What are the opening hours?

Friday 8pm - 12am Saturday 8pm - 12am

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Philly Fish Fry

Vintage swing dancing on Penn's campus, hosted by West Philly Swingers! Philly Fish Fry! Who can come? Penn ID NOT required. Why is it called the Fish Fry?

Philly Fish Fry is a monthly social swing dance at the University of Pennsylvania hosted by West Philly Swingers in collaboration with the larger Swing Dance Community of Greater Philadelphia. We also have Lindybombs (outdoor swing dancing parties!) the day before the Fish Fry. We have free (with admission) novice lessons from 8 to 9 PM and an all-levels social dance from 9 to midnight. Anyone and

everyone who is interested in learning to swing dance or would just like to enjoy the music is welcome to attend. You need not bring a partner, and need not be affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. All classes are designed for the beginner- if you can walk, we can teach you to dance. The inspiration for holding a Philly Fish Fry comes from the song of the same name by one of the greatest swing artists of all time, Louis Jordan. Fish Fries were popular during the Depression Era, when people all over the country would fish all week, put the fish in an ice box, and then take them to a public park for a fish fry. The fish fry was always held on Saturday nights during the Depression and sandwiches would cost a mere 25 cents! If you read the lyrics of Saturday Night Fish Fry, you'll notice these events were as much a dance jam session and party as a means to make a few dollars. You won't find any fish on our Fish Fries, but you will find the festive nature of these events: plenty of dancing, fabulous music, and you don't have to be a "cook, or a waiter, or a good musician" to get in free!

04/12/2022

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING!!! We were so happy to have all of you back in Bodek dancing to the amazing live music from Corner Pocket! We hope you had as much fun as we did :))) see you monthly starting September!

04/03/2022

INTRODUCING our intermediate instructor: the ONE AND ONLY Jon Tigert!

Jon Tigert found swing dancing at the tender age of 15 and never looked back. Now, somewhat older than 15, Jon shares his knowledge of the dance all over the United States and the World. You may know him from his roles at events such as Lindy Focus, Lindy Fest, The Canadian Swing Dance Championships, The Chinese Lindy Hop Championships, Herrang Dance Camp, The International Lindy Hop Championships and many more. Known for his concise language, historical knowledge and and infinite supply of dad jokes, Jon's classes are immensely informative and entertaining. Beyond teaching, Jon is often seen behind the microphone as a well known MC and host, behind the computer as a DJ, or behind the drum kit playing and singing with various musical groups, including the Corner Pocket Jazz Band!

Come see Jon perform AND teach this Saturday, 4/9 at 8pm in Houston Hall’s historic Bodek Lounge!

03/28/2022

WE ARE BACK!!! Come join us on April 9th with Corner Pocket! A Facebook event with all the details you need will be up shortly and linked in the bio :) stay tuned!

04/23/2021

THE DAY IS HERE! Hear Eyal Vilner’s perspective as a world renowned swing musician in our online swing musicality workshop TONIGHT from 8-9pm EDT. Link in our bio (and here: tinyurl.com/phillyfishfryzooms)

04/22/2021

DON’T MISS IT! Join Philly Fish Fry and world renowned band leader, composer, and dancer Eyal Vilner in his swing musicality workshop TOMORROW, fri 4/23 from 8-9PM EDT. Find the link in our bio!

04/21/2021

IN TWO DAYS - A can't miss event! Come hear from Eyal Vilner this Friday, April 23rd at 8pm ET! He will be discussing swing music from his perspective as a musician. Grab your favorite beverage and click going on our Facebook event (link in bio!) https://fb.me/e/23386dbNn

04/16/2021

ONE WEEK AWAY! Join Philly Fish Fry and Eyal Vilner, a renowned band leader, saxophonist, composer, and dancer, as we explore the connections between music and dance. Join us for an hour of community, (live) music (featuring Eyal’s NEW album “Live from Washington Square Park”...we may even get to hear him play his saxophone as well!), and dance NEXT FRIDAY, 4/23 from 8-9pm EDT. LINK IN OUR BIO 💜

04/12/2021

EYAL VILNER is back with PHILLY FISH FRY! 🎣 Mark your calendars for next Friday - Eyal Vilner will be giving a musicality lesson for swing dancers, drawing from his experience as a renowned band leader, saxophonist, and composer for Eyal Vilner Big Bang, plus his own experience as a dancer! The workshop will include both exploration of concepts and music breaks to practise these concepts to, taken from Eyal’s newest album, “Live from Washington Square Park”. We may even get to hear Eyal play his saxophone live from his living room...

Let us know what YOU want to learn from Eyal Vilner! Go to our Instagram or Facebook stories & fill out our polls - or shoot us a DM!

With all of us waiting anxiously till the day we can safely social dancing again, what better time to improve our jazz listening skills? This is workshop you don’t want to miss.

02/13/2021

Join us and in a collaboration event this Thursday (2/18) where we watch and discuss a documentary of jazz performer and entertainer extraordinaire, Nina Simone! Many of us who swing dance know her songs like the back of our hand, but this biopic featuring archival clips and diary entries from Simone herself will take us deeper into her nuanced life as an African American, a mother, and a civil rights activist. We will also be having a friendly discussion about the movie after the showing!

Come meet the person behind the music and find out what the means for us as swing dancers! Link in bio.

Address

3417 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA
19104

Opening Hours

Friday	8pm - 12am
Saturday	8pm - 12am

Website

facebook.com

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The Fish Fry Story

Philly Fish Fry! Philly Fish Fry is a monthly social swing dance at the University of Pennsylvania designed to bring together the college and community swing scenes, routinely welcoming 100-200 dancers to the beautiful floors of Houston Hall. Our usual dances are on Saturday (sometimes Friday) nights, with complete beginner and intermediate lessons from 8:00-9:00, and dancing to the area’s best swing bands from 9:00-midnight. Sometimes to spice it up we’ll have competitions, performances, giveaways, and more! Who can come? Philly Fish Fry is unique in that it welcomes complete beginners and veteran swing dancers alike. Anyone and everyone who is interested in learning to swing dance or would just like to enjoy the music is welcome to attend. You don’t need to bring a partner, nor do you need to be affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. All beginner classes are designed for folks partner dancing for the first time--if you can move, we can teach you to dance.

Why is it called the Philly Fish Fry? The inspiration for the name “Philly Fish Fry” comes from the song “Saturday Night Fish Fry” by one of the greatest swing artists of all time, Louis Jordan (we were formerly named “Saturday Night Fish Fry,” but switched to avoid confusion during our Friday dances). Fish Fries were popular during the Depression Era, when people all over the country would fish all week, toss their catch in an ice box, and then fry ‘em up on a Saturday night fish fry. Looking to buy a sandwich? That’d cost you a quarter! If you read the lyrics of Saturday Night Fish Fry, you'll notice these events were as much a dance jam session and party as a means to make a few dollars. Unfortunately, you won't find any fried fish at our dances, but you will find the festive nature of these events: plenty of dancing, fabulous music, and a vibrant community atmosphere! Plus, you don't have to be a "cook, or a waiter, or a good musician" to get in free, just sign up to volunteer!

Who is Philly Fish Fry?

Philly Fish Fry is run and organized by the committed students in West Philly Swingers, the University of Pennsylvania’s premier swing dance troupe! The current organizers are Erin Spicola (Head Organizer), Emily Solomon (Head PR), Shyah Collins (Safe Spaces), Nick Cruickshank (Band Manager), Yu Wen Wong (Band Manager), Keri Zhang (Treasurer), and Olivia Demberg (Volunteer Coordinator)!