The St James Dance Festival 2026!
Newsflash!
On Monday 18th May & Thursday 21st May at 6pm we will have two one hour free beginners Lindy Dance Sessions to set us up for the weekend
St James Dance Festival – Bank Holiday Weekend 23rd & 24th May 2026
A Dance Weekend to remember, your perfect island getaway!
In 2026 we are celebrating 80 years from the first anniversary of the Liberation of Guernsey from German occupation, when live music started up again and Islanders came together in friendship, music and dance.
80 years ago the Guernsey Evening Press and Star of 6/7th May 1946 noted it was impossible to purchase a boat or plane ticket to Guernsey from the UK as so many people wanted to come over and share the celebrations of that first anniversary of Liberation.
Saturday 23 May –
Lindy Hop On The Rock
FREE DANCE CLASSES –
Just turn up and dance!
10am – 11am: Introduction to the Lindy Hop
11am – 12pm: New moves for Lindy ‘Improvers’
12pm 1pm: Introduction to Balboa
2pm – 3pm: RnR / Jive Conversion to the Lindy / Swing beat
The Evening: Doors open at 7pm
Live music from the Ding Dong Daddios, one of the UK’s most highly regarded vintage dance bands, renowned for their authentic swing and early rhythm and blues sound.
Firm favourites with Lindy Hop and Jive dancers alike.
They are known for keeping the dance floor full with music that is rhythmically tight, joyful and perfectly suited to social dancing. Drawing inspiration from the late 1940’s and 1950’s, the band combines musical excellence with a deep understanding of what dancers love.
Sunday 24 May –
Liberty Tea Dance: 2pm – 5pm
A brand new event hosted by the legendary Melody Man (UK) from ‘Dancing through Time’. Mark and Hoc, who are well known for period dance instruction at various events across the UK, such as Twinwoods, Riviera Swing, Humdingers, will entertain and lead us through some well-loved and fun novelty dances.
In between there will be live music from the Guernsey Jazz Band featuring a variety of traditional Tea Dance music with an accent on vintage Swing. St James has one of the biggest dance spaces in Guernsey.
To enhance this elegant and atmospheric afternoon, you are encouraged to dress up in period clothes and will be rewarded with tea and cake!
We are working on several extra surprises to make this a special event echoing the joys of peace, freedom and togetherness.
Travelling to Guernsey
For information about accommodation and travel to Guernsey, as well as all the things to do there please see https://www.visitguernsey.com/
The Melody Man
Hoc & Mark discovered a love of Lindy Hop in the early 1990s, spending weekends attending workshops in London. They were fortunate to meet original dancers (such as Frankie Manning) and were inspired to spread their love of Lindy by eventually turning to teaching.
Hoc & Mark were influential in bringing dance to the Twinwoods Music Festival 25 years ago, where they continue to teach. From teaching at the Vintage-by-the-Sea event to being tasked with getting hundreds of revellers dancing at the annual South Bank NYE party, they are regularly in demand. So much so that in 2022 they were privileged to be asked to curate part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, where they provided 100 vintage-attired people to dance down The Mall.
Hoc and Mark have become renowned for period dance instruction, inspiring many to take to the dance floor. Why not join them “Dancing through Time” in 2026 as they celebrate their thirtieth year of teaching.
Ding Dong Daddios
The Ding Dong Daddios have entertained audiences far and wide for over 20 years. Specialising in Swing and Jive, the ‘Ding Dongs’ are proud to have been invited to work for a very high pedigree of clients at a wide range of private bookings.
We promise you great music, good humour and of course professionalism and as a result we have been booked and welcomed back by so many happy clients.
No gadgets, no gimmicks. Just great music to dance to!