Submitted March 17, 2005
ETIQUETTE "Bam!"
We all know that swing dancing is at its best when legs are flying and arms are flailing. Isn't this the definition of "swing"! Then all of the sudden, "BAM!" That amazing dance has turned into someone else's pain as you see a body flop to the dance floor behind you. You realize you've just taken your friend out with your fabulous moves. How could this have been prevented? Stop kicking and flailing? No Way!! Swing dancers love that stuff! Since we can't continue to hurt out friends, we must find a way to strike a balance between crazy legs and one heck of a boring dance. Here is the key. Small space...small moves, lots of space...jam out!!! Have courtesy for those around you, wait to kick until the pathway is clear and all will be safe.
This month's etiquette piece courtesy of Trisha Anderson and Jonathan Lindsey.
Submitted February 16, 2005
Make Yourself Known - Pointers For New Dancers
In reference to when a dance event ends...
Don't just disappear, tell the folks you meet good- bye, thanks for the dances/help whatever. This will help them remember you the next time they see you. They may even invite you to join them at another dance night/location etc. Tell the DJ the music was great, tell the instructor you enjoyed the lesson, tell the door person you had a good time and thank you. If possible, tell the host you had a great time and will return. Fill-out any mailing list's you may see at the door (print clearly or you won't receive anything). Take any flyers you may see at the door.
Hope these tips are helpful!
This month's tip came from www.streetswing.com
Submitted on January 18, 2005
Regarding Cliques and "Snobbery"
Sometimes a perception exists that good dancers only hang out with other good dancers. This is a by- product of the fact that many dancers have been dancing together for a long time and know each other better. For the most part, few people within the scene are intentionally reinforcing this perception. Feel free to break the ice if they don't.
This month's tip came from www.austinswingsyndicate.org/etiquette.
Submitted December 15, 2004
Oh my gosh!!! You are horrible!!!!!!!
Picture this...You are sitting on the edge of the dance floor watching people dance at a swing venue. Everyone is having a great time. They are smiling, laughing, spinning around, etc. Then, through the crowd of dancers you spot this girl/guy dancing with an out-of-control, arm-pulling, foot-stomping, groping partner. As you observe, you see the girl/guy holding on tightly in fear of being thrown across the room. The poor dancer's expression is one of torture masked by a plastic smile. His/her goal at this point is to get through the next three minutes while praying the sound system breaks or there is an Act of God that causes the music to finish sooner. Once the song ends, the girl/guy comes over to you and begs that you talk to the wild dancer about calming down. What should you do?
The first option would be to go up to that person and say "Oh my gosh! You are a horrible dancer!!!!" The second option would be to DEFINITELY NOT PROCEED WITH THE FIRST OPTION. Here's the deal. If you aren't comfortable approaching that person, then ask the people who run the venue for assistance. If you are comfortable and know that you can say something to the wild dancer in a tactful manner, then here's a suggestion on how to do so. Approach him/her with a smile and ask if you can talk to him/her for a moment away from other dancers. Let that person know that you enjoy his/her energy and love for swing dancing. Tell that person that some of his/her moves are a little rough and if the partner isn't an advanced dancer, then he/she may not have the frame to handle the way the moves are being led or followed. Make it clear that you are only mentioning it because you like to know when you could change something about your dancing to help others enjoy the dance as much as you, and you thought that he/she would appreciate the gesture.
If the wild dancer is open to critique, then he/she will accept this and thank you for the information. However, there is a possibility that the person will be offended. In which case, all you can do is be happy that the wild dancer is now aware of what he/she is doing. If you happen to be the one dancing with the wild dancer, then you can mention the roughness during that particular dance. Regardless of how you handle the situation, do not alienate the wild dancer. Be nice, smile, and compliment the good points of his/her dancing. Your personal goal should not be to get all of the wild dancers to leave the scene. We were all wild dancers at some point. If you are the one being critiqued, then be understanding. If you doubt what you are being told, then you might want to ask a dance instructor for verification. There is no point in getting defensive.
To all wild dancers who have been critiqued, it takes a lot for the advice giver to have the courage to say something. Please listen with an open mind. To sum this up, critiquing a dancer is a very sticky situation, but it is necessary at times. Be friendly if offering the advice and be accepting if offered the advice.
This month's etiquette piece was written by Trisha Anderson.
Submitted November 16, 2004
Listed below are some great etiquette tips offered courtesy of 3rd Street Swingers from Santa Monica, CA.
* If you kick, step on, elbow, slap, or bump into someone, be sure to Acknowledge the Incident, then Graciously Apologize, and determine that no serious injury has occured to them.
* Leaders, if dancing with less experienced follows, keep the steps simple and basic at first, then steadily ramp up to the level your partner can Comfortably Handle and Enjoy. Don't be a "Showboat" when it's Not Necessary, the One Main Important Point to Remember, Always, is to "MAKE HER LOOK GOOD!"
* It's Impolite to correct, criticise, or give instruction to your partner while dancing, unless the person asks for your help, advice, or if the person is physically hurting you during a particular movement.
* If there is a live band performing, and at the conclusion of your dance, if not after each, then after a few dances, please Give Your Acknowledgement and Respect to the Band by the Show of Your Polite Hand of Applause. The musicians of the band will feel more appreciated, become more energized and inspired to play even more enthusiastically and better for you and the audience when this occurs.
* If you desire NOT to dance, say something to the effect of, "I'm Sorry, No Thank You," followed with a "Qualifier." But, DON'T Immediately Dance with someone else if you had just turned down a request from another. It's Very Impolite!
For more tips from the 3rd Street Swingers, please visit
http://www.geocities.com/thirdstreetswingers/index.h tml
Submitted October 13, 2004
"It's about the global, not just the local!"
Were you aware there are at least two big swing dance events in the world every month? Can you imagine doing a Swing Out in Singapore, the Shim Sham in Australia or Balboa on a boardwalk on Balboa Island? How about dancing with 1,000 other swing- crazy dancers while listening to a live big band including some of the original band members of the Count Basie Big Band? Well, that is exactly what happened in New York last weekend. Here's the scoop fellow swing dancers. Traveling is the number one best way to improve your dancing, have huge amounts of dancing fun and see what the world of swing dance is all about.
There is no comparison to what you will learn while attending an out of town event. If an advanced dancer were to be asked what they would consider to be the most crucial aspect to learning swing dancing, 100 % of them would say, "TRAVEL!!!!." It is amazing to see what other regions of the United States and World have to offer. You will see steps you didn't know existed, workshops that will blow your mind, and dances with more energy than you can imagine. There really is nothing like it. If this is still not enough to get you to travel, then how about this. You can do it on a budget!
Not only can you travel all over the world swing dancing, you can do it at an unbelievably low cost. The reason is hosting. This means you stay at a local dancers home free of charge. All you have to do is contact the scene you will be visiting via the internet and ask if someone would be willing to host you on the dates you will be traveling. The best thing about hosting is that you get to meet the dancers of that scene and make new friends. Most scenes are willing to host people even when there isn't a big event going on. For example, two girls out of Montreal, Canada wanted to take a road trip of the US. They ended up traveling for six months and stayed with swing dancers the entire time. What other community or club can offer such a great thing as hosting?
Last, but not least, traveling to swing events out side of your local scene can be some of the most fun times you will ever experience while being a dancer. There is the social aspect, site seeing, dancing, contests, shows, etc. You will never dance as much, stay up as late, take as many pictures, and just simply watch as many amazing dances. There just isn't a comparison. Although the AZ scene has a lot to offer, keep this in mind. It's about the global, not just the local.
Written by Trisha Anderson.