Welcome to Swing!
Wait, what is swing?
Swing is an umbrella term for many popular and historic styles of dance, and a few modern styles.
Here at Cape Fear Swing Dance Society, we are focused on Lindy Hop, the dance that originated in Harlem in the 1930s and grew into numerous other styles. Back in the day, Lindy Hop varied from city to city, which is why a lot of styles, like Saint Louis Shag and Charleston, are named after cities.
Lindy Hop is a vernacular jazz dance rooted in Black American history. The dance best suits swing music from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, while modern swing styles like West Coast can be danced to pop music. Lindy Hop has a thriving modern scene, full of innovation, and we have Frankie Manning and a few other legends to thank for that fact! Lindy saw a resurgence in the 1990s because of people like Frankie Manning, and that is something all swing dancers are grateful for today.
We highly recommend reading articles the blog Swungover by Bobby White if you're interested in the history!
The Savoy Ballroom - 1941
Frankie Manning & Erin Stevens - Late 80's/Early 90's
2025-2026 Board Members
Mission Statement
At CFSDS we work to create a joyful community to share our love for dance.
We Value
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Maintaining an environment that is inclusive, welcoming, and inspiring.
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Celebrating the history of vernacular swing dances by honoring the people, places, and music from which it originated.
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Connection with others through respect, consent, and support.
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Welcoming anyone to our scene, from beginners to professional dancers.
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Teaching dance in a positive environment that is safe to make mistakes, learn, and grow.
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The freedom to dance whichever role suits you best, regardless of gender roles commonly associated with partner dancing.
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Feeling like part of a community, on or off the dance floor.
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Joy, laughter, and having fun!
Our origin Story
Cape Fear Swing Dance Society was started in 2015 by long time swing lovers Candi & Stephen Terry. Avid swing dancers at their alma mater, the two were sad to find that the port city lacked a swing scene upon moving here in 2012. Wanting to spread the love of Swing dancing and its history/culture the two decided to start one.
What began as a fun get together in their garage grew to be Wilmington's swing scene. Meeting in the beloved WWII Hannah Block USO in historic Downtown Wilmington, CFSDS still gets to share a love for music and dance, while honoring an important part of American history.
Our Founders
Candi and Stephen Terry
