The Rise of the Lindy Hop

When was the last time you truly danced the night away? For generations, dance has been woven into the fabric of society. I’m a product of the 80s, and dancing was not only on everyone’s minds and schedules, but it was encoded in our DNA. Your biggest decision on Friday and Saturday night was which club you would go to. The new age of the MTV VJ was in full swing, and country line dancing was still a bit far off on the horizon. In LA, where I was living, there were Goth clubs, Richard Blade’s (Legendary VJ and DJ of LA’s KROQ station) 80’s club, where you could hear and dance to the latest British import. The rockers went to Headbangers Ball-like clubs on the Sunset Strip. The main clubs like FM Station, The Palladium, and Club Lingerie had general admission floors that inevitably turned into dance floors, where we got our exercise, met new friends, and defined an era centered around having fun. Rockabilly was the grandchild of swing dance. Bands like The Stray Cats mixed 1950s country and blues, which combined 1940s big band dancing with a twist, which then evolved into West Coast Hop. The minute the song “Rock This Town” started playing on the turntable, it was on, and we didn’t stop until the dance hall closed.

Born and raised in California, the Nguyen family moved to Lakeland when Khiem was 10 years old. After graduating from high school, he headed south, where he graduated from the University of Miami. He remembers the first time he attended a steampunk event, where he would meet his future instructor, a short, stocky man with a passion for dance. Khiem fell in love with the music played during that show, a frenetic mix of jazz and swing. He had grown up listening to singers such as Cab Calloway and Frank Sinatra, so it was a natural progression. He delved deep into swing music and learned the history of Lindy Hop—a dance that began in the Black community over a hundred plus years ago and was danced all throughout the states. It was little known outside the community, and you had to really try to find it.

While down in Miami, his first impression of salsa or swing dance came from “very tall white people.” After being turned away from a local salsa dance club because he was a beginner, he decided to start his own dance classes. His first class in Miami attracted just one curious newcomer. Khiem vividly remembers the man “looking at the sign and walking past the building, only to walk back and ask how much it was for a lesson.” Khiem hasn’t looked back since. Having been involved in the swing dance scene for 14 years, he wanted to bring this type of dance to Polk County. Khiem’s focus would not only be on people who had never tried to swing; he would organically start a new community rooted in oneon-one dance lessons.

In 2020, Khiem’s friend started hosting dance events on Thursdays at his dancewear store in Downtown Lakeland, right next door to the Revival bar. He remembered that when the lessons were over, they would head next door for drinks. Khiem started teaching dance on Mondays, and the first class had only one person show up. Eventually, the word got out, and people started coming. That first man who took a chance on class still comes out to dance, and Khiem remembers telling him that it “is going to take you some time to learn, but I like your confidence.” The man replied, “It’s unearned confidence.” That would strike a tone for the next year and phase for LKLD Lindy Hop.

Weekly classes moved to Artifact, and eventually landed in Union Hall, where the owners were very receptive to letting him host a once-a-month social (The Lindy Ball at Union Hall), and the place was packed to the ceiling with dancers—one social had 150+ Lindy Hoppers swinging their way well into the night. Those events would merge into the current Monday night sessions, with another location on Combee Road that specializes in Salsa on Thursday nights. Khiem says he plans to add Flamenco and Bachata to the mix soon. At Union Hall, lessons start at 7 p.m. and dancing at 8 p.m. After 10 p.m., Khiem takes the reins as DJ, spinning everything from Montell Jordan to Whitney Houston. Never an introvert, his philosophy is simple: “It’s about joy, creativity, and expression.”

Khiem’s vision for Lindy Hop in Polk County is rooted in community impact. “We want to create joy and a place where everyone can come and feel comfortable at whatever level they are,” he says. The focus is on building real dance skills while fostering a sense of belonging.

These weekly dance events have steadily grown, and even after horrific events such as Hurricane Milton in 2021 and Helene in 2024, people came to dance. They needed a place of normalcy amongst the chaos and devastation. Khiem thought no one would show up, but they came and never left. Khiem remembers saying, “Guys, I know we just had a hurricane. Let’s just dance it out.” Khiem continued, “For me, I just wanted to provide a positive impact. We very rarely do not have a Monday dance. Just being able to provide that space, our members have the same values, and we want to support each other.” Even as winter storm Fern was headed our way on the day Khiem and I sat talking, people started coming through the doors to dance.

LKLD Lindy Hop officially launched in 2024. It is lesson-centered and community-driven, offering lessons and two dance floors to practice your moves. Their motto is “Shake a Tail Feather with Us,” and they mean it. They want you to come ready to learn a new step and make a new friend. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned veteran on the dance floor, there is a place and a style for you.

As our conversation drew to an end, one thing stood out: the Lindy Hop community has firmly taken root, and there’s always a spot on the dance floor for anyone eager to join in. If you’re interested in joining the growing swing community, Khiem is ready to welcome you. For more information, visit their website at lkldlindyhop.com or contact them via email: LKLDLindyHop@gmail.com.

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