This February, ATOMIC Ballroom in Irvine, California is celebrating Black History Month with Swingin’ Legacy Sessions—a special weekly tribute to the jazz legends who built the sound that swing dancers still love today. Swing music didn’t happen by accident. It was shaped by Black artists whose creativity, innovation, and leadership transformed American music and helped create the rhythms that power Lindy Hop, Balboa, collegiate shag, and the entire swing dance community. Swingin’ Legacy Sessions is our way of honoring that legacy in the best way we know how: through music, dancing, and shared history on the dance floor.

Every Tuesday and Friday, our DJs will dedicate one full hour of their set to one featured jazz artist. During that hour, you’ll hear only music from that legend, along with fun facts, key career moments, and short stories that bring their impact to life. It’s part dance party, part mini-spotlight, and a perfect way to deepen your appreciation for the music that makes swing dancing feel so good.

Expect the classics and the icons—the voices, bands, and arrangements that defined the swing era and continue to influence jazz today. From the soulful phrasing of Billie Holiday to the driving rhythm and big-band punch of Count Basie, each session highlights the distinct sound, style, and cultural impact of a different legend. These artists didn’t just perform songs—they shaped jazz culture, elevated the art form, and created the soundtrack dancers have been moving to for generations.

Why we’re doing this

Black History Month is a time to recognize the people whose work changed the world—and in swing dance, that history lives inside the music itself. Swingin’ Legacy Sessions is a chance to learn while you dance, celebrate the roots of swing, and keep these artists’ contributions present and visible in our community. It’s also just plain fun: one hour, one artist, nonstop great music, and a dance floor full of people enjoying it together.

Join us on Tuesdays and Fridays

Come dance, listen, and celebrate with us at ATOMIC Ballroom. Bring a friend, bring your curiosity, and bring your love for swing music. Swingin’ Legacy Sessions is a simple idea with a big heart—honoring jazz legends, keeping their rhythms alive, and swinging out in their name.