The Swing Project
The Swing Project is a Swing Dance organisation based in Cardiff, UK. Its goal is to spread love and laughter through the teaching of Lindy Hop, Charleston and Solo Jazz. We are passionate about sharing the history and legacy of these dances and its originators, and believe that everyone, no matter your age or ability, should have the opportunity to discover the joy of Swing. We host classes, workshops and events, with the aim of sharing the music, the rhythms and the history of this wonderful dance.
The Swing Project was founded on the principles of community and connection, and almost nowhere else are these sentiments found in more purity than in partnered dance. There is so much more that connects us than divides, and The Swing Project’s main goal is to bring together people from all walks of life, connecting them through the joy of Lindy Hop and nurturing a welcoming, diverse and resilient community.
Bringing people together in the community is the first step, but that community needs leadership, direction, and to be challenged to be bigger and better than ever before. Our communities need to do the work to ensure we honour the founders and innovators of jazz dance. The Swing Project has an international focus and believes that greater exposure to ideas and concepts from around the world makes us stronger as individuals and as a society. Through connecting with others across the UK and the globe we are able to bring international level educators to Cardiff and South Wales, providing opportunities for all levels of dancers.
An ever evolving goal of The Swing Project is to cater for not only beginners and improvers, but to provide consistent, high level teaching for advanced dancers of Lindy Hop and its derivative forms. The fabric of a healthy dance society depends on the continued integration of its veteran members with its newcomers. In a new scene, providing for advanced dancers can be complicated, but it is our goal to make sure dancers of all levels feel as though they are supported and have direction.
JESSIE BROOKS - FOUNDER
Jessie is the founder of and principle teacher for The Swing Project. She discovered the world of Swing Dancing while living in Toronto, Canada in 2010, and hasn’t stopped swingin’ out since. Having previously competed in ballroom and latin dancing, she was drawn to the unbridled joy of Lindy Hop, and swears by its ability to bring sunshine into people’s lives. No matter where she dances in the world, she’s yet to find a swing dancer who doesn’t have a big smile on their face.
“My favourite thing about swing dancing is watching people lose themselves in those few minutes on a dance floor - in that moment, nothing else matters except the music and the connection with their partner.”
Jessie has been teaching since 2017, regularly attending national and international workshops to further her own knowledge and bring back new and exciting ideas for the The Swing Project’s students to explore. She loves to help people discover the power of connecting with another person through dance, and takes great enjoyment in nurturing new dancers’ journeys into the exciting world of Swing. Her teaching approach, along with everything at The Swing Project, is firmly rooted in the belief that we learn best when we’re having fun.
Jessie is also incredibly passionate about sharing the history of this African American dance with her students and firmly believes that an important part of studying Lindy Hop and Jazz is acknowledging and paying respect to the originators and innovators of these African American vernacular dances.
As a teacher, Jessie recognises that she has benefited from privilege as a white person in the community and that in order to participate in a culture that we are guests in, we need to recognise and engage with the history of the dance as well as the consequences of our own actions in order to build a better future for our community.
“Jessie is an exceptional and inspirational teacher - after each workshop our jaws ache from excessive, impulsive smiling!”
“Her enthusiasm for Lindy Hop is infectious and she has been instrumental in maintaining and growing a really friendly and welcoming Lindy community in Cardiff.”
“I am loving Lindy Hop lessons with Jessie! She is a charismatic teacher, so warm and friendly, and made me feel welcome from my very first class. She keeps the class dancing and laughing throughout every lesson.”
“Jessie’s passion for sharing the joy of dancing and empowering people through dance is what makes her a gifted and unique teacher.”