Swing Dancing

Rowan · May 3rd, 2004, 08:18 AM

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 · May 3rd, 2004, 10:11 AM

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

doc834 · May 3rd, 2004, 11:55 AM

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 · May 3rd, 2004, 01:29 PM

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!

shiningstar · May 3rd, 2004, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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

Rowan · May 3rd, 2004, 07:43 PM

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

Rowan · May 4th, 2004, 03:33 AM

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 · May 8th, 2004, 08:45 AM

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 · May 9th, 2004, 10:24 PM

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 · May 9th, 2004, 10:28 PM

Sounds like fun, lil sis.

Sometimes I wish I could dance.....

I am
Dawg

Gemini1999 · May 9th, 2004, 11:28 PM

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"....

Bryan
________
AsiansXX

Rowan · May 10th, 2004, 12:16 AM

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 · May 10th, 2004, 12:59 AM

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 · May 11th, 2004, 05:09 AM

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.

unowhoandwhy · May 11th, 2004, 12:28 PM

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 · May 14th, 2004, 03:31 AM

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!

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 · May 14th, 2004, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rowan

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!

Sci-Fi · May 14th, 2004, 01:42 PM

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 · May 14th, 2004, 11:18 PM

Thank you very much Sci-Fi!!

Rowan · May 16th, 2004, 08:37 PM

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!

Rowan · May 16th, 2004, 08:41 PM

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!

Rowan · May 21st, 2004, 03:24 AM

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!

doc834 · May 24th, 2004, 01:06 PM

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 · May 24th, 2004, 01:12 PM

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!

I danced till 1 am!

I wore a skirt that flares, heels and stockings with the seam up the back

Rowan · May 24th, 2004, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · May 25th, 2004, 11:56 AM

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 · May 25th, 2004, 12:01 PM

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

doc834 · May 25th, 2004, 12:04 PM

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 · May 25th, 2004, 12:12 PM

doc doc doc!

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.

doc834 · May 25th, 2004, 01:08 PM

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.