17/10/2026
BOOGIE Down South has celebrated its 10th edition in spectacular style, with around 400 dancers from across Australia and overseas descending on Busselton for what organisers say was the largest known swing dance festival in Oceania.
Run by volunteer-led not-for-profit South West Swing, the five-day festival brought together dancers for workshops, live music, social dancing and plenty of fun on the dancefloor.
This year was particularly special, with Boogie Down South becoming one of the first major community events to use Saltwater's new auditorium.
"We're really proud that a local community organisation was the first to use Saltwater's auditorium," South West Swing chairperson Lindsey Ngo said.
"The management, tech crew and staff were outstanding, and the capabilities of the building are incredible."
The festival featured five nights of dancing, three days of workshops with six international instructors, five live bands and nine DJs, plus a long-table dinner, late-night blues dancing and other activities.
For the first time, spectators could also enjoy the action from Saltwater's balcony as dancers filled the floor below.
Lindsey said the festival celebrated not only the joy of dancing but also the African American origins of swing and jazz, and their history of freedom, creativity and self-expression.
For Cowaramup dancer Ben, the event marked a personal milestone.
"A big highlight was reflecting on going from being someone who never thought they'd learn to dance at the start of the year to dancing amongst hundreds of people," he said.
South West Swing began 12 years ago as the Margaret River Swing Dance Community and now offers weekly classes in Cowaramup, free monthly socials at Strange Brew and workshops across the region.
Lindsey said the festival demonstrated the power of community connection.
"At a time when the world can often feel disconnected, creating a space where people can come together, move, laugh and feel part of something is incredibly important."
📸 Sarah Juricak | Fudz Qazi
