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Name
Richard Wilber
Location:
Oxford, CT, United States
Hometown:
United States |
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My Story:
What is it about dancing, swing dancing in particular, that hooks people in? For some, it becomes part of their lives. They get together and talk about the pros and cons of different dance shoes, they plan their vacations around dance events, they even move differently, pushing shopping carts like dance partners, aware of the connection between a door and their hand, maybe doing a quick dance step or a spin in the parking lot. They spend countless time (and money!) taking lessons, workshops, going to dance weekends, even week-long dance events. NDFs (non-dancing friends) and family just don't understand. They get annoyed when you can't get together because there is a dance/class/workshop that weekend.
Some people don't get it. They take one or two lessons and that's it. I'm not saying they don't enjoy themselves on the dance floor, but there is another level of pleasure. It takes persistence. You have to get past the point where you are counting out the steps. Something clicks, and you get to a place beyond learning moves, and begin learning movement. You learn that dancing is so much more than the steps: connection between partners, weight and counterbalance, leading and following, using the floor to push off. The steps are not what is important, it's what happens between the steps, the steps are just transitions.
I think part of the pleasure is just joy of movement, both your own and moving together with a partner. There is a greater body awareness. We usually don't think about movement, we just hurry to get from one place to another. It's movement just for the sake of movement, coming together, using each other's momentum, balancing with each other's weight.
Then there is connection. You are aware of the various points where your bodies are contacting. It's not just your hands, it's the hand on the back, your forearms, your thighs if you are standing side by side. I've seen dancers connect with just their foreheads and use that connection to dance! Humans crave to be touched, and dancing is a way to get a chance to touch, and be touched by, another person. It's not sexual, swing dancers generally frown on "skeevy" people. It's understood that you are there to dance, not to make a pickup. But it is sensual, meaning "of the senses". It's a non-verbal form of communication, there are whole conversations on the dance floor.
Of course, there is the social aspect. At least in the swing dance scene, it's perfectly acceptable to ask a complete stranger to dance. Indeed, it's even expected! Most couples go to a swing dance and dance with each other for only a few dances during the night, most of the time they are dancing with other people. You get to meet people from all over the country, even from other countries. There is a shared passion. You can go to any state in the US, to other countries, and as long as there is a swing dance scene you have friends. It's also a scene where people of all ages can get together and have fun.
Then there is the music! Ahh, the music! Jazz, big band, a little bit of blues thrown in. Most of the music just makes you feel happy! When in the zone, it moves through you, you're not thinking about your dance moves, the music leads you. Jazz is improvisational, and so is swing dancing. After awhile you start to make it up as you go along, letting the music decide what you'll do next. This can only happen with good lead/follow technique. It's not choreography, although I'm not knocking choreography, it has it's place, but on the dance floor you and your partner are not dancing a routine. The leader has to be able to let the follower know what is going to happen next, and the follower has to be open to being led, not to anticipate. The best followers take take part in conversation. They don't just follow (as if that wasn't hard enough!), they add their own "voice" to the conversation. When it clicks it is awesome!
There are times when it doesn't come together, there are times you are frustrated with your dancing, when you feel that you aren't getting anywhere. It could be the music, it could be that you were tired to begin with, it could be any countless number of things. I've found that when I'm sick of my dancing it's usually a sign that I'm ready to break through to something new, and if I just persist through the discouragement, maybe take a class or a private lesson, suddenly I get another boost!
After a night of great dancing, you are tired and sore, your feet hurt, but you have a dance buzz, you are high! That's what keeps you coming back.
Additional Questions
When/where did you first start doing Lindy Hop?
Why did you first start doing Lindy Hop?
What is the size of your local Lindy community?
How often do you go out dancing or take lessons?
What is your favorite thing about Lindy Hop (both as an activity and as a community)?
What do you do for a living?
Male/Female:
Year you were born?
What bit of non-swing info about you would the Lindy community find interesting?
How has Lindy Hop changed your life?
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