Simon Selmon

Simon Selmon:
Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher, Writer
& Founder of SwingdanceUK

(formerly London Swing Dance Society)

About Simon Selmon

Simon Selmon formed SwingdanceUK (formerly the London Swing Dance Society) in 1986 following a trip to NY where he met many original dancers and instantly wanted to share this music & dance that had intoxicated him so much. In 1990 he became a full time Jitterbug, a self employed dancer teaching, promoting live music events and creating a vintage dance experience for mostly people who had never heard or seen of the dance before. He believes whilst the dance has changed over the years it is important to educate about its history & social context. To literally give people the opportunity to experience the joy, fun & satisfaction of a night of social dance. To take them on a journey back to the heyday of dancing to live music in a ballroom or bar. He has worked with many bands and started touring shows in theatres & private parties. Performing was one of the best ways to expose the dance to lots of new people. Now the dance has become more accepted & known his role has changed.  He says "Today I see it as sharing some of that original spirit I found in the 'old timers' that I was so privileged to meet. Keeping the traditions of the dance alive whilst taking it into the 21 century."

Simon has choreographed and performed for stage, film & TV. He has been a UK and US dance champion and a World Lindy Hop Judge and has authored two instructional books on Swing dancing and is a regular writer for Dancing Times & his own weekly Swing Notes.  He has taught 1000's to dance, and he has travelled internationally to teach and perform. Many of his past students have gone on to become successful teachers and performers themselves.

Most recently he has created a SwingdanceUK members site containing many hours of swing dance class videos for all levels of dancers from beginners upwards, over 280 Swing Notes about the history in today's Swing dance scene and has started to archive his dance memorabilia going back from the beginning of the London Swing Dance Society. Find out more & join today.

Simon is also a member of The Guild of Professional Teachers of Dance, Movement to Music & Dramatic Art (GPTD).

He has an Enhanced DBS Certificate and has completed a Safeguarding in the Further Education (FE) & Training Sector course.

Lindy Hop Workshops at Ballet Rambert

Film Credits

Simon Selmon & Anna Lambrechts, Swingdance UK
  • Dancer in Skeletons (2019)
  • Dancer in A United Kingdom (2015)
  • Dancer in Dreaming of Peggy Lee (2015)
  • Featured dancer in Mike Leigh's movie Vera Drake (2004)
  • Featured dancer in My Week With Marilyn (released 2012)
  • Choreographer & dancer in Booked Out (released 2012)
  • Jive choreography and featured dancer for George Michael's music video Round here (2004)
  • Choreographer & featured dancer in War Brides (2001)

  • Choreographer & featured dancer in ITV's Back Home (2001)
  • Dancer for BBC's Take A Girl Like You (2000)
  • Choreographer & featured dancer in Swing (1999)
  • Dancer, B Monkey (1998)
  • Dancer, Tom & Viv (1994)
  • Dancer, Chicago Joe and the Show Girl (1990)
  • Lead Jitterbug dancer, Memphis Belle (1990)

 

TV Appearances

  • Paul O'Grady Show
  • Keith Lemon's tribute to Back to the Future
  • Channel 5's Hotel Inspector
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 3 video "Dreams"
  • ITV 3's Dancing On Ice
  • BBC 1's The Apprentice
  • Dara O Briain's University of Practical Mathematics Comedy series
  • BBC 1's Strictly Come Dancing
  • ITV's Foyles War
  • David Dickinson
  • BBC TV Drama Inspector Lynley
  • Blue Peter
  • BBC's The Generation Game
  • Deborah Bull's Travels with my Tutu - a dancing documentary for BBC2
  • Channel 4 documentary Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to all Creation
  • William & Mary
  • BBC documentary String of Pearls
  • Channel 4's She's Gotta Have It.
  • This Morning with Richard and Judy
  • 5's Company
  • Gloria Hunniford

Museums

  • Bletchley Park Trust
  • British Library
  • British Museum
  • The Cartoon Museum
  • Churchill War Rooms
  • Duxford Imperial War Museum
  • English Heritage, Dover Castle, Audley End House
  • Fenton House and Gardens
  • Fusilier Museum, Tower of London
  • Museum of Army Flying
  • Geffrye Museum
  • Godalming Museum
  • Guildhall Art Gallery
  • Harrow Arts Centre - Harrow 1918: Lest We Forget
  • Horniman Museum and Gardens
  • JW3
  • Kensington Palace
  • HMS Belfast
  • Imperial War Museum London
  • Leeds Castle
  • Museum of Farnham
  • Museum of London
  • National Army Museum
  • National Trust
  • RAF Museum
  • Royal Albert Hall
  • Southbank Centre, Clore Ballroom
  • Theatre Museum, Covent Garden
  • Transport Museum
  • Victoria & Albert Museum - Flappers and Follies Summer Party

Teaching at Schools

Royal Festival Hall Class with Simon Selmon SwingdanceUK
  • Canonbury Primary School
  • Junior King's School, Canterbury
  • St Clements and St James Primary School
  • St Marylebone School
  • Salvatorian College & Sacred Heart
  • Essendine School
  • St Josephs Roman Catholic School
  • Manor House School
  • Hailsham Community College
  • Aldenham School
  • West Lodge Middle School
  • Charleton Special Needs School
  • Charles Lucas School, Colchester
  • Wells Primary School
  • St Anselm's School

Theatres, Festivals & Shows

Ballet Rambert
  • Ballet Rambert
  • 2nd International Piano Boogie Festival, Fontmell Magna
  • 6th Circus Space Festival (performance)
  • A13 Green Launch for Newham Council
  • Beating Retreat, Horse Guards Parade
  • The Big Dance
  • The Big Lunch at the Olympic Park
  • Birmingham International Jazz Festival
  • Pigalle Club, Piccadilly, London (cabaret)
  • Camden Crawl 2012
  • Capital Connection
  • Edinburgh Festival, Vaudeville Cabaret Club
  • Tour with The Glenn Miller Orchestra UK, including The Barbican (London), The Royal Concert Hall (Glasgow) & The Bridgewater Hall (Manchester) Dec 2008
  • Glastonbury International Dance Festival
  • Glenn Miller Concert, Princes Theatre, Torquay
  • Golden Jubilee street party, Museum of London, Smithfield Market
  • Harrow Food and Dance Festival 2012
  • Ignite at the Southbank Centre, Purcell Room (sell-out show, choreographer & dancer)
  • Innocent Fruits Fete, Regents Park, London
  • In the Mood for Valentine's, Royal Centre Nottingham and Anvil Basingstoke
  • Journey Through Jazz at the Lillian Baylis Theatre, Sadler's Wells (own, sell-out show, choreographer & dancer)
  • Latitude Festival
  • The Legend of Sinatra, Bournemouth Pier (featured dancer)
  • Lets Make a Song and Dance, Beck Theatre
  • Lord Mayor's New Year's Parade, London
  • Move It.
  • National Theatre, London
  • Paradise Gardens at the Olympic Park
  • Richmond Park, Jubilee Celebrations 2012
  • Royal Festival Hall, Clore Ballroom (workshops and performances)
  • Strictly Swing Dancing at De Montford Hall
  • Swing & The City by Corporation of London, Leadenhall Market (performance)
  • Swing! Swing! Swing! with the Ray Gelato Giants (choreographer and dancer)
  • Swing Thing (show)
  • Swing with the Big Bands at The Capitol, Horsham (theatre show)
  • Thames Festival
  • Theatre show with Kit Packam's One Jump Ahead at the Brook Theatre, Chatham
  • The Cotton Club, West End show, a 40s style revue which played at The Talk Of London (choreographer)
  • West End Live, Leicester Square London
  • 2001 Tap Odyssey, at Bloomsbury Theatre (guest performer)

Corporate & Promotional

Goodwood revival Ford jazz lounge Simon Anna Sean Holly hip lift
  • Ascot Racecourse
  • Arsenal Football Club, Diamond Club event, London
  • Association of Anaesthetists of Great-Britain
  • Barts Bar, London
  • Boston Consulting
  • Brands at Work
  • BBC
  • Borough Market
  • Cahoots Bar, London
  • Cerner
  • City of London Police Dinner Dance and Awards Night
  • City, University of London
  • Fairtrade
  • Ford Motor Company stand at Goodwood Revival
  • Four Seasons Luxura Spa Hotel, Hampshire
  • Hilton Hotel
  • Landmark London
  • Lawrence Dallaglio Benefit Ball, Grosvenor House, Park Lane
  • Mintel
  • Mitsubishi Motors, hospitaliy event at the Royal Henley Regatta
  • RAF Wyton
  • Royal Academy of Arts, Summer Exhibition Preview
  • SEGA Europe
  • Thames Water Utilities
  • LEZ Creative - Music video

Performances with bands

  • Performances with many of the UK's top swing orchestras including
  • The Glenn Miller Orchestra
  • The BBC Big Band
  • The Herb Miller Orchestra
  • Piccadilly Dance Orchestra
  • Graham Dalby and the Grahamophones
  • Palm Court Theatre Orchestra
  • The Ray Gelato Giants
  • Gary Williams Big Band
  • King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys
  • Sugar Ray's Flying Fortress
  • Kit Packham's One Jump Ahead
  • Blue Harlem
  • Ronnie Scott's Rejects

Competitions

Simon & Anna Journey Through Jazz Underbelly 14 April 2019
  • Judge, European Swing Dance Championships
  • UK Open Jive Championships - Lindy Hop division winner
  • UK Open Lindy Hop Champion
  • American Swing Dance Champion - Blues Division
  • Judge, World Lindy Championships France
  • DJ Snohetta cup, Norway
  • Organiser, United Kingdom Open Lindy Hop Championships
  • MC, World Lindy Hop Championships
  • Judge, World Lindy Hop Championships
  • Judge, American Lindy Hop Championships

Dance Camps

  • Oxford Blues, Blues workshop, April 2013
  • Boogie Baerens, Germany
  • Herrang Dance Camp, Sweden (20 yrs)
  • Dance Holidays Spain & Malta
  • Moscow Swing Dance Society
  • Dance Holidays Torrox, Spain
  • Southport Jive Addiction
  • Seniors in the City, Aberdeen City Council
  • London Balboa Festival
  • London Lindy Hop Festival, UK (7 years).
  • Ragtime weekend, Toronto, Canada
  • Osaka & Tokyo Swing Societies, Japan
  • American Lindy Hop Championships, US.
  • Buffalo Gap, US.
  • Augusta Heritage Festival, US.
  • Swing Camp Catalina, US.
  • Dallas Swing Camp, US.
  • Barcelona International Festival of Swing, Spain.
  • Crazy Shakers , Switzerland, & many more
  • Also: Tel Aviv, Toronto, New York, Augusta Heritage Festival, Catalina etc

Writing & Publications

Swing Dancing, Simon Selmon, Swingdance UK

Author of Swing Notes - a weekly article since 2016 where Simon muses about life in the swing world, commentates on what’s going on and more often than not, the why & how you can get the most out of your dancing.

Regular contributor to Dance Today in Dancing Times Ltd - the oldest monthly periodical devoted to dancing, well established and covering all aspects of dance, including Simon's Guide to Swing

Author of Swing dancing. For beginners through to teachers, this instructional book features approximately 50 different swing moves for all levels plus history, music section and general advice for the cool hep cats of today. Published in 2002.

Author of Let's Lindy, first book of its kind that teaches you how to Lindy and gives you an insight into its history. Published in 1999.  Currently available as an e-book.

Press

  • Charleston article in the Evening Standard
  • Featured in Charleston feature in the Telegraph
  • Mirror
  • Times
  • Independent
  • Evening Standard
  • Daily Mail
  • Sunday Express
  • Elle Magazine
  • Livewire
  • Der Spiegel
  • Marie Claire
  • Dance Today
  • Radio:
  • Jazz FM
  • LBC
  • BBC
  • BBC Radio 4 - Deborah Bull's Dance Nation Monday 24th - Friday 28th September 2012, 1.45pm. 5 part series with Deborah Bull exploring the history of dance in Britain and why it matters to us
  • BBC Radio 2’s Drivetime Show Thursday 25th October 2012 with Simon Mayo, talking about Lindy Hop and the Swing scene today.

Photo Gallery

Live Dealer Games: Why They’re Popular with Casimatic Players in Canada

Live dealer games have revolutionized the online casino experience, offering players the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of a real-life casino from the comfort of their own homes. In Canada, these immersive games have gained immense popularity among Casimatic players, providing a dynamic and interactive gaming environment that brings together the best of both worlds. As technology continues to advance, live dealer games have become a staple in the online gambling industry, captivating players with their realistic gameplay and human interaction.

In this article, we delve into the reasons why live dealer games have captured the hearts of Canadian Casimatic players. From the social aspect of interacting with live dealers and fellow players to the authenticity and transparency they offer, these games provide a unique gaming experience that appeals to a wide audience. Join us as we explore the key factors driving the popularity of live dealer games in Canada and discover why they have become a preferred choice for those seeking an engaging and immersive online casino experience.

The Rise of Live Dealer Games in the Canadian Casino Industry

Live dealer games have gained immense popularity among Casimatic players in Canada due to their ability to provide an authentic and immersive casino experience from the comfort of one’s home. These games allow players to interact with real dealers in real-time through video streaming, creating a sense of trust and transparency that is often missing in traditional online casino games. The human element in live dealer games adds a social aspect that enhances the overall gaming experience, making it more engaging and enjoyable for Canadian players.

Furthermore, the advanced technology used in live dealer games ensures high-quality graphics and seamless gameplay, replicating the atmosphere of a land-based casino. Players in Canada appreciate the convenience of being able to access their favorite casino games, such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, without having to travel to a physical casino. The live aspect of these games also eliminates any doubts about the fairness of the outcomes, as players can witness the actions of the dealer in real-time, enhancing the sense of security and fairness.

In addition, the variety of live dealer games available on Casimatic platforms caters to the diverse preferences of Canadian players, offering different table limits, game variations, and interactive features. This variety ensures that there is something for everyone, whether they are seasoned players looking for a challenge or beginners seeking a more casual gaming experience. With the convenience, authenticity, and variety that live dealer games offer, it’s no wonder they have become a favorite among Casimatic players in Canada seeking a premium online casino experience.

Immersive Gaming Experience: The Appeal of Live Dealers

Live dealer games have become immensely popular among Casimatic players in Canada due to their ability to provide an immersive and interactive gaming experience. Unlike traditional online casino games that rely on random number generators, live dealer games offer players the opportunity to interact with real dealers in real-time, creating a more authentic atmosphere reminiscent of a land-based casino. This human element adds a level of trust and social interaction that many players find appealing, enhancing the overall entertainment value of the gaming experience.

Players in Canada who visit http://www.casimatic.com/ are drawn to live dealer games for their transparency and fairness. Being able to witness the game unfold before their eyes in real-time gives players a sense of security and confidence in the integrity of the gameplay. Additionally, the wide selection of live dealer games available, ranging from classic table games to innovative game show-style experiences, caters to a diverse audience with varying preferences, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy at any time.

Interactivity and Social Connection in Live Dealer Games

Live dealer games have become increasingly popular among Casimatic players in Canada due to the immersive and interactive gaming experience they offer. Unlike traditional online casino games that rely on Random Number Generators (RNG), live dealer games allow players to interact with real dealers in real-time through live video streaming. This human element adds a sense of authenticity and trust to the gameplay, making it more exciting and engaging for players.

Moreover, live dealer games provide Canadian players with the opportunity to enjoy a social aspect while playing their favorite casino games from the comfort of their homes. The ability to chat with the dealer and other players at the table creates a sense of community, simulating the experience of a land-based casino. Additionally, the high-quality video streaming and professional dealers contribute to the overall appeal of live dealer games, making them a preferred choice for those seeking a more dynamic and realistic online gaming experience.

Trust and Transparency: Key Factors Driving Player Preference

Live dealer games have become increasingly popular among Canadian players on Casimatic due to the immersive and interactive experience they offer. Unlike traditional online casino games that rely on random number generators, live dealer games allow players to interact with real dealers in real-time through a live video stream. This adds a human element to the gameplay, making it more engaging and authentic for players.

Another reason why live dealer games are favored by Casimatic players in Canada is the sense of trust and transparency they provide. Being able to witness the game unfold in real-time creates a level of trust that is often lacking in virtual games. Players can see every card being dealt, every spin of the wheel, and every move made by the dealer, eliminating any doubts about the fairness of the game.

Furthermore, the social aspect of live dealer games appeals to many Canadian players on Casimatic. Through live chat features, players can interact not only with the dealer but also with other participants at the virtual table. This creates a sense of camaraderie and community, enhancing the overall gaming experience and making it more enjoyable for those seeking a more sociable way to play casino games online.

The Future of Live Dealer Games: Innovations and Trends in Canada

Live dealer games have gained immense popularity among Canadian players on Casimatic due to their immersive and interactive nature. Unlike traditional online casino games that rely on Random Number Generators (RNGs), live dealer games offer a more authentic experience by allowing players to interact with real dealers in real-time. This human element adds a social aspect to the gameplay, making it more engaging and realistic for players who seek a genuine casino atmosphere from the comfort of their own homes.

Furthermore, the transparency and trust factor associated with live dealer games contribute to their appeal among Casimatic players in Canada. Being able to witness the game unfold in real-time, without the use of computer-generated outcomes, provides a sense of reassurance to players. This aspect of live dealer games enhances the overall gaming experience, as players can observe every move made by the dealer, fostering a greater sense of trust and fairness in the gameplay.

Live dealer games have undoubtedly captured the hearts of Canadian players, offering an immersive and interactive gaming experience that bridges the gap between land-based and online casinos. The allure of real-time gameplay, professional dealers, and social interaction has propelled the popularity of live dealer games to new heights. As technology continues to advance, these games are set to become even more sophisticated, providing players with an unparalleled level of excitement and realism. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the world of online casinos, the appeal of live dealer games is undeniable, promising endless entertainment and thrills for players across Canada.