Where to Swing in Havana, Illinois: A Guide to Lindy Hop Venues

Posted on May 19, 2024 | Last verified: May 17, 2024

At 8 p.m. on Thursdays, the floorboards of Havana Hop House rattle with the Charleston. In a town of roughly 3,000 people on the Illinois River, this unassuming Fulton County community has cultivated one of the most concentrated Lindy Hop scenes in the Midwest. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or stepping onto the floor for the first time, Havana offers four distinct venues—each with its own rhythm, crowd, and reason to visit.

Havana Hop House

Best for: Weekly social dancing and progressive skill-building

Address: 210 S. Plum St., Havana, IL 62644
Phone: (309) 543-2040
Website: havanahophouse.com

Located in a converted 1890s mercantile building downtown, Havana Hop House anchors the local scene. The original hardwood floors and exposed brick walls give the space warmth, but the real draw is the consistency of its programming.

Beginner Lindy Hop: Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. ($12 drop-in, $40 four-week series)
Intermediate/Advanced: Tuesdays, 7:45 p.m.–9 p.m.
Social dance: Thursdays, 8 p.m.–11 p.m. ($10 cover, beginner lesson included at 7:30 p.m.)

Instructor Mara Delaney, who trained in Chicago before relocating to Fulton County in 2019, leads most classes. "We get people driving from Peoria, Springfield, even Decatur," Delaney says. "There's something about this building—the ceiling is high, the band fits in the corner, and on a good night you can feel the floor bounce."

Street parking is available on Plum and Main Streets. The entrance has a ramp, though the main dance floor is down three steps; staff can direct mobility-impaired guests to an alternate entrance on the alley side.

Swing Time Studio

Best for: Themed events and live music

Address: 412 W. Dearborn St., Havana, IL 62644
Phone: (309) 543-3155
Website: swingtimestudio.org

If Havana Hop House is the reliable heartbeat, Swing Time Studio is the pulse that spikes. This nonprofit studio operates out of a former church fellowship hall and emphasizes community access over profit. Classes run on a sliding scale, and no one is turned away for inability to pay.

The studio's monthly First Friday Swing nights are the standout. Each event features a live band—often regional acts like the River City Stompers or Cornbelt Jazz Collective—plus a 45-minute beginner lesson at 7 p.m. Themes rotate: Mardi Gras in February, Harvest Swing in October, a 1940s USO-style night in June. Admission ranges from $15–$25 depending on the band.

"We had 140 people here in March for the St. Patrick's Day swing," says board member James Okonkwo. "Half of them had never danced before. By 10 p.m., they were trading partners like they'd been doing it for years."

Parking is in the adjacent lot shared with the Fulton County Health Department. The building is fully accessible.

The Savoy Havana

Best for: Historical atmosphere and intensive workshops

Address: 118 N. Orange St., Havana, IL 62644
Phone: (309) 543-0892
Website: thesavoyhavana.com

Housed in a 1923 former movie palace, The Savoy Havana leans into its architecture. The marquee still lights up Orange Street on weekend nights, and the interior retains its original plasterwork and balcony seating. This is where dancers come when they want to feel transported.

The venue does not run weekly beginner classes. Instead, it specializes in weekend intensives and historical workshops led by traveling instructors. Recent guests have included Laura Glaess (Charleston, SC) and Bobby White (Denver, CO). The Savoy also hosts quarterly Savoy Ball events, with formal dress encouraged and live big-band music.

Workshop prices vary ($75–$200 for weekend passes), and registration typically opens six weeks in advance. The balcony offers a rare amenity for partner-dance venues: seated viewing where non-dancing companions can watch without crowding the floor.

On-street parking fills quickly during events; arrive 20 minutes early or use the free lot two blocks north at the county courthouse.