Spring 2010 Schedule

• January 23rd - ARCH
• Febuary 13th - Bodek Hall
• Febuary 27th - ARCH
• March 13th - Class of '49 Auditorium
• March 27th - ARCH
• April 10th - ARCH
• April 24th - ARCH

The Saturday Night Fish Fry is a bimontly social dance
Anyone and everyone who is interested in learning to swing dance or would just like to enjoy the music from our fabulous DJs and live bands is welcome to attend. You need not bring a partner, and need not be affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. Penn ID NOT required. We encourage beginners to attend and offer a free introductory swing lesson before each dance - if you can walk, we can teach you to dance.

UPtown Swing hosts the Saturday Night Fish Fry:
Based at the University of Pennsylvania as a non-profit student group, UPtown Swing was established to promote swing dancing in and around the mid-Atlantic region. Our events aspire to bring together the whole Philadelphia swing dance community and introduce the dance to beginners with a good ol’ night of dancing. You can see many kinds of swing dancing at our events, including Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Charleston.

Join our facebook page to find pictures and the most up-to-date information on club activities

Swing Dancing inspires it all:

Billed as America’s “true national folk dance” by Life magazine, Lindy Hop has its origins in the great Harlem Ballrooms of the 1920s. The movies “Hellzapoppin” and “Groovie Movie” contain examples of this dynamic and energetic dance. Lindy Hop is rich in history and its popularity parallels the rise and fall of the Big Band Era. Fortunately for us, swing is still alive and well around the country. Almost every city has a swing scene with local venues and bands, and there are many national events each year that celebrate this great dance.

The inspiration for holding a Saturday Night Fish Fry comes from the song of the same name by Louis Jordan. Fish Fries were popular during the Depression Era, when people all over the country would fish all week, put the fish in an ice box, and then take them to a public park for a fish fry. The fish fry was always held on Saturday nights during the Depression and sandwiches would cost a mere 25 cents! If you read the lyrics of Saturday Night FishFry, you’ll notice these events were as much a dance jam session and party as a means to make a few dollars. You won’t find any fish on our Saturday Nights, but you will find the festive nature of these events: plenty of dancing, fabulous music, and you don’t have to be a "cook, or awaiter, or a good musician" to get in free!