Brisbane Balboa Swing Dance 36 Austin Street, Newstead, Queensland 4006

Welcome to Brisbane Balboa Swing Dance, located at 36 Austin Street in Newstead, Australia. As an establishment and point of interest, we are thrilled to announce that our Tuesday Balboa classes are back on like Donkey Kong starting March 2022!

If you're looking to learn a fun and exciting partner dance style to incredible big band swing music, then you've come to the right place. Whether you're already a connoisseur of vintage dancing, such as Lindy Hop, or a complete beginner looking to dip your toe in the ocean for the first time, our classes are the perfect starting point to discover why people all over the world love Balboa!

One of the great things about Balboa is that you don't need to bring a partner. It's a social dance that allows you to meet new people and make new friends. Our classes operate on a rotation system, so you'll have the opportunity to dance with everybody!

We owe a debt of gratitude to our passionate teachers, including Mark Paroz, Vicky Lawrence, Joel Gilmore, Jenny Reisz, Kelly Hazard, Wes Barris, Tia Baker, and Shaun Strong. Thanks to their care and dedication, the Brisbane swing scene has enjoyed weekly Balboa classes for over a decade. In 2013, Robert Edwards and Emma Hadfield took over the reins and have been the driving force behind Brisbane Balboa Swing ever since. They are now the proud owners of Corner Pocket Swing, of which Brisbane Balboa Swing is a component.

Balboa is a close-connected partner dance that involves lead and follow roles. The leader initiates movements through the connection between the couple, and the follower responds in a way that matches or accentuates the leader's ideas. In Pure Balboa, the dance is performed in the closed position throughout, creating the illusion of floating across the floor. There is room for improvisation and styling from the follower, with various footwork variations available. Some of the steps you'll learn include Ad-libs, Paddles, Crab-walks, Flea-hops, Pivots, and Hangman, not to mention the countless variations and fancy footwork within the Basic pattern.

Bal-Swing, on the other hand, is a fusion of Pure Balboa and another dance called "Swing," which originated in 1930s Southern California. Before Lindy Hop arrived on the West Coast of the U.S., Swing was a melting pot of different steps, turns, and kicks. In the late 1930s, the dance evolved into Bal-Swing when it adopted Pure Balboa as its basic steps. Modern Bal-Swing incorporates steps like the Come-around, Crossovers, Lolly kicks, and Throw-outs (aka Toss-outs).

We encourage you to explore our website and navigate through the top menu to learn more about this amazing dance. Balboa is alive and thriving in Brisbane, and we can't wait for you to join us on the dance floor.