July 2025

    Overview

    The Teachers

    The Hotel

    Advance Info

    Schedule

    Book Now

    Best of Last Year

Advance Information

 

It's only a week until Rock Bottoms Lindy Hop and Balboa gets underway and we'll all be putting our dancing shoes on ready for a feast of great music and dance. Here is some advance information to help you prepare for Rock Bottoms "Lindy and Balboa" weekender July 18th - 21st 2025.

We hope you all have a fabulous time with us as you indulge in workshops, social dance, and friendly chat. We encourage everyone to mingle on and off the dance floor in order to get the most from this wonderful weekend. We have over 200 dancers from all over the UK - how many can you dance with?

Feel free to ask us any questions you may still have after reading this info. Also during the weekend please ask any of our team if there's something you think we could help with.

All You Need To Know

Event Location & Contact

This event is all within the VICTORIA HOTEL (part of the TLH Leisure Resort), Belgrave Road, Torquay TQ2 5HL
Your rooms will be available from 3pm Friday and checkout is 10:30am Monday.
Rock Bottoms contact (Hev): 07967 904096
Victoria Hotel reception: 01803 400200

Last Minute Availability

The event is sold out but we do have dance package only or evening tickets (advance payment only). For day or evening tickets please call Hev on 07967 904096 or email hev@rockbottoms.com

Teacher Lift Required

We are hoping that one of you lovely people would be able to collect our Swedish teachers from Bristol airport around 10am on the Friday. We'll pay your fuel costs, any airport costs, and ensure you have a really lovely room for your stay.
An even bigger ask would be to get them to Bristol airport for around 9am on Monday morning – same perks apply. If you can do both runs then who knows how grateful we'll be.

Covid / Lurgy Policy

We are a group of 200 dancers in close proximity to each other and we'd like everyone to have a happy and healthy time. So if you feel a major lurgy kicking in just before arrival day, then common sense says stay away.
If you do have to cancel last minute we can provide an invoice to help you claim on travel insurance (a decent annual policy can be found for around £30).

Teachers

Your Lindy teachers for this weekend include Jenny Thomas (of Strictly fame) partnered with Andy Fleming. We have for the first time Anders and Hyunjung from Sweden, and the fabulous Bic and Simone Graham round off this impressive Lindy Hop lineup.
As last year, we have the ever popular Mel and Jo bringing you Balboa. But you wanted more bal this year so we've added Nikki Santilli from London to the lineup.
The teaching schedule will be posted on our Rock Bottoms Facebook group soon (https://shorturl.at/kr3Io), but you'll need to join the group to access it.
We do have a space for private lessons which must be arranged directly with teachers.

Marvin Muoneke and His Swing Band

This man has an amazing voice backed up by a wonderful band. They'll be livening up the dance floor on Sunday evening helping you all find that last bit of energy for your final night of dancing.

Theme Night – 'Swing Tune Titles'

We think you are a creative lot and will be able to come up with some weird and wonderful ideas for your interpretation of some of the classic swing tunes. Be creative – and try to imagine dancing in what you're wearing. If you are in a group then maybe even have a very short performance ready. Theme night starts at DINNER. Who will become the next Rock Bottoms fancy dress WINNER?

Lead / Follow

We have several ladies who are booked in to the event as leads. For all workshops they will take the role of lead. In the evenings it may look a little follow heavy looking around the room but we will help you all spot who is mainly a lead by having different coloured wrist bands. You are all of course welcome in the socials to dance either role, but please do your best to help the lead follow balance.

Vintage Exchange

If you have any vintage clothes / shoes for dancing in good condition that you don't wear why not bring them along and make a few quid?
Whether selling or buying, please label each item with name, phone number, price and size.
Please note this stall will not be manned so you are leaving your items at your own risk.

Workshop Levels

Lindy Hop Levels
  • 2: Intermediate – Less than 2 years regular classes, basics covered, consolidating and improving movement, connection and confidence. Smallest class with more individual attention.
  • 3: Intermediate / Advanced – 2 to 4 years regular classes, confident mixing 6 and 8 count figures, some style on social dance floor, ready to experiment with variations.
  • 4: Advanced – Over 4 years regular classes and dance camps, fluid movement adapting to partners and music, focusing on clearer connection, musicality, complex variations.

Note: You can also attend Balboa or Jazz workshops or lower level Lindy workshops if not too busy or helping lead/follow balance. Please do not attempt workshops above your level.

Balboa Levels
  • 1: Beginner / Improver – For those new to Balboa, moving at a good pace with tips and technique for first year dancers.
  • 2: Intermediate – 1 to 2 years regular classes, basics covered, consolidating and improving movement, connection and confidence.
  • 3: Intermediate / Advanced – Confident and relaxed on social dance floor, solid fundamental techniques, fluid movement, ready to experiment with variations.

Please be considerate of other dancers and avoid over-challenging yourself.

Arrival Day Summary (Friday)

  • 12 noon: Car park becomes available – registration must be entered at reception screen or fines may occur.
  • 3:00pm: Check-in opens. Rooms not ready before 3pm. Pool and Bistro open before check-in.
  • 4:30pm – 5:30pm: "Meet & Greet" Complimentary tea & biscuits at "Ben's Barrow" (bar also open).
  • 5:00pm – 6:00pm: Swing music in Richmond Lounge.
  • 6:45pm: Evening meal in the restaurant (last sitting normally 8pm, extended to 8:30pm on Friday).
  • 8:30pm: Lindy starts in Warwick Room, bottom warmer class at 9pm, teacher introductions at 10:30pm. Balboa room opens at 10:30pm.

Workshops

Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm. All workshops are levelled; please adhere to level guides. Schedule will appear on website/Facebook group soon.

Evening Dances

Lindy music starts at 8:30pm in Warwick Room. Richmond Lounge opens at 10:30pm with Balboa until at least 12:30am. See printed schedule for extra entertainment.

Bottom Warmer

Short fun class Friday at 9pm to get people dancing and mixing.

Pyjama Class

Sunday morning tradition, fun routine dancing in pyjamas. Encouraged for all to join.

Cabarets

Teacher cabaret Saturday night at 10pm; extra performance Sunday night around 9pm from pyjama class.

Massage

One hour massage for £40 (cash) available. Book at desk on arrival or during weekend if spaces free.

Official Photographer

Alex Hardie taking photos throughout the weekend. Photos posted on Alex's website and Rock Bottoms website after event.

Video Recording Rules

No filming during workshops. Teachers may do short demos at end if asked nicely. Filming cabarets for personal use allowed. Rock Bottoms may upload cabarets to Facebook group if teachers allow.

Rock Bottoms Shop

Shop with T-shirts, hoodies, fans, shoe bags, water bottles, etc.

Hotel Information

Rooms available from 3pm Friday, checkout 10:30am Monday.
Derwent Hotel reception: 01803 400100 / 01803 400200

Directions & Parking

Check hotel pages on website or use TQ2 5HL in Sat Nav. Victoria Hotel car park large but often full; try other TLH complex car parks if needed.
On check-in, enter car registration at reception screen.

Travel Companions

If travelling alone, post on Rock Bottoms Facebook group to find car share options.

Train

Torquay train station less than 10 minutes walk from hotel.

Check-in

From 3pm onwards. Room key from hotel reception. Enter car reg at reception machine. No printed schedules; take screenshots from website/Facebook group.

Facilities

Indoor swimming pool, Aztec Spa, hairdressing salon. Contact hotel for bookings: 01803 400100.

Security

Workshop and evening venues private to Rock Bottoms. Wristbands issued on arrival identify attendees.

Drinks

Soft drinks allowed in workshops; use hotel bars in evenings. Water fountains available. Wine waiters circulate during dinner.

Don't Forget to Bring

  • Fancy dress for Saturday night "Swing Tune Titles"
  • Pyjamas for Sunday breakfast and pyjama class
  • Eye mask and ear plugs for good sleep
  • Swimming cozzies for hotel pools
  • Towels for swimming pool (hotel provides room towels only)
  • Diaries to check future Rock Bottoms events

Keep an eye on the Rock Bottoms Facebook group for last minute updates.
For more information and bookings, visit our website.
Hugs to all from the Rock Bottoms team
Replies please to hev@rockbottoms.com