Edinburgh Queer Lindy Festival 2025

Join us from the 28th-30th March 2025 for a weekend of exploration and expression through discussions and dancing || Register here: https://edinburghqueerlindy.dancecloud.com/dance/36608 || -------------------------------------------------------------------- *What makes this a queer dance event?* Between us, we have danced in lots of different cities and at lots of different events across Europe, and we’ve consistently found that we enjoy ourselves the most when we don’t feel any pressure to conform to any one dance role or social identity. The times we’ve felt the most ourselves have been when we were surrounded by queer dancers, in an environment where everyone was allowed and encouraged to take part in this dance in a way that fits who they really are – no judgement of one another, simply being able to express yourself and appreciate others. The joy and positive energy we’ve experienced in these places has been exceptionally freeing, and in running this event we want to share that feeling of freedom and expression with you. *How are we working to achieve this?* We want to challenge the implicit idea that all dancers identify as either men or women – an idea that ignores the existence of non-binary/gender-diverse dancers – and that they should dance a particular role according to that identity. It’s great to see that in many communities it’s becoming more common for dancers of a wide range of genders to choose to lead and follow – or do both! – and for non-heteronormative couples to be seen dancing together. However, we all too often see that the binary is still upheld, both in terms of gender as well as dance roles. To us, Queer Lindy means to not be limited by gendered structures in our choice of role, style of dancing, and who we dance with. Do you want to follow? Lead? To choose a different role depending on the dance? Or do you and the person you’re dancing with agree to switch roles during the dance? We want you to make the choice for yourself. Part of this is helping bring awareness to the structures – that we sometimes don’t realise are there – that can limit us. We can then each decide how we want to use, or not use, those structures. One of our further-reaching aims is to use this questioning of structures and hierarchies to examine our place in the Black American culture of dancing and music that we are guests in. As a group of White European dancers, we are very aware that we will always have work to do when it comes to taking part in this culture with appreciation and respect. This event was inspired by Gothenburg Queer Lindy Festival. Having run our first mini-festival in 2019, we want to continue creating this space in Edinburgh where anyone can explore different dance roles and/or switching between them, regardless of their gender, presentation, level of experience, or anything else for that matter. Taking further cues from the wonderful folk at GQLF (who very generously gave us their blessing to use a similar name for our event), we also want to provide a platform for the LBGTQ+ community to be more visible within the Scottish swing dance scene. In short, Edinburgh Queer Lindy Mini-Festival is a space for anyone who doesn’t feel dancing environments should be heteronormative and wants to dance where they are welcome and accepted for who they are. -------------------------------------------------------------------- *Teachers* Katie Cobalt Grey Armstrong Ellen Mears Emily Raithby Rob Armitage Sarah Hall ---------- *Live Music* Castle Rock Jazz Band Reekie Rhythm Rendezvous jazz and blues collective -------------------------------------------------------------------- *Schedule* ---------- Friday Hangout -- 20:00-23:00 Venue: Wee Red Bar, Lauriston Architecture Building, 74 Lauriston Pl, Edinburgh EH3 9DF Make some new friends, catch up with old ones, get those first few dances in. ---------- Saturday Venue: Inch House Community Centre, 225 Gilmerton Road, EH16 5UF 09:00-10:00 -- [Registration] 10:00-11:30 -- Sructured class (Improver or Open Level) 11:30-11:45 -- [Break] 11:45-12:45 -- Taster Class 12:45-13:15 -- [Lunch] 13:15-14:45 -- Group-led Discussion 14:45-15:00 -- [Break] 15:00-16:30 -- ‘Exploring Our Dancing’ session ----- 20:00-01:00 -- Social Dance with live music from Castle Rock Jazz Band ---------- Sunday Venue: North Merchiston Club, 48 Watson Crescent, EH11 1EP 10:00-12:00 -- Switch Moves 12:00-15:30 -- Tea Dance with live music from Reekie Rhythm Rendezvous jazz and blues collective One of our favourite parts of the other editions was spending time with you all on Sunday afternoon. Our venue has a cafe so you can sit and chat in between dances. Are you a jazz musician? You can join in the live music with our local jazz and blues collective! Bring your instrument along (we'll have drums and a keyboard there so no need to bring those) and sit in on a tune or two! -------------------------------------------------------------------- *Passes* We want to make this event accessible so please choose the pass which is right for your circumstances. The Patron tier is there if you’re able to contribute a bit extra towards our running costs and help more people to attend on the Concession tier. There is Improvers for those newer to swing dancing and Open Level for those who've danced a little longer. Full Pass - including the classes, discussion and social dances £75 Patron | £65 Early Bird £65 Regular | £55 Early Bird £55 Concession | £45 Early Bird Social Pass - including the discussion and all social dances £25 Patron £20 Regular £15 Concession Sunday Tea Dance Pass £10 || Register here: https://edinburghqueerlindy.dancecloud.com/dance/36608 || -------------------------------------------------------------------- For updates, keep an eye on the event, our page & on instagram: https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghQueerLindy/ https://www.instagram.com/edinburghqueerlindy/