month of our new format: Fundamentals & Next Steps.

Our next step for Next Steps is learning the Mama Stew and Saint Louis Shim Sham! Time to learn solo jazz techniques!

07/19/2024

Another 🔥 big band night at RiverScape MetroPark!! Ft. the Dayton Jazz Orchestra and a beginner lesson from us (Gem City Swing). Stay tuned for more pictures and videos from the night--plus check out our GCS mascot, Zoey, in the last picture!!

07/17/2024

TOMORROW (7/18) we're back at RiverScape MetroPark for another big band night! Come take a free lesson from Gem City Swing and dance the night away with the Dayton Jazz Orchestra!

Event runs from 7-9pm. Wear your Gem City Swing shirt and shoes you can dance on concrete in. Seating is limited, so the MetroParks recommends you bring a chair. Food and refreshments available for purchase at The RiverScape Cafe.

These events are some of our favorite parts of summer, so they're not to be missed!! ☀️ ⛲ 🎶 Next RiverScape band night is August 15th--mark your calendar now!

07/04/2024

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain." And dance in the rain, we did!

Thanks to Hauer Swing Band and the Americana Festival for having us as special guests! And thanks to those who took these pictures!

06/26/2024

Dave Greer's Classic Jazz Stompers stomped the house down last night! Skirts were swishing, feet were tapping, faces were grinning. Thanks to all who came out to support!

Next week, we start our 2-month fundamentals series for beginners once again as well as our brand new next steps class!! The next steps class in July will focus on quick turns 💫

06/24/2024

Another one (band night), thank you. A great night at North Park hosted by the City of Springboro and Kim Kelly Orchestra!

Don't forget about our band night TOMORROW! Following our lessons (7pm), Dave Greer's Classic Jazz Stompers will play the house down (8pm).

We meet at the American Czechoslovakian Club, 922 Valley St. Dayton, OH 45404. Lesson + social dance = $15. Social dance alone = $10. Lesson content: for fundamentals, we're teaching the Shim Sham; for those totally new to swing, we'll teach 6 count basics to get you out on the floor!

We can't wait to dance the night away with you (until an extended 10pm)! 💃

06/19/2024

Do you love a LIVE BAND!? So do we!

Next Tuesday (6/25), we have Dave Greer's Classic Jazz Stompers performing for our social dance (8pm)!

But wait! There's more! We're also teaching two lessons (7pm): a basic 6 count for those new to swing dance (so invite your friends!) and the Shim Sham for those ready to learn this classic line dance!

A lesson and social dance is $15, and the social dance alone is $10. See you there!

06/17/2024

The first RiverScape MetroPark big band night of 2024 was a rousing success! Gem City Swing taught a basics lesson and danced the night away at the most beautiful location with a phenomenal band--The Tom Daugherty Orchestra!

If you missed it, make sure to mark your calendars for July 18th and August 15th!

06/11/2024

This Thursday (6/13), 7-9pm, we're teaching a FREE basics class at the Tom Daugherty Orchestra big band night at RiverScape Metropark! This is an amazing opportunity to enjoy live music, invite friends to learn to dance, and spend the evening on the gorgeous Dayton riverfront! Can't wait to see you there!

05/01/2024

We Bal-show-a-ed up strong for our last Balboa lesson and BAND NIGHT! Thank you to Hauer Swing Band for making tonight delightful, delicious, and de-lovely. Y'all are so incredibly talented!

04/29/2024

We love dancing with 👉YOU👈 in our little corner of the world, ✨the Gem City✨! Wishing you a happy World Dance Day and looking forward to celebrating with you tomorrow (Tuesday) for our regular Lessons and Social dance.

04/15/2024

Balboa continues on Tuesday! How are we feeling??

04/08/2024

Some might say this trip was over(Pur)due! A few of our members traveled to Purdue University this weekend for the Lafayette Lindy Exchange! Thanks to for hosting--it was incredible to dance with you 🥰

04/03/2024

Saying goodbye is never easy. We wished long-time member and friend, Kristina, safe travels to Japan with a steal jam! We will so miss your wonderful smile, sense of humor, and kindness, Kristina! We stole dances with you the way you've stolen our hearts. ❤️

04/02/2024

We are planning on still dancing tonight! Hope to see you there!

04/02/2024

🚨 We have some really exciting news!!! 🚨 This April, we're branching out a bit and teaching *drum roll please* hip hop! ..
Just kidding. But we are teaching Balboa, which is super exciting!! PLUS we have TWO live band nights (April 2nd and 30th)!! And that's no joke 😉..
Stay tuned to our social media for lesson/social dance information and any weather-related announcements.

03/20/2024

❄️+⚽=?

We begin every social dance with a Snow Ball! Two dancers start in the middle of a circle, and when the DJ calls "snow ball," those two dancers pull two more dancers into the center. This repeats until everyone is on the dance floor!

03/20/2024

VuDo Swing's got their ears to the ground on some upcoming swing dancing this summer!

03/15/2024

I spy with my little eye, Big Band Nights coming this summer!
Save the dates! 🕺💃🎺🎼

Mark those calendars, Dayton! Live music is just around the corner here at RiverScape MetroPark! Join us this summer on select Thursday and Friday evenings under the pavilion for the return of our FREE Summer Music Series, featuring local and regional acts from a variety of genres, including rock, reggae, big band and more. Come see some of your returning favorites, or discover a new band we think you're bound to love. More details and events will be announced over the next week. We can't wait to dance with you soon! 🎶

03/08/2024

On Tuesday, we learned how to do 1920s-style Charleston (not pictured, because our social media manager forgot 😅 please forgive her). The rest of the month will be a foray into other styles of Charleston outside of the realm of our typical lessons! ~so mysterious~ We'll see you there!

02/28/2024

Get ready to put your best foot forward (and then the other foot) during our Charleston lessons in March! Progressive classes ($10) start at 7pm and the beginner's 6-count ($5) starts at 7:30pm. Check out our Events on Facebook for more deets!

02/26/2024

The Dayton Swing Smackdown team competition really brought the heat! Congrats to our team for their top 5 finish, and a power clap for all the winners!

02/24/2024

I spy with my little eye... Gem City Swing members enjoying night one of Dayton Swing Smackdown! 🕵️ Who can you spot??

02/21/2024

Did y'all know that we have a team competing in the team competition at Dayton Swing Smackdown this weekend?? They gave us a preview of their routine tonight and it was 🔥🔥🔥 Hype them up in the comments ⬇️

02/15/2024

Send these to the person who makes your heart do swing outs! From our dance fam to yours, happy valentine's day ❤️

07/04/2023

Reminder: No dance tonight. We'll see you next week! Happy Independence Day!

05/31/2023

05/17/2023

It’s a good night for swing dancing!

05/01/2023

You're in for a real treat this May. This month is beginner month and we're doing $5 beginner swing dance lessons from 7:00 to 8:00 followed by social dancing from 8:00 to 9:30 on the 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd. On the 9th, the Speakeasy Jazz Band is going to be playing some of our favorites and we're so excited to have them for the first time at Gem City Swing!

On the 30th we're going to closing out the month with another special guest, the Hauer Swing Band. Bring $10 that night and get ready for the closing beginner lesson from 7:00 to 8:00 and social dancing to live music from 8:00 to 10:00.

04/27/2023

A World A’Fair was a 3-day international festival historically held each May at the Dayton Convention Center, in Dayton Ohio. It's back this year after a brief pause, so check out their site for updates on the new venue, dates, and schedule.

HISTORY: A World A'Fair was a 3-day international festival historically held each May at the Dayton Conv