The Century Ballroom in Seattle has recently started hosting an All Ages Swing Social. The social is a two and a half hour dance taking place during the day on the 2nd Sunday of each month. Alex and I checked it out this weekend, and I have to say, it was a lot of fun!
Currently the event targets swing dancers who can no longer keep to the standard late night swing dancing schedule. For the most part the crowd consisted of parents and their children. However, there were a number of people there without children, and a few people who are regulars at the nightly dances. This provided for a really nice mixture of people.
The event is a wonderful idea for many reasons. In addition to providing a daytime opportunity for folks who can't stay up late to dance (parents and non-parents alike), it also provides a supportive environment for those who want to get back into the swing of things. Additionally, it exposes the children in attendance to swing music and dancing. And heck, nothing will teach you floor-craft faster than a bunch of children running around your feet...baby landmines.
I hope to attend these socials regularly going forward, and I would love to see more folks from the nightly scene come and support this event. It's a shame to watch dancers drop off the map just because their schedules don't allow for late nights, so I'm really pleased to see something like this happening.
There's a lot of talent and experience in this group and, if this takes off, I think we'll have a richer community as a result. With any luck it will grow and spread to other cities...but perhaps these sorts of events are already happening elsewhere. I sure hope so.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Importance of Community
When I began writing this, I had every intention of presenting more than the fluffy piece you'll be reading. I wanted to touch on observations I've made about how community plays into specific shifts in Seattle's dance scene...but finding myself strapped for time, perhaps I'll touch on that in a future entry. That said, enjoy the mushy love-fest that is this post:
Jacks of all trades, masters of nothing. I never could quite wrap my head around these folks. That is, until recently. Ever since I stopped performing I have been sampling various activities and I have become quite an avid dabbler.
Through all this dabbling, I've started to wonder why my interests are so fleeting. Why can't I stick with anything? I've come to the realization that, with the exception of swing dancing, all the hobbies I've tried have lacked one thing: a sufficient level of social interaction -- more specifically, a sense of community.
Community has played a large role in my continued presence in the swing scene. While I may not be a teacher, a performer, or a competitor...I'm here. I'm dancing enough to still consider myself a regular in Seattle's Lindy Hop scene (though I may be considered M.I.A. by those who do not frequent the same venues as I do). I'm here because there is a sense of community among Lindy Hoppers that is unlike anything I've experienced before.
Lindy Hop is one big family unit. As with any family, there are members you wish you knew better, and others you want to keep a distance from. Hell, sometimes they just plain drive you nuts! Oh, the drama! Oh, the politics!...but when it comes down to it, you still love them. You love them, in spite of all the things they do or say that so tempt you to mail them dog shit.
For me, there are times at dances when I can't help but let the music wash over me, gaze at the dance floor, and watch in awe of the community that I am so lucky to have found.
Here's one of those moments, captured in June of 2010 at Seattle's Century Ballroom. I remember sitting on the stage with my boyfriend Alex (the video DJ) that night thinking how great it is to be a part of this wonderful group of people. <3
Jacks of all trades, masters of nothing. I never could quite wrap my head around these folks. That is, until recently. Ever since I stopped performing I have been sampling various activities and I have become quite an avid dabbler.
Through all this dabbling, I've started to wonder why my interests are so fleeting. Why can't I stick with anything? I've come to the realization that, with the exception of swing dancing, all the hobbies I've tried have lacked one thing: a sufficient level of social interaction -- more specifically, a sense of community.
Community has played a large role in my continued presence in the swing scene. While I may not be a teacher, a performer, or a competitor...I'm here. I'm dancing enough to still consider myself a regular in Seattle's Lindy Hop scene (though I may be considered M.I.A. by those who do not frequent the same venues as I do). I'm here because there is a sense of community among Lindy Hoppers that is unlike anything I've experienced before.
Lindy Hop is one big family unit. As with any family, there are members you wish you knew better, and others you want to keep a distance from. Hell, sometimes they just plain drive you nuts! Oh, the drama! Oh, the politics!...but when it comes down to it, you still love them. You love them, in spite of all the things they do or say that so tempt you to mail them dog shit.
For me, there are times at dances when I can't help but let the music wash over me, gaze at the dance floor, and watch in awe of the community that I am so lucky to have found.
Here's one of those moments, captured in June of 2010 at Seattle's Century Ballroom. I remember sitting on the stage with my boyfriend Alex (the video DJ) that night thinking how great it is to be a part of this wonderful group of people. <3
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
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