Swing Dancing

[Rowan]

Well I went for my second dance lessons yesterday afternoon.

I'm taking smooth lindy hop, and East coast swing. Wow so much fun and what a good work out!

They are back to back, one hour each. I stuck around to watch the next class too.

We learned how to do the Charleston the original 1920's version, talk about energy holly!!! Those people danced, no wonder they were so skinny!!

We learned how to dance in tandem with each other, very tricky, without kicking your partner.

Such a complex language when dancing with a partner, you really have to be in tune with the person. So many signals to learn, communicated with just a small touch, push, or pull, it blows me away!

People don't know what they are missing by not dancing like this anymore!

If there are any single guys out there this is a great way to meet ladies, there are twice as many women as men and so you always have ladies dying to dance with you!

Now I consider myself a feminist, and I have a very independent nature, but there is something really appealing about playing the roll of the follow on the dance floor. The guy is the lead and makes all the dance choices and guides what you will do next with subtle body language movements as mentioned before. It is your job to interpret what he wants you to do and follow him. You feel like you've stepped back in time, where men were gentlemen and women were ladies, it's a lot of fun.


This is the web page showing my instructors and where i'm taking it etc.
http://www.sweetswingbc.com/index.html

[kitty]

Glad to hear that you are still going and enjoying your lessons!

[doc834]

It's great that you're taking dance lessons. I do mostly country dancing, such as the two-step. I think it's a lot of fun, especially with someone you are married to. You basically enhance each other's awareness and get to the point of knowing what your partner is thinking. And then you become one entity and not just two people dacing. It's so much fun.

[Rowan]

doc I love dancing to country as well, love doing the two step, never date a guy though who liked to dance, and I live for it, a true passion of mine since childhood!:D ;)

[shiningstar]

Well I went for my second dance lessons yesterday afternoon.

I'm taking smooth lindy hop, and East coast swing. Wow so much fun and what a good work out!

They are back to back, one hour each. I stuck around to watch the next class too.

We learned how to do the Charleston the original 1920's version, talk about energy holly!!! Those people danced, no wonder they were so skinny!!

We learned how to dance in tandem with each other, very tricky, without kicking your partner.

Such a complex language when dancing with a partner, you really have to be in tune with the person. So many signals to learn, communicated with just a small touch, push, or pull, it blows me away!

People don't know what they are missing by not dancing like this anymore!

If there are any single guys out there this is a great way to meet ladies, there are twice as many women as men and so you always have ladies dying to dance with you!

Now I consider myself a feminist, and I have a very independent nature, but there is something really appealing about playing the roll of the follow on the dance floor. The guy is the lead and makes all the dance choices and guides what you will do next with subtle body language movements as mentioned before. It is your job to interpret what he wants you to do and follow him. You feel like you've stepped back in time, where men were gentlemen and women were ladies, it's a lot of fun.


This is the web page showing my instructors and where i'm taking it etc.
http://www.sweetswingbc.com/index.html

Dancing is such fun. I wish they had classes like that here. I would definately be there.

[Rowan]

It's a shame that they don't shiningstar it's so much fun!

[Rowan]

I'm going to try and go to some of the local dances maybe this wendesday or thursday, but especially Saturday because our teachers go to this one place and it would be great to get more help it amazes me how fast I forget the steps!

[Rowan]

So todayI'm treating myself to a pair of special shoes for swing dancing in, because the ones I have are making my feet cramp afterwards, hopefully that will help sufficiently. If I'm very lucky I might get to go dancing at the Legion tonight (get some practice in) I could really use a little bit of fun right now in my life, it's been a long hard week:/:

[Rowan]

Ok I went all by myself to a Social Swing Dance downtown on Saturday night! What a blast! they had a huge dance floor (suspended so that it bounces under your feet a little) there were over 125 people there and there was a pretty equal number of guys as girls. The only thing people were drinking was water all night. People were so nice, I got to dance many dances, including some with my teacher. But complete strangers were so patient with me and boy is it ever amazing when a guy knows how to lead well just how much you can suddently do that you have never done before!
There were some truly amazing dancers there, just phenomenal! aparently they are often scouted and used in movies produced in BC. One guy I danced with told me he had appeared in a movie staring leslie neilson called Kevin of the North.
There were 2 people celebrating their birthdays last night 2 girls, their tradition is that everyone forms a cirlce around the dance floor and begins to clap and the person celebrating their birthday (in this case the 2 girls) go in the middle of the dance floor and then in this case the guys took their turns dancing with each girl, but it is incredibly fast, like every 20 seconds it's a new guy and they switch off so fast I don't know how the girls kept up with it!

[Dawg]

Sounds like fun, lil sis.

Sometimes I wish I could dance..... ;)

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

[Gemini1999]

I've always been a horrible dancer.... I had a girlfriend once, that got involved in ballroom dancing - waltzes, etc..... I love the music and I thought it would be fun getting all dressed up in a tie, tails, white gloves, the whole bit. Judy went to Western Costume in LA and rented a ball gown (with hoops) that was used in a miniseries (North & South, or something like that) and she looked fantastic. There was a prep dance class for it, but it was only for one night. We went to the class, but she already knew what she was doing and there was clumsy me, doing my best not to step on toes! I got through the class somehow, but I still wondered if I would still remember it all for the big night...

We went and it was kind of fun, but Judy had to keep coaching me (basically, leading) on when to turn and where to move. I know it must have been frustrating for her as it was like a tennis pro playing with someone that had never played tennis before. She tried not to show it, but I'm pretty sharp with people and I noticed that we danced less and less. I didn't want to ruin things for her, so I told her that if she wanted to fill up her dance card a bit with some of her other friends, that would be fine. I stiood it out for quite a while and at some point, another young lady asked me to dance with her, but I made a point of warning her to my two left feet and tried to get out of it, but she insisted that it was fine with her.

Her dancing skill must have been closer to mine - even though not entirely graceful, she was a bit more patient and tried to teach me a bit while we did a turn around the floor. It wasn't awful, but we made it. I did love going anyway, for nothing else to see all those people dressed up and dancing around the floor. It looked like something out of a movie! I wish that I had taken pictures, or even a video camera.

I was out the day they handed out "coordination".... :D

Bryan
________
AsiansXX (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/cam/AsiansXX/)

[Rowan]

Wow you guys are very sweet to comment! Considering you don't consider yourselves dancers. (((((((((((Dawg))))))))))))) and ((((((((((((((Gemini))))))))))))

The reason I'm doing this alone is because Chris is in the same boat he can't dance, in fact cannot find the rhythm at all.

Gemini - I am stunned to hear you enjoyed getting dressed up like that! Very cool, personally I think a guy dressed in tails is very hot! That young lady who asked you to dance must agree with me. I think it was really nice of you to even try for Judy's sake.

Dancing is in my blood, I've taken ballet, tap, jazz ballet, even figure skating. Now I want to learn Flamenco, belly dancing, salsa, ballroom, and of course swing, as well as a few others. I could dance for hours without ever leaving the dance floor and often do.

Its funny sometimes the curve balls life throws you. when I was 9 I tried out for the National Ballet of Canada, there were hundreds of contestants in my age group, they were only accepting the top 10, it came down to this one girl and myself, it went back and forth between us for quite some time until they made up their mind, they picked the other girl. Had I been picked I would have had to go and live in their school, and my whole life would have been completely different!

[Rowan]

Today I had my last East coast lesson it was great had a lot of fun with it, we did some more Charleston. The class that followed was called intro to Balboa, a very different style of dancing, especially since the instructor wanted to emulate the style and technique of the 1920's creators. It is a dance that involves being right up against each other with the mans right arm wrapped around the woman, The woman leans forward into him, and sticks her but out, he guides you with his chest and hips and moves you around that way. It’s fast and full of quick little foot steps that are a shuffle, bouncing, kicking movement, hard to explain. It's deceptively hard! The men were having a terrible time getting the hang of it, and if they don't get it, then as the follow (woman) you are lost!

I'm thinking about going to a social dance this Wednesday we shall see...;)

[Rowan]

I have decided to sign up for the Balboa lessons, they will be on Thursday nights, Down town Vancouver, for 5 weeks. Starting this Thursday.:D

[unowhoandwhy]

Rowan, I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying the swing dancing. I am jealous (not jealous enough to start lessons, but jealous!). See what happens when you take a chance on something new?

[Rowan]

ya it's been a great experience so far really helped me get out of the house and forget about my troubles for a little while, although not completely every so often those thoughts pop back in but it has helped me a lot very therapeutic!

Braxiss better start practicing or I'll leave him in the dust! lol! :D ;)



the Balboa dance is very intimate! your pressed up close to your dance partner and you spend the whole time bouncing around, boy guys are nuts for passing that up! lol

[unowhoandwhy]

the Balboa dance is very intimate! your pressed up close to your dance partner and you spend the whole time bouncing around, boy guys are nuts for passing that up! lol

They probably don't know or there would be a line out the door at every class and they would be short on female dancers instead! ;) :D

[Sci-Fi]

Join Atomic Cafe, http://www.atomicmag.com/phpBB2/ , and check out the events section. Unfortunately the magazine is no longer, but you can buy the back issues. It's a fun place and great people frequent the the forums and put on events all over. Atomic also has listings for local clubs and dance societies.

Here's a link to the Atomic Gallery: http://www.atomicmag.com/gallerys/index.html

[Rowan]

Thank you very much Sci-Fi!!:thumbsup:


;) :D

[Rowan]

Ok I went swing dancing at the legion last night and had a great time, hooked up with one of the better dancers who introduced me to a bunch of the best dancers wow was that ever fun. I showed up in time to participate in the lesson this time so I got to dance with over 20 different guys everyone is so different in their style some of them make it so easy for you others confuse the heck out of you, all is lost if he doesn't know what he is doing! LOL! I found someone finally who has agreed to take me under his wing and teach me what he knows, he's one of the better dancers so that is very cool I finally get someone to practice with, I'm very excited!:D

[Rowan]

Had my last Lyndy Hop class today :( but I stuck around afterwards and watched the Jitterbug Jam class, they were working on learning all those crazy tosses the guys put the girls through like in the opening dance scenes from "Swing Kids" it's a lot harder than it looks and involves a lot of technique so that no one is getting seriously injured! I wish I could find a partner to do that with! :D ;)

[Rowan]

ok this was an intense dancing day!!

First I spent several hours practicing dancing with the man whom I met at the dance hall. Very nice person and learned a lot from him, so much better to have someone to practice with! I was with him for about 6 hours then I went down town to my Balboa lesson and did that for an hour and a half so my legs are a little sore tonight. LOL!:D

[doc834]

You know, you should really take a rest. 8 hours of dancing can really wear you out. But at the same time, it's great exercise. Glad to see you're having fun, Rowan.

[Rowan]

I went dancing at the Legion again on Saturday. There were over 60 people there to participate in the lesson! I managed to dance with each guy (30) during the course of the lesson. Then I had lots of fun dancing all night got to dance with some excellent dancers! Most of the older dancers are mellow in their dancing style so when a young guy asked me for 2 dances in a row I thought I was going to collapse!! I never danced so fast before, my feet felt like they were flying, I was out of breath, but boy was it fun!:D I danced till 1 am!

I wore a skirt that flares, heels and stockings with the seam up the back ;) :D

[Rowan]

You know, you should really take a rest. 8 hours of dancing can really wear you out. But at the same time, it's great exercise. Glad to see you're having fun, Rowan.
It is great excercise Chris says he's enjoying the results all ready! LOL!;)
I haven't had this much fun in so many years!!

[doc834]

My wife and I used to go dancing all the time, before we had kids. It was so much fun. It was a way for ust to unwind, after the long week. We would sometimes go during the week, if we had the time. I really miss that. But the kids have taken over our free time. I'm not complaining, I'm just reminiscing.

[Rowan]

doc you and your wife should make time for things like that, it's a great way to bond with each other and see each other as something other than a mother or a father. I think you should surprise her, get a baby sitter and take her dancing this weekend! women love that kind of thing, but you have to do all the organizing and don't tell her untill that day. Go for it doc ;) :D

[doc834]

Thanks for the advise. We do go out, about once a year. We were involved with being volunteer firefighters, in North Carolina. Now that We've moved back to Virginia, I think we will find more to do, here.

[Rowan]

doc doc doc!:no: ONCE A YEAR???!!! the poor woman!! ok off your duff SIR!! your kids are runing your life! make the time it's very important or you will find that when the kids have grown and left home that you and your wife have grown apart and don't know each other anymore, don't wait for that to happen, rediscover her now! Give her a reason to get dolled up and feel sexy like a desirable woman and not the mother of your children. ;) :D

[doc834]

I'm not saying that the kids have complete reign over us. We do spend time together. We just don't go dancing except for about once a year.

[Rowan]

ok well that's good to hear about the kids!:D ;)

But dancing....ah... I'm an adict I'm afraid I must dance!!! :D ;)

[doc834]

So Rowan, how's that dancing coming along?

[Rowan]

Hey Doc here's my update oops! been forgetting to post it! :D ;)

Well every Saturday I go to the Legion and dance from 8 pm till 1 am, I'm always early enough to participate in the lesson that way you get to meet 20 -30 guys and see whose lead style you understand best and work well with. Somehow by befriending this one guy it has gotten be into the most difficult clique to get into they are the best dancers, and some of the guys dance with me now and a couple of the women have given me pointers and help as well which really helps me to get better.

Every other Wednesday I've been going to the Hot Jazz Club and having fun there last week after the club closed (11:30pm) My Friend and I decided we wanted to keep dancing so we went downtown and found a little place that plays jazz and blues and although I couldn’t swing to most of it (I don't know west coast yet) we did dance to all the slow blues tunes, which for me is both easier and harder than following the lead in something like swing. dancing to slow sexy music and following someone else’s lead at times is hard because it's not the way your body wants to move to the music it's the way theirs does, so it was hard at first for me to just relax and follow the lead, I'd say that is my biggest challenge! But we danced until 1am and it was so much fun we did it all over again the very next night! I was evil I skipped my Balboa class!



Thursdays I go to my Balboa class when I 'm not skipping it! lol! We are learning a specific dance routine and everyone is lost! the instructor just confuses us so badly It's the last lessons I think I want to take with her. I'm going to the second to last lesson tonight.



Last night since there was no Hot Jazz Club I went over to my friends place and we practiced Bal for a few hours learned 4 new moves then we ate and we went down town again to dance to some blues again, this time I got to dance some East Coast Swing for a change but mostly we danced to the slow blues tunes.



This Saturday I'm going on a 4 hour Boat Cruise with my friend where there will be swing dancing while we tour the harbor so I'm looking forward to that!



Next Saturday I will be attending a Special dance that is designed to raise funds for a Cancer foundation in honour of my friends wife who passed away from it. So there will be a big performance put on by the dancers who knew and loved her.

[doc834]

Sounds like you have a pretty good routine, on the dancing. You must be having a lot of fun. Good on you.

[Rowan]

I LOVE IT!!! it's just what I've been needing in my life I'm having a blast and meeting lots of nice new people too!:D ;)
Since braxiss has been scarce I've had no one to share this with, so it's nice that you showed up!:D ;) I have to credit braxiss with getting me started on this, it's due to his encouragement that I presued it.

[doc834]

Sounds great. I like to learn about other people and their interests. It makes me a well-rounded person. You just keep dancing and I'll keep waiting to hear about it.

[Rowan]

After the cruise tomorrow I've been invited to attend a Blues party not sure what exactly that entails but I'm game to check it out. I've been really enjoying dancing with someone to this music. It's very sensual to be pressed up against a man and dancing to this slow sexy music especially when he knows how to move in a sensual way, mmmmmmmmmm very nice! ;) :D The hardest part though is moving the way you are being told to move. My body wants to move the way it feels the music it's hard to do it the way the other person wants you to!;) :D but I'm learning to let go of my need for control! LOL!

[shiningstar]

After the cruise tomorrow I've been invited to attend a Blues party not sure what exactly that entails but I'm game to check it out. I've been really enjoying dancing with someone to this music. It's very sensual to be pressed up against a man and dancing to this slow sexy music especially when he knows how to move in a sensual way, mmmmmmmmmm very nice! ;) :D The hardest part though is moving the way you are being told to move. My body wants to move the way it feels the music it's hard to do it the way the other person wants you to!;) :D but I'm learning to let go of my need for control! LOL!

I hope you have a fantastic time

[Rowan]

On Saturday I went on that harbour cruise in the afternoon with the Lindy dancers we all danced for hours on the cruise as we toured the harbour had great food and music it was a lot of fun, then some of us went for a long walk along the water front downtown Vancouver, and then we stopped at a pub watched the hockey game (Tampa vs. Alberta) and had a great supper. Then we went over to someone’s apartment for a "bootie blues party" were wonderful slow blues was played all night while over 60 people were crammed into a hot 500 square foot apartment dancing cheek to cheek to some great music, eating strawberries and whipped cream, and drinking. ;) :D After that some of us went and grabbed a coffee or tea and some cheese cake at a cafe, and that was just Saturday. It was a wonderful time!

[shiningstar]

On Saturday I went on that harbour cruise in the afternoon with the Lindy dancers we all danced for hours on the cruise as we toured the harbour had great food and music it was a lot of fun, then some of us went for a long walk along the water front downtown Vancouver, and then we stopped at a pub watched the hockey game (Tampa vs. Alberta) and had a great supper. Then we went over to someone’s apartment for a "bootie blues party" were wonderful slow blues was played all night while over 60 people were crammed into a hot 500 square foot apartment dancing cheek to cheek to some great music, eating strawberries and whipped cream, and drinking. ;) :D After that some of us went and grabbed a coffee or tea and some cheese cake at a cafe, and that was just Saturday. It was a wonderful time!

Now that sounds like wonderful fun! :thumbsup:

[Rowan]

Now that sounds like wonderful fun! :thumbsup:

It's been a blast so far Shiningstar! :D ;)

[doc834]

Wow, Rowan, this dancing has certainly turned you into a real socialite. Keep it up. You're living life.

[Rowan]

Hey doc! I am getting a chance to meet a lot of nice people, and having a lot of fun at the same time that is for sure!



On Saturday I went to Cancer foundation fundraiser ball WOW! it was sold out the place was packed! there was a big band playing music with a big horn section, a double base, drums etc. it was amazing to have the live music like that plus there were 3 vocalists. They played the music of the big band era perfect to dance lindy to!



There were performances by Lindy hoppers, West coast, Salsa, Jitterbugs, and several other dance groups it was so much fun to watch, they wore costumes and did a great job with lots of aerials!

After the performances everyone got back on the dance floor and a spontaneous jam started very cool! a big circle opened up and people started to do their thing one couple did some amazing aerials made my heart nearly stop to see it! very scary/exciting to watch!



I stayed till 1 am and then had to rush to catch the last sky train home it was a great night! the live band gave it a whole new atmosphere I felt transported through time!

:D ;)

[Rowan]

Tuesday night I went out to the Yale and we dance to jazz/blues again. This band played a lot of music that you could swing dance too as well so that made for a nice change!

One couple that we regularly bump into was there dancing and then we were joined by 2 more dancing couples, they were all west coast dancers though so I could not dance with any of the guys, although one did try and dance a dance with me.

I was approached by a man who asked me to dance he was wearing a swing dancers outfit (suspenders, spats, hat etc.) so I thought he new how to swing dance turns out he could dance just not with a partner plus he turned out to be rather drunk, so it was very awkward!

but other than that it was lots of fun to watch others dance to blues music and it was nice to see some really good West Coast dancing, I've really come to like and appreciate the sensuality of this dance.

[Rowan]

This past Saturday went to the Legion again to dance got a little bolder this time, and asked one of the better male dancers for a lesson he spent about 20 minutes or so teaching me, very nice guy and very knowledgeable on dancing! Then he asked me to dance a couple of times and that was a first for us not danced with him before.

I also got some help from the three top female dancers there and also a dance instructor I really worked on perfecting the swing out, it's not easy when every guy you dance with does it a little differently! but I'm working on it! :D

I hope your practicing braxiss!;) :D

[braxiss]

I hope your practicing braxiss!;) :D



i believe you have become the teacher, and i the learner :salute:

[Rowan]

i believe you have become the teacher, and i the learner :salute:

no no no I don't want to be the teacher anymore, I want to be the student when it comes to men! LOL! So get off your duff Sir find a baby sitter and take your woman out dancing! ;) :D

[braxiss]

i told bride of braxiss that it was time to start dancing again, and i think the shock of that statement blow her mind.

[Rowan]

i told bride of braxiss that it was time to start dancing again, and i think the shock of that statement blow her mind.

So Mrs. Braxiss is good shocked or bad? I'm very excited if she is game to go dancing with you then I can really share fun stuff with you about all your new dancing experiences:D

[braxiss]

she's a bit nervus, because she's never been swing dancing, and also i had pretty much decided my dancing days were over. so i guess now we need to find a place to go

[Rowan]

she's a bit nervus, because she's never been swing dancing, and also i had pretty much decided my dancing days were over. so i guess now we need to find a place to go
I can understand that feeling of nervousness, lessons helped me to gain some confidence and meet a lot of the people who you end up seeing at the dance halls so you don't feel like such a stranger. I never met a nicer group of people though very friendly, helpful, no drugs or alcohol present, everyone very polite. I've danced with over a hundred guys so far and every one of them a gentleman towards me! if she has you with her that should really help, I went alone! LOL! crazy me! Plus it's just so much fun! I want to learn the west coast style now after seeing it danced very sexy!;) :D


This is very exciting braxiss tell Mrs. braxiss what I've said about my experience if it will help:D

[braxiss]

o.k here we go.

ther's really not much to tell, but there was a "u.s.o." swing dance friday night, so i dusted off the old shoes and off we went.

it was nice to get out and do it again condering it's been well over ten years since i went swing(or any other type)dancing. we had a ball spent about two hours just remembering the moves, but they were starting to come back by the end of the evening. my wife siad se had fun and wanted to go dancing more often, so now we're looking for some where we can take lessons together. so i guess time will tell. (wish my knees luck)

[Rowan]

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: YAY! SHE LIKED IT!:D Oh Braxiss that is soooo cool! I'm impressed that you remembered the moves 10 years is a long time! Those knees better hold up, me and Mrs. Braxiss are counting on it! LOL!

I think it's funny that the guy (you) who encouraged me to try swing dancing was encouraged in turn by the girl (me) he encouraged Hmmmm what goes around comes around? ;) :D

I want to take more lessons it's been 3 weeks since I got to go dancing and I feel rusty all ready!
Thank you for sharing your story Braxiss you made me grin from ear to ear!;) :D

[shiningstar]

o.k here we go.

ther's really not much to tell, but there was a "u.s.o." swing dance friday night, so i dusted off the old shoes and off we went.

it was nice to get out and do it again condering it's been well over ten years since i went swing(or any other type)dancing. we had a ball spent about two hours just remembering the moves, but they were starting to come back by the end of the evening. my wife siad se had fun and wanted to go dancing more often, so now we're looking for some where we can take lessons together. so i guess time will tell. (wish my knees luck)

It sounds like both you and your wife had alot of fun! Take those lessons.
You won't regret it :)

[julix]

Braxsis and Rowan....
I think it is great you guys getting out there....I love dancing as well and hope my hubby and I can take swing lessons soon. He is not a dancer but is willing to try cause he knows how much I love it. I don't know how to swing dance right now when I go out with my friends for girls night we go dancing(mostly 80's). We were out friday night and danced non-stop to a great band that played mostly 80's rock and metal....so fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rowan]

Hi julix! I highly recomend swing dancing sooooo much fun and if your man is willing to learn that is awsome! wish mine was! I only got 6 one hour lessons and after that I went to the local dance hall and started accepting and asking for dances from complete strangers! It's a lot of fun! and an excellent workout! a fun way to stay in shape! :D ;)

[braxiss]

I think it's funny that the guy (you) who encouraged me to try swing dancing was encouraged in turn by the girl (me) he encouraged Hmmmm what goes around comes around? ;) :D


it really is funny how things happen :salute: