Private swing dancing classes, Demos, Choreography & more | Swingland Dance co.

Swingland - Private hire

Established in 1998, Swingland Ltd. is run by Martin Ellis who has been dancing, teaching, and performing Lindy hop ("Jitterbug" or "Jive") and related Swing Era dances since the early 1990s.

Over the years Swingland has grown steadily into a small team of very experienced teachers and event organisers, all driven by our passion for swing music and dancing.

Previous clients

Some of our previous work

Educational/Corporate

Schools/colleges include:

  • London College of Communication – casting, choreography and training actors/dancers for 1920s and 1950s sequences for film commercial as part of Student Skillset
  • William Morris Academy, Hammersmith – taught 1930s-style jazz and Lindy hop to BTec students culminating in a successful performance at the Lyric, Hammersmith
  • British Ballet Organisation; National Youth Theatre; Churchill Museum/Cabinet War Rooms; TeachFirst; Bishop Wand School Sunbury; Merlin School Putney

Corporate clients include:

  • Thomson Holidays (through The Production Suite) – taught 1930s/40s-style jazz and Lindy hop routines to holiday reps to become part of the season's entertainment in various resorts
  • Abbey National plc (through The Production Suite) – taught 1930s/40s-style jazz and Lindy hop as part of a management day
  • Mr. Motivator (Center Parcs Activities Weekend, Sherwood Forest) – taught Lindy hop as a fitness/motivational exercise
  • BBC Blast; Gately Communication; LBHF; Naked Communications

Dance camps/weekends

Clients include:

  • Rock Bottoms; JiveTime; La Santa Swing; Northampton & Leicester Swing Dance Society

Video/Film/TV/Stage

Appearances include:

  • “Des O'Connor Tonight” (ITV); “2001: A Tap Oddysey” (Bloomsbury Theatre); “Last Of The Blonde Bombshells” (BBC/HBO); “Piccadilly Jim” (Myriad); “What It Is” (Freddy Fresh); “Hold On” (KT Tunstall); “Rewind” (Goldspot)