Big City Swing

Big City Swing is Chicago’s destination for East Coast Swing & Lindy Hop instruction, and host to a team of talented, knowledgeable, encouraging teachers and a dynamic, entertaining troupe of performers.

Founder and Director Julee Mertz discovered the small Lindy Hop scene in Chicago in 1997. She was instantly hooked by the music, the community and the energy of the dance, and learned everything she could about East Coast Swing and Lindy Hop. After a few short years of intense training with the best of the best all over the country, and a stint in the touring cast of “Swing! The Original Broadway Musical”, Julee began to teach her adored hobby to anyone who asked.

Julee opened Big City Swing’s permanent location in the burgeoning West Loop community in 2002. Since then, thousands of aspiring social dancers, avid history buffs, and enthusiastic dance professionals have come through the welcoming doors of our cozy loft to learn dance technique and have a blast. As demand has increased, so has our staff of amazing instructors, each trained by Julee on the art of patient, effective teaching with a good dose of humor.