| Do you like to dance? Have you considered dance as | | | | famous Arthur Murray dance studio (yep the one |
| a way to meet people, get exercise, and improve | | | | you've heard of) began teaching The Lindy and the |
| your social skills? If you answered yes, or are even | | | | rest is history; well maybe not history, since Swing |
| thinking about it, then "Swing Dancing" is a beautiful | | | | Dancing and The Lindy are making a comeback at |
| way to express yourself, it is simply filled with heart | | | | dance studios and clubs nationwide. |
| and excitement. Swing Dancing began in the 1930s | | | | There was a time when Rock and Roll ruled (let's |
| and 1940s during the big band era when Benny | | | | have a quiet moment for "The King") and the Lindy |
| Goodman was in his prime and America was young | | | | and Swing disappeared or at least diminished from |
| and filled with the promise of the future. Then as well | | | | our culture. That sometimes happens with over the |
| as today, swing dancing is excellent exercise and | | | | years, but there are always those who remember |
| probably the best social ice breaker you're likely to | | | | those golden days (swing dancing was featured in |
| find anywhere in America, or in cities around the | | | | movies, which may have triggered the resurgence) |
| world. | | | | since American troops stationed overseas brought |
| Swing dancing at it roots is improvisation and began | | | | Swing dancing to distant "ports-of-call". |
| to sneak its way into competitions years ago when | | | | The actual term "swing dancing" is perhaps a |
| dancer (competitors) began looking for ways to | | | | misnomer, since (at the time) it referred to a group |
| single themselves out, to make the judges notice | | | | of dances from the early part of the 1900s, namely... |
| them. Not easy when the floor with filled with | | | | Lindy Hop, Charleston, Shag, Balboa and Blues, which |
| excellence, but try they did moving their torso to | | | | spawned from the rhythm of Dixieland jazz, but |
| one beat, their hips to another and finally cascading | | | | grew to encompass other forms of music. |
| down to the knees, with yet another twist and turn. | | | | FACTOID: The Black Bottom and The Charleston, |
| Wow, The King would have loved it and who knows; | | | | while not technically a part of Swing Dancing, are |
| maybe that twisty hip of his had its root in Swing | | | | both considered to be part of the family. And a not |
| Dancing. | | | | so distant cousin is Tap dancing. |
| One dynamic form of swing dancing is called the | | | | We'll always have debates about what type of music |
| Lindy Hop, and it is, in a word, unique. It started as | | | | REALLY defines "Swing Dancing", can you swing to |
| an African America dance move in the late 20s in the | | | | rock and roll (don't know haven't tried)? But across |
| city of cities... New York, but rapidly crossed the | | | | the country, right now as you read this, someone, |
| boundaries of race, since it was filled with energy and | | | | somewhere is swinging to some music that you |
| rhythm and based on jazz music. Back in those days, | | | | might not think appropriate, but it is if it fits. And |
| news (and social mores) did not travel with the | | | | perhaps that's the true beauty of "Swing Dancing", it |
| speed of the net, but still, the word got around as | | | | fits with so many genres of music that almost |
| dance troops like the Lindy Hoppers, Hot Chocolates | | | | anyone can find enjoyment. |
| and Big Apple Dancers incorporated the Lindy into | | | | Perhaps "Swing Dancing" is one instance when... |
| their routines. Audiences were amazed and sat | | | | history repeating itself is a positive statement, giving |
| spellbound watching gyrations they'd never seen (or | | | | new life to Benny Goodman (the big band sound) and |
| even imagined) before. It wouldn't be long before the | | | | others of his era and musical persuasion. |