Cowtown Jamborama

10/09/2026

This is why you should come to Jitterbugs Night Out on Fridays!

We're still smiling from Cowtown Jamborama 2026!!

09/21/2026

Look at the gorgeous fresh local flowers Ferne Valley Farm supplied to bring our ballroom to life! A HUGE thank you to Janna Holcomb for being a such a lovely sponsor this year🌸🌿

09/11/2026

What Jordan The Ninja said!!!

09/09/2026

See how long your Swing Out can hang in our Swing Out Contest this Saturday. The last couple standing wins!
No registration necessary, just be on the floor with your partner ready to Swing Out! Saturday at 10:45 during the second band break.
The Rules are simple:
- Only Swing Outs allowed
- You must stay on time
- If you get tapped out mooove to the side graciously
- The music will increase in tempo as the contest progresses

09/07/2026

Hey everyone! It’s Lindsay, your Executive Director!

I just wanted to take a moment to check in with you all as we gear up for our 24th Cowtown Jamborama—just a few days away! I can’t wait to share all the exciting details, but what I really want to say is: it won’t be the same without YOU.

Whether you’re a familiar face or someone who hasn’t been around in a while, we want to see you! No matter where you are in life, dancing is always a great addition.

I still remember laying around in my early 20s apartment, with my hand-me-down furniture, a giant canister of chocolate chip cookies, and my best friends (all met through swing dancing) as we dreamed of hosting a big party. We wanted to bring together friends from across the country to share what we’d learned from our travels and those old-school VHS tapes (and DVDs). This is why the first few years of Cowtown Jamborama ended up being mostly the same people teaching.

Remember the early days of Cowtown Jamborama? How about that unforgettable moment when the cow danced in the hotel fountain? The time that we got rained out and ended up having the Mezcal Brothers play at the hotel pool? Or the infamous corn-eating contest that went sideways? (Trust me, 12 minutes of corn is too much! 😂). Looking back it seems like something from a movie.

This year, Cowtown Jamborama will feel like a homecoming—a reunion with your best friends! Expect family-friendly vibes, live music (Jordie and the Jitterbugs!!), dancing, vintage clothes for sale, and yes, corn! We just need YOU to make it complete!

Register online until midnight on Thursday or at the door. I can’t wait to see everyone this weekend! Let’s make some more unforgettable memories together!

https://jitterbugs.org/jamborama-2026/

Cowtown Jamborama: September 11-13, 2026 Cowtown Jamborama is a festival of swing dancing and music organized by the Omaha Jitterbugs for the swing dance community. Omaha Jitterbugs invites dancers and non-dancers from around the region to join us as we…

09/04/2026

The early Friday and Saturday night dances will feature live music from Jordi and the Jitterbugs. They bring the energy, rhythm, and joy of the Swing Era to life with a sound built for dancers and jazz lovers alike. Led by Omaha musician, performer, and award-winning Lindy Hopper Jordi “JordanTheNinja,” the band delivers high-energy early swing and jazz inspired by the golden age of dance halls and live big band music.

A longtime favorite of the Omaha Jitterbugs community, Jordi and the Jitterbugs have packed dance floors at past events with their infectious rhythm, playful style, and deep love for swing culture. Their live music captures the spirit of social dancing — from soaring swing tunes to toe-tapping jazz classics — making them the perfect soundtrack for Friday and Saturday night dances at Cowtown Jamborama. Whether you are a seasoned dancer or stepping onto the floor for the very first time, get ready for a weekend full of incredible music, community, and nonstop swing.

09/04/2026

Join Kristin for an insightful and transformative class focused on the lymphatic system and its vital role in overall health. In this session, you will learn about Dr. Perry’s Big Six—the essential techniques designed to enhance lymphatic flow and support your body’s natural detoxification processes.

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your knowledge of the lymphatic system with Kristin! Whether you’re looking to enhance your personal wellness routine or learn more about the world of therapeutic techniques, this class promises valuable insights and effective practices to support your health journey.

Kristin Pikop and her team will be providing donation based massage all weekend! You do not want to miss this opportunity!!

09/04/2026

Meet Shannon and Bill

Shannon Butler is a third-generation swing dancer whose passion for movement was ignited in early childhood. At just four years old, she began learning social dances from her mother and received formal training from her great-aunt, a dance school owner. Her grandparents—avid Collegiate S**g and Lindy Hop dancers—filled family gatherings with big-band music and dancing, sparking a lifelong love of social dance at the vibrant intersection of music and community.

In the early 1990s, Shannon discovered a small local live music and dance scene which soon led to teaching, performing, and competing. By 1997, she joined dance historian Lance Benishek’s Vernacular Dance Ensemble, where she studied and performed social dances spanning the early 1900s through 1970. Their collaboration as educators continued until his passing in 2020.

Shannon had the rare privilege of learning directly from original-era legends including Betty (Henderson) Wood, Frankie Manning, and Chester Whitmore. She danced in stage productions with icons including Norma Miller and The Nicholas Brothers. Her career includes national and international teaching engagements, appearances in two films, television performances featuring Lindy Hop and Collegiate S**g, two national TV commercials, music videos, and dancing for a live audience of nearly 65,000.

Her formative experience of learning dance in nurturing, inclusive, and patient environment shapes her approach to teaching and community building. Shannon strives to keep dance accessible to all. By day she offers engagement opportunities to learners of a wide variety of ages and ability including chair dancing options for people with low mobility. In the evenings she organizes events and hosts weekly live music dance nights that bring people together. For her, the dance floor is a place of joy, expression, and connection—and she hopes to inspire her students to discover that same spark of happiness through music and movement.

Shannon and Bill met through social dancing. After marrying, they became teaching, performing and competition partners. Together they have taught across the US and overseas. In 2004 they founded Swing Dance Wednesday Night Twin Cites – the Twin Cities longest-running weekly swing dance featuring live music, and later Miss Shannon’s Sock Hop the name of their popular monthly live music dance night, which shares the name of their interactive historic dance performances. They hope you’ll join us on the dance floor soon.

04/14/2026

The original cow!