Swing Things.

It’s been quite awhile, hasn’t it? My apologies.

Ignore the super hokey-looking background.

As dancers, we know that dance is more than a hobby. Dance is a way of life, it is an identity, it is vital, it is precious, it is love. Dance is love. It occurred to me on a November evening last year that the word "dance" fits rather nicely in the place of "love" in many lyrics and quotes. A friend and I started exchanging our doctored quotes, and thus the idea for [Dance] was born. 

Somehow, the idea got lost. But a remnant survived, and I found it hidden away in my computer recently. Suddenly, the inspiration for the series flooded back and I thought, "Might as well." So here you have it, a series devoted to altering love quotes for dance purposes. Enjoy, and feel free to submit any doctored quotes of your own. 

Ooh, good question there, anon!

I wish that I could give you a definite answer. I wish that I could say, “Oh yes, these are the absolute ten best songs for swing dancing out there, and that’s a fact.” But I can’t do that, because “best” is a subjective term, and each person has their own idea of what the “best” songs are for swing. This is a fact that both perturbs my scientific mind and pleases my artistic soul. While everyone’s got their own musical taste and ideas of what the best swing dance songs are, there are some general things that make for a good swing song - the chief of these standards is this: the music has to make you want to move. So, while I cannot give you an absolute list of the top ten best songs for swing dancing, I can give you a list of my favorites (in context of how good they are for dancing, not just how much I like them), all of which inspire movement in me. 

Since you just said swing, I’ll give lists for both lindy hop and west coast swing. Bonus! ;)

Lindy hop

Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen. I tried to pick which artist, I really did. But there are so many versions of this song, and I love almost all of them! This song is one of my most favorite songs of all time, and it’s great for dancing. I love how dynamic it is; you can really express yourself. It has bluesy bits, swinging stretches, and some opportunities for fast dancing.

Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens by Louis Jordan. This song is straight up silly. In that way, I feel like it embodies swing dancing. Also, it’s the perfect song for peckin’.

I Diddle by Dinah Washington. The first time I heard this song, it was one of those moments where you just go, “OOOOH.” It’s got a great beat, fun lyrics, and it’s got a lot of character. And really, how could you not love a song where “hehe” is part of the lyrics? Super fun to dance to.

Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? by Count Basie and His Orchestra. I think I first discovered this song via Pandora. I love this one for reasons not fully known. It’s just a fun song.

Diga Diga Doo by Jonathan Stout And His Campus Five feat. Hilary Alexander. I love this song a lot. It’s quite fast, and is great for Charleston as well. Two other versions I love are by Artie Shaw and Duke Ellington.

Comes Love by Artie Shaw & His Orchestra feat. Helen Forrest. First off, this has Helen Forrest, whom I adore. Second, I love the overall sound of the song, and I’ve always loved the lyrics. It’s a slowish lindy.

Harlem Mad by Glenn Crytzer and His Syncopators feat. Meschiya Lake. This is a pretty fast one. I’m a big fan of Glenn Crytzer and His Syncopators!

Minnie the Moocher by Cab Calloway. I cannot be dissuaded from my love for this song. It’s a bluesy lindy or a lindy-ish blues. I know every single word and, yes, I will sing them all while I dance. 

On Revival Day by LaVern Baker. This song has a great tempo, it’s very happy, and it’s playful. 

Yes, Indeed! by Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra. I lovelovelovelovelove Tommy Dorsey. He's one of my favorites - if not my number one - of the classic swing dudes. I own quite a few of his vinyls. Yes, Indeed! is probably my favorite song of his for lindy hop. It fits lindy hop so well. 

West coast swing

Pinpointing “best” songs for WCS is even more difficult than for lindy hop, simply due to the nature of the dance. You can make any song into a west coast, really. It should be noted that, for WCS, I generally seem to prefer bluesy/sultry/R&B more than funky/pop-y/energetic.

Tonight (Best You Ever Had) by John Legend feat. Ludacris. This is just a great song for west coast. Personal anecdote: one time I was dancing to this song and I was singing along. The guy I was dancing with said, “I take it you know this song?” and I, singing along, responded with: “I don’t wanna brag…” and it was a golden moment. Then, months later, I was dancing with someone else to this and I told them the story and just so happened to sing “I don’t wanna brag” at just the right time again. Amazing.

No Diggity by Blackstreet feat. Dr. Dre and Queen Pen. A classic. I also really love the Chet Faker cover.

California Dreamin’ by Queen Latifah. In my opinion, Queen Latifah’s cover of this song is the best version out there. California Dreamin’ is my magical song; every dance I’ve ever had to this song has been amazing. Like, people on the sides applauded after watching me dance to it. (Which is remarkable considering I’m pretty much a derp-face Westie.)

Heartbreak Hotel by Grieves. Words cannot express how much I love this song. Dancing to it is like a dream. It’s a slow, lyrical west coast and it actually stumps quite a few dancers. But if you can find a partner who is comfortable with their musicality, this song is absolutely magical.

Sexxx Dreams by Lady Gaga. Some venues won’t even go near this song, and I mean… I understand why. But I love it so much. It’s great fun to dance to; there’s a lot of room to play around and it’s ah-may-zing for double trouble and/or stealing.

I See Fire (Kygo Remix) by Ed Sheeran. I’m not generally a fan of remixes, but this one is superb. I got to do a legendary double trouble to this with two friends of mine, so it holds sentimental value. Worth noting: Ed Sheeran actually has quite a few good songs for dancing.

Traum by CRo. Yes, this song is in German. I’ve never heard it played at any WCS dances, which make sense considering I live in the US. This is a fast west coast, but quite happy and enjoyable. I really enjoy dancing to it.

Don’t Wait by Mapei. Just a beautiful song. Its beat is easy to hear, too.

Am I Wrong by Nico & Vinz. This song just suits west coast. It just feels so right. Am I wrong? ;) 

Latch (Acoustic) by Sam Smith. Latch has recently really caught on (pun not intended) with the competition circuit, and for good reason. For starters, it's a beautiful song. But it's great for WCS. A lot of acoustic songs don't quite cut it, but this one works. The original, a collaboration between Disclosure and Sam Smith, also works for west coast, but it has a decidedly different flavor. Personally, I prefer the acoustic - but the original is good, too. (Worth noting: La La Latch by Pentatonix is amazing and works as a fast WCS.)

First off: don’t be sorry! Ask as many questions as you want; there’s no need to apologize, futurecomet! I love talking about dance and dance-related things.

Lindy Hoppers: Origins; or, How I Got Started

(Awhile back I had a post on my personal blog in which I talked some about how I got started, so this may sound familiar to some. This is a shortened version of that night’s events which does not contain all of the details which I’d love to convey.)

I got my very reluctant start in the world of social dance at the relentless urging of my best friend. When she first brought up this mysterious swing dancing thing, I was less than willing. I spat out excuses and lamentations such as “But I can’t dance.” “I have no rhythm.” “I’m just going to mess everything up.” “I’m not going to have any fun.” But, to make my dearest friend happy, I went swing dancing anyways for the first time. My life changed on that night.

As my luck would have it, we got to the venue late and I missed the explanation of the basic! I awkwardly stumbled through the rest of the lesson before finally catching on to that now all-too-familiar “step, step, rock step.” But something happened as the night wore on, and something changed in my heart. Before I knew it, I had fallen in love with swing dancing. I went home that night a changed person. A happier person.

Background

I think it’s probably safe to say that most social dancers (whether they are in the ballroom, country, Latin, or swing worlds) have little to no dance background! I took one semester of tap, ballet, and jazz when I was ten. I was horrible at it, and I wouldn’t go near dancing at all until swing captured my heart. Everyone’s dance story is different, and this includes dance background/previous training. I know some dancers who have been dancing since they could walk. I know others who started when they were teenagers (myself included). And there are others still who started in various stages of adulthood. Most of the students at the ballroom studio where I work are in their 30s-50s!

While it can absolutely be helpful to have previous dance experience before getting into swing, it’s by no means necessary. A lot of top-level dancers (think: people who teach regularly, travel to teach, and compete often and at invitational/champion levels) started dancing as children, whether as soloists or in the partnered dances - but not all of them. As far as the social swing world goes, however, you’ll find that many people do not have any previous experience. If you have that dance background, great. If you don’t, also great! All this is to say: no dance experienced is required to start swing dancing.

You truly can just drop in to a beginner level class one day and be totally fine. Start going to some group classes. Start social dancing frequently as soon as you’ve got the basic down. And most definitely start taking private lessons if you can afford to.

The Gateway Dance

I started my dance journey with single step east coast swing (ECS), but I have since branched out quite a bit; my repertoire currently includes twenty-three different styles of dance (though to varying degrees of ability). ECS is, in my opinion, the gateway dance. While not everyone starts off with it, it’s a common dance that is easy to learn. You can be out on the social floor and feel pretty comfortable, having a good deal of fun, after just one group class. That being said, it can and does get old after awhile. If you'd rather not start with ECS, that's perfectly fine.

I now much prefer west coast swing (WCS) and lindy hop to ECS. But east coast was enough to get me started! It ultimately led me to all of these other dances. It ultimately led me to a great job, wonderful friends, and a fuller life. Now you’re probably wondering, “Where do I start? Should I start with ECS, or ballroom, or lindy hop, or WCS, or what?” And there is no clear-cut answer. Like I said earlier, every dance story is different. We are all on different paths. There are plenty of swing dance clubs/organizations which only teach the various swing dances. There are also plenty of ballroom studios which teach swing dancing. If you go to a ballroom studio, ECS will probably be one of the first things you learn. (However, as an instructor at such a studio, I would caution you: do your research. If you are interested in specifically lindy hop and/or WCS, going to ballroom instructors to learn can be hit or miss. Look up some videos from that particular studio/instructor or call ahead to ask some questions if you can. Ballroom style west coast is a pitiful sight, and not a ton of ballroom-oriented studios teach lindy. That being said, a strong background in ballroom can be helpful for swing dancing, but it’s completely optional.)

If you’re really interested in lindy hop or WCS in particular, you probably won’t be satisfied starting with anything else. Keep in mind, though, that it will take awhile to get truly comfortable dancing, no matter what style you do. There will be moments of frustration. There might be tears and blisters and blood and wounded pride. But when you stick with it, there will be smiles and friendships and progress and fulfillment. Oh, and blisters, too. You can’t really escape the blisters.

Got any questions about anything? Send me an ask! 

Swing dancing has greatly influenced my wardrobe. My style pre-dancing was pretty standard fare. It's worth noting that I detested hair bows and skirts/dresses. Then I started swing dancing... and that changed everything. I always wear a skirt or dress. I almost always wear pearls. I wear a lot of red lipstick, Keds, hair bows, and polka dots. Apparently I look like a lindy hopper. Who would have ever thought. Well, it's finally started happening. People I don't even know are asking me if I'm a lindy hopper because of the way I dress.

I've recently been expanding my personal dance horizons, including west coast swing which I have fallen in love with. Because it is a swing dance and this is a swing blog, I've been thinking about branching out this blog a bit to also include WCS. Up until now it's been lindy-focused (unintentional pun) and thus my audience is made up primarily of lindy hoppers. That being said, I know some of you also do WCS.

We all do it.

Any questions about swing dancing, the community, the music, or lindy fashion? Ask away!

We've all been there: you buy that brand-new pair of Keds (or Aris Allen sneakers, or City Sneaks) and within a couple weeks, the shining white canvas has devolved into quite the unpleasant shade of filth. Give it a little more time, and all the sweat you've worked up during dance has probably produced a not-so-classy odor. What's a lindy hopper to do?

I'll preface this by saying that there is no "magical method" or panacea for your shoes. They will never shine as brilliantly as when you first bought them. They will never smell as pleasant as when you first opened the box. They will never be perfect again, but they can be better. Now that that's taken care of...

I went to Google for advice. I found a few suggestions that sounded good, so I tested out several methods. First I tried the Magic Eraser, which fell quite short of being magic. It didn't work for me at all. Second I tried Windex (I was thinking of this the entire time), which did not work on the canvas - it did, however, clean the rubber sides (and soles) decently enough. Just make sure you do this with plain paper towels - mine had a blue pattern on it and it started to transfer the color. 

Third, I tried what seemed to be the most commonly recommended method: get a bowl of warm water with a couple drops of dish soap, dip a washcloth in it, and scrub the shoes with the cloth. I started off with Dawn, and it didn't do much good. It cleared up a little bit of the dirt, but my scrubbing was largely in vain. The washcloth wasn't the best for my task; it's fairly difficult to scrub shoes with a rag so I decided to switch to a toothbrush. Finally, I spotted a bottle of an oxy-power dish soap amongst my cleaning supplies. This is where I found my victory. So...

Here's what you'll need:

an electric toothbrush

a regular toothbrush

oxy-power dish soap (such as this one, though it's not the exact one I used)

paper towels

a bowl of warm water

Start by pouring a few drops of the soap onto the electric toothbrush. Select a portion of the shoe to concentrate on. Turn on the electric toothbrush, then rapidly scrub up and down for about 30 seconds. Dip the electric toothbrush in the bowl of warm water, shake it out over the sink, and quickly scrub the area you just worked on. Next, use the regular toothbrush to brush away the excess water and soap. (Leaving the soap on the shoes will result in more stains.) Lightly dab with a paper towel if there's simply too much excess. Repeat the process until you've covered the whole shoe. When completely finished, allow shoes to air-dry.

To clean dirty shoelaces, fill a bowl with warm water and add a few drops of dish soap. Let them soak, then wring them out a few times, making sure to not let the aglets get wet. Repeat the process until the laces are to your desired cleanliness.

I won't lie to you. This task was tedious. It took quite a long time, and I had to repeat the process on each area at least twice (though sometimes more). There's probably a better way to clean our beloved white Keds - but this was the best way that I found. If you've had success with other methods, let me know! My shoes aren't 100% clean now, but they're much better and look socially acceptable. Take a look! (Sorry about the random red tint in the first after photo. I'm not sure what happened.)

Now, what to do about the terrible stink? I read a tip about putting two tablespoons of baking soda in a sock, tying the sock off, and letting it sit overnight in your shoe. For my shoes, this absorbed some of the smell but not all of it, so I put my shoes in the freezer (with the baking soda) for several hours and that (more or less) got rid of the rest. For preventative measures, though, this easy homemade shoe powder should do the trick.

A shirt that every follow could use.