Here's a review of the Carrillo Ballroom and and Jonathan from Yelp

This recently renovated 1920s ballroom in the Carrillo Recreation Center is a neighborhood gem. (Located at 100 E. Carrillo St in downtown Santa Barbara)  They offer swing dances two Fridays a month and ballroom dances two Saturdays a month (they occasionally have Salsa dances as well).  They usually feature a live band and include an hour of dance lessons before the music begins at 8:30pm.  The ballroom has a nice vibe and sports a cushioned wood floor that is perfect for dancing (they request, but don't require dance shoes).

I had the pleasure of living in Santa Barbara for a couple of years and spent many Friday and Saturday nights here.  The Swing crowd is generally huge (50+ people), friendly, and includes people of all ages and levels of expertise.  There's a few old timers that have probably been dancing since the Big Band era that are fun to watch and have some pretty impressive moves, twirling girls a quarter their age around the floor with amazing ease.  Some of the crowd really gets into the whole retro vibe and you'll usually see more than one fedora, pinstriped suit, or poodle skirt.  

The dances are generally hosted by Jonathan and Sylvia, two great instructors that offer mid-week classes at the rec center.  My GF and I took quite a few classes while we lived in SB and had a great time.  We started out as complete novices but over time Johnathan whipped us into shape and I actually kind of look like I know what I'm doing now.  In reality, I only know like five moves, but am master of  combos, giving one the (false) impression that I have an encyclopedic knowledge of Swing. As Walter Sobchak once said: "Perception = Reality, dude".

Johnathan is a charismatic (to say the least) instructor who is easy to follow and has a knack for breaking the moves down in to easily digestible segments that even a clueless white boy like me can understand.  Johnathan will go to great lengths to help you out; One night I just wasn't getting it and he actually cut in, pushed my GF aside,  forcefully grabbed my hand, put his arm around me and showed me what I was doing wrong.  I've actually never been lead before and it sort of took me by surprise (yes, I can now boast that I have danced with a gay man - achievement unlocked).  Of course, I had to suppress the involuntary homophobic red alert klaxon that was going off in my brain at the time, but I learned the move and survived the experience (with my sexual orientation 100% intact, I'm proud to say).  

Anyway Daddy-O, the next time you're in SB on a Friday night and looking to hang with some cool cats, listen to some swingin' tunes, and twirl a few smokin' skirts around the dance floor, be sure to give this joint a try.  Take it from Mikey: This place is money, baby.