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Lindy exchange


A lindy exchange is a gathering of lindy hop dancers in one city for several days to do the same dance at other venues, showcase one's own talent to the local community, and to dance with visitors and locals alike. Traveling for exchanges has contributed to promoting lindy hop internationally. Although the focus of lindy exchanges is on lindy hop, related swing dances such balboa, charleston, blues, and collegiate shag are common at lindy exchanges as well. Exchanges targeting these other dance styles specifically have also been organized. Most other styles of dance are ignored as emphasis is primarily on personal preference.

The term 'exchange' is derived from school or university exchange programs, where students travel to another country or city to experience the local culture. Exchange students often swap or exchange their own home or place at their home university with another traveler. Visitors at lindy exchanges are often hosted by local dancers, staying in their homes for the duration of the event.

Exchanges can vary in size. Some of the older exchanges, such as the Chicago Lindy Exchange, D.C. Lindy Exchange and the London Lindy Exchange, can easily attract 400 or more dancers. All of the San Francisco Lindy Exchanges except for 2005 attracted 500 or more people, the Yehoodi 5th Anniversary Exchange in New York City pulled in more than 600 people, and London regularly has more than 600 in attendance. Exchanges in cities with smaller dance communities may have fewer than 50 people.

While many workshop events existed in before lindy exchanges, what really differentiated the first exchange was that it had absolutely no classes or contests, it was completely a social event with a large amount of social dancing. Sometimes exchanges in newer scenes or isolated countries will include workshops in an attempt to appeal to travelers who might not otherwise come, though the usage of the term "Lindy Exchange" is questionable. Furthermore, there are plenty of dance events that would clearly qualify as a Lindy Exchange that do not use the terminology, such as the past well-attended event LindyGras in New Orleans. Due to the social nature of the event, the themes of exchanges internationally are hospitality and cultural and social exchange, on the dance floor and in the host dance community.


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