Arms and legs will be flailing this weekend as Dunedin gets into the swing of things at the Mid-Winter Swing Festival.
Event co-ordinator Simon Christie hoped the city would go back in time to the 1920-'40s era, when swing dancing was a major part of social life.
The festival opened last night with a dance at the Savoy, one of New Zealand's "most beautiful original ballrooms''.
Mr Christie said it was the perfect time of the year to hold the festival, given it was near the winter solstice.
The three-day event, which finishes tomorrow, aimed to warm dancers around the city, just by having them participate.
Some of the world's top Balboa, Blues, Charleston and Lindy Hop swing dancers and teachers will be in Dunedin for the event.
Mr Christie said a series of dance workshops would be given by "phenomenal teachers'' including New Zealand swing dancers Natasya Yusoff and Simon Glasgow, and Lindy Hop dancer Rupert Sanford-Scutt who is a member of The Skyliners troupe in London and a leading teacher in the Swing Patrol London school.
Also today, the South Island Swing Championships will be held at Toitu Otago Settlers Museum.
Dancers would celebrate the winter solstice by dancing in the Dunedin Winter Carnival in the Octagon.
On Sunday, more workshops would be held, and a closing dinner and dance with live music from Devilish Mary and the Holy Rollers at Etrusco, he said.
"The festival is a chance for people to learn to swing dance, and for experienced swing dancers to get their feet out. It's for everyone . . . you don't have to be an amazing dancer to turn up.''
And if these events are not satisfying enough for people with happy feet, there will be live jazz music and sumo-suit swing dancing.
