So what exactly is Swing Dancing?

Swing dancing originated in the late 1930s and reached it’s peak in the 1940s with Big Bands led by Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and Count Basie. These Bands had the lads jumping and jiving in dance halls across the world. Dance halls were the night clubs of the day and many had more than 1000 people swing dancing most nights of the week! To name a few, The Savoy Ballroom, The Cotton Club and The Trocadero are some of the legendary dance halls where Swing reigned supreme!!

Although the classic 40s era may be over, the music, dancing and fashion still lives on today! Some old timers even say that there are more people swing dancing worldwide today than back in the 40s. Neo-swing artists, such as Royal Crown Revue, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Brian Setzer have Swing music still hitting the charts today!

And what do I wear to the Gangsters' Ball?

Dress code is strictly 1920's - 50's Gangsters, Flappers & Molls, Burlesque, Vintage, traditional Dance Hall Swing & Rockabilly. Below are some ideas from our daper attendees to get you started:

Where can I buy or hire my outfit and accessories and get my hair done?

Retail Stores:

Antons (Clothing & Accessories):

Sydney - 212 Oxford Street Paddington NSW 2021 phone (02) 9361 0007

Melbourne - Shop 224, 300 Lonsdale Street (Melbourne Central), VIC phone: (03) 9663 8610

Stand Hatters (Hats & Accessories): Strand Arcade, 412 George Street, Sydney, NSW phone: (02) 9231 6884

Gallery Serpentine (Clothing & Accessories): Shop 2, 112 Enmore Road, Enmore, NSW phone: (02) 9557 5821

Retrospec'd Clothing (Clothing & Accessories): 486 King Street, Newtown, NSW phone: (02) 9517 1387

Sterling HQ (Hair Styling): 3/29 Brisbane Street, Surry Hills, NSW phone: (02) 9262 7777

Doppelganger (Hair Styling): 44 Enmore Road, Newtown NSW phone (02) 9517 9588

Tiger Rag (Clothing & Accessories): 2/702 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD phone: (07) 3216 0018

Voodoo Lulu (Clothing & Accessories): 240 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD phone: (07) 3257 0060

Kitten D'Amour (Clothing & Accessories):

Gold Coast - Shop 348 Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Broadbeach, QLD 4218 phone: (07) 5538 9855

Brisbane - Shop 101, Adelaide Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000 phone: (07) 3012 8713

Chermside - Shop 157, Westfield Chermside, Chermside, QLD 4032 phone: (07) 3359 8779

Route 66 (Clothing & Accessories):

Prahran: 2 Grattan Street, Prahran, VIC phone (03) 9529 4659

Melbourne City: Shop 7 Cathedral Arcade, 37 Swanston Street (cnr Flinders Lane) Melbourne VIC phone: (03) 9639 5669

Sydney: 225 - 257 Crown Street Darlinghurst, NSW phone: (02) 9331 6686

Faster Pussycat (Clothing & Accessories):

Sydney: 431a King St. Newtown, NSW phone: (02) 9519 1744

Melbourne: 120 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065 phone: (02) 9416 0230

Vicious Venus (Vintage inspired Clothing):

346 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 phone: (03) 9417 7449

155 Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC 3056 phone (03) 9387 5995

Costume Hire:

Snog the Frog Costume Hire: 10 Hart Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 phone: (02) 9690 2001

Fancy Shmancy Boutique Costume Hire: 91 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction NSW 2022 phone: (02) 93871330

Bayside Fancy Dress: 417 South Road, Bentleigh VIC phone: (03) 9553 1116

Sideshow Annie Costume Parlour: 735 Nicholson Street, Carlton North VIC 3054 phone: (03) 9380 5889

Kamikaze Couture: Level 1, 308 Victoria Rd, Marrickville NSW phone: 0407 393 420

On-line Stores:

Sweet Pins: www.sweetpins.com.au

Kornelia's Kloset: www.korneliaskloset.com

Devil Doll: www.devildoll666.com

Dolly Q: www.dollyq.com

Vivien of Holloway: www.vivienofholloway.com

Faster Pussycat: www.fasterpussycatonline.com

Firehosiery: www.firehosiery.com.au

Salon Chaton: www.salonchaton.com