By early evening, Lumphini Park filled with its usual chorus – joggers, street vendors, the rustle of banyan leaves – until the first swing rhythm cuts through. At the Sala BhiromBhakdi bandstand, The Hop gathers a small crowd, coaxing strangers into step. From 6pm-6.30pm, a free open class dissolves the usual self-consciousness; even the two-left-feet brigade find themselves moving with improbable ease. The music is courtesy of DJ Juan, whose selections seem to lean into the warm gold of the setting sun. No partner? No sequinned shoes? No problem. Swing here isn’t about perfection but the fleeting thrill of finding the beat in someone else’s company. As the light fades, the city beyond the park keeps rushing, but here, for a few hours, time swings differently.
August 15. Free. Sala BhiromBhakdi, Lumphini Park, 5pm-8pm