Comments on: early spring inspiration

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:07:32 +0000

Casey, you are always such an inspiration! I love your blog.
I hope you get to take swing classes soon! The recommendation earlier about University classes is a great idea. They are generally very reasonable priced, and often taught by instructors from local studios. I’ve taken a bit of east coast, lindy and west coast, and I think lindy and west coast are the most fun.
Best of luck!
Jessica

By: Erika

Erika — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:38:10 +0000

I love the middle blouse, it definitley has a 40s touch!

As for the class, that’s a real shame! I hope you’ll find a new class, there was some excellent advises among the comments. Personally, I prefer clubs to “ordinary” dance schools (schools that teach other dances as well, like modern jazz, hip hop etc), as the schools tends to be focused primarily on dancing for competion and show, where the dance clubs are focused on social dancing. At least, that’s the case here in Sweden. From the international dancers I’ve met though, I’ve gotten the impression that it’s a bit of the same at other places.
I hope you’ll find some classes, swing dancing is really great! I started about four years ago, and it’s become my hobby, my vacation and basically my social life revolves around it. But then, I might be a bit of a nerd… =) It’s a good thing to be nerdy about though, as I always feel happy while dancing!

Cheers!

By: Eileen

Eileen — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:10:38 +0000

If you are in the Tampa area there is a thing called “Swing Gang” that meets at the Zendah Grotto on Sundays at 6pm. For $7 you get TWO HOURS of lessons followed by a dance that goes until midnight. This is how my husband and I got started.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:18:54 +0000

“It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing…”

Swing dancing is thrilling! My friends and I started a swing club early in high school, after watching Swing Kids. We were all novices; as we learned we taught each other the new tricks we figured out. Our club still exists even though we have all graduated and moved.

Swing clubs are surprisingly easy to start up. All you need is someone with a bit of foreknowledge, access to the internet and a group of fun people with enthusiasm and a desire to learn. If you can’t find a friend who knows a bit, maybe you could hire the teacher from the canceled class to give you and your friends a lesson in some of the basics.

It was too fun as a high schooler to crash the college’s swing club and join in… there is a great sense of camaraderie.

Apologies for the long post – I miss dancing. It makes me happy to hear that you plan to take it up!

Best Wishes!

By: Mrs. Jess

Mrs. Jess — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:27:05 +0000

I just saw your note about swing classes – have you considered joining a local swing club? My club is affiliated with the big University in my town (also happens to be my alma mater), so we have weekly lessons, weekly dances, workshops, a big exchange in spring, and other special events. Most medium-to-large cities and colleges have a lindy club (even the small colleges around here (Indiana) have them!) so I would check around if I were you to see if you have anything local. The best thing about swing clubs (as opposed to classes) is that they are cheap! My club charges $25 per semester for lessons, beginner thru advanced/competition. That’s 1 lesson per week, plus a weekly jam session (dance) and special lessons – for a whole semester. Ridiculous! It’s a wonderful, supportive way to learn lindy/blues/east coast/balboa… lots of styles. Member dues are only $5 per semester to participate in special events and the weekly dances (no classes).

Please feel free to email me with your location if you have trouble finding a club, I will set my network of swing minions a-working to help find you something