Swing Dancing

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America is getting more unhealthy by the minute - and our butts are getting, um, well, we're number one in a lot of things and butts are certainly a category we excell at! Anyone who has been lindy hopping for more than a few months has watched beginners go from "civilian weight" to aerodynamic lindy hopper size (gosh, who knew pounds would drop off if you did the equivalent of running track for 10-12 hours a week?!?). America is also becoming socially inept - TV and video games are creating a generation of bores - the habitat of a dance scene fosters not just rigorous exercize, but sociability (dances are like cocktail parties without the drinks), manners (you have to politely ask her to dance), grooming (people actually shower and wear nice clothes to dances) and nobody does drugs! Wouldn't it be nice to bring swing to your town for one or all of these reasons? And most of all: don't give up! Tons of little scenes are thriving all over the world. Enlist a few friends and spread the love. some suggestions: -DJing: Want to DJ a dance? There are lots of playlists on the web - SWING DJS .COM & LUV2SWINGDANCE.COM to name a few. To start inexpensively you can buy compilation CDs of 30s and 40s big band music. -Bands: Is there a swing/jazz/rockabilly/50's band that plays one night a week at a local bar? Ask the owner if you can teach a 30 minute beginner lesson before they come on. (We did this by showing up, doing aerials during the band's first song, then approaching the management... lasted 3 years). -Dress and act the part: At least look like you're in charge - a swing-themed tshirt or suspenders adds a little panache to your look, be sociable, dance with beginners and not just your friends who showed up to support you (encourage them to do the same). And learn a few safe but flashy aerials (there are lots of jumps and dips that will do the trick). Aerials make people say "Oh Yeah. I want to learn that!" Do NOT allow anyone to do aerials on the social dance floor. Stage a jam if you have to so they can show off their stuff. -Enlist experts: Just about every little town is within driving distance from a BIG town that has a swing scene. Contact them and pay an experienced Lindy Hop instructor to show up for an evening - or better: a weekend event. Contact Aris Allen and they'll send you a promo kit to add some splash to your weekend. -Travel: Go to some weekend events to hone your craft and see what other people are doing with their scenes. -Set up a Facebook page for promotion on the cheap.

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