Lindy Gras, the first Lindy Hop convention in New Orleans, brought swing dancers from all over the country together for a busy weekend of dancing, Feb. 13-16 at Southport Hall, Audubon Park and Rock ‘n’ Bowl.

Lindy Hop, a type of swing dancing, originated in Harlem in 1926 and is making its way to New Orleans.

Lindy Hop conventions occur throughout the country, but this year local dancers showed people from both the West and East coasts a good time, New Orleans style.

Lindy Hop is an eight-count dance using basic swing dance moves. It’s done in a circle with a partner, and is supposed to look like you are flying.

The first dance learned is swing dance, then Lindy Hop and eventually, other dances like the Balboa, the Shag and the Charleston, according to Kate Burnett.

Burnett, communications sophomore, first got involved in swing dancing in New Orleans with the Loyola Swing Dance Society, and was previously involved with the Austin Texas Syndicate.

People ranging in age from about 16 to 50 came to town to dance all weekend long.

On Feb. 13, the group went from bar to bar listening to live jazz music downtown.

The first dance was the Valentine’s Dance, held at Southport Hall from 8 p.m. until midnight on Feb. 14.

On Saturday night there was another dance at 8 p.m. at Southport Hall with a Mardi Gras theme, and the dance room was filled with colorful beads and king cake.

After hours dances on both nights were held at Rock ‘n’ Bowl from 12:30 a.m. until 5 a.m.

The group of 300 people danced by the lake in Audubon Park for “Lindy in the Park” that Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock, with jazz and blues music in the air.

Later, they danced at Rock ‘n’ Bowl from 6 p.m. until midnight.

“The energy and enthusiasm on and off the dance floor was overpowering,” said Tulane senior Roxy Ryan, who has been swing dancing for seven years. “It was surreal to see our city full of hundreds of people with an appreciation and love for this type of music and dancing,”

Lindy Hop was the first partner dance in America to have a “swing-out,” which is to dance away from your partner. It was seen as a very rebellious and sensual dance when it first came out in the late 1920s, according to Ryan.

Many different styles have formed in colleges throughout the country. Lindy Hop can be danced to various types of music such as jazz, pop, funk and blues.

It may look difficult, but once you break down the steps, it is very easy and is great exercise, according to Burnett.

The Lindy Hop community in New Orleans is small; there are only about 20 Lindy Hoppers as opposed to some cities like Austin, Tex., where there are about 150 dancers, Burnett said.

She said she hopes that the New Orleans Syndicate will get much bigger soon.

With Lindy Gras, the city gained some recognition that they hope will help the Syndicate gain popularity and interest, she said.

“Lindy Gras went really great,” Burnett said. “I saw lots of old friends from all over the country. It was a memorable experience.”

Every city has a specific style, like different accents, according to Burnett, and dancing with people from different cities can help you develop your own style of dance.

“You have a network of friends all over the country, and the events are like a reunion,” Ryan said.

There are many places to listen to jazz music in New Orleans and to practice Lindy Hop, like El Matador, The Maple Leaf, the Spotted Cat and the Ritz Carlton.

Ryan said she wants to see people dancing to the live jazz music rather than just listening.

Throughout the year there are workshops held in New Orleans where guest dancers come into town and teach new dances and steps.

Both Burnett and Ryan said they want to see a younger crowd coming out to dance and taking lessons.

There are many ways to get involved in the swing dance community.

The Loyola Swing Dance Society, along with the University Programming Board, is offering swing dance lessons at 7 p.m. on March 12 in the Danna Center as part of the “Week of the Dance” series.

Each Wednesday night at 9 p.m. until midnight, local swing dancers gather at Rock ‘n’ Bowl to dance to live music, and it is open to the public.

On Monday nights there are six-week session dance lessons, and students get a big discount when they sign up.

You can learn more about getting involved in swing dancing and about Lindy Gras at www.danceneworleans.com.

Two dancers get down at one of the events during the weekend-long Lindy Gras celebration held in New Orleans.

Loyola student Kate Burnett gets dipped as a song ends at Southport Hall during the Valentine’s Day dance.