Swing!

I found my way back to a long-term love, this past weekend:  swing dancing.  I had only been dancing one other time since March of 2009.  A confluence of events had conspired against my return to the dance floor:  breast cancer treatment, knee injury, and other detours.  Now that I am in my 40's, driving home from DC in the middle of the night is a bit too much; though for months I have caught myself tuning into NPR on Friday nights fondly listening to jazz for hours.  Then a few weeks ago, I happened upon an e-mail from Charm City Swing highlighting upcoming workshops with world class Lindy champions and dances with a live band, all for just $100 and here in Baltimore just minutes from my house.  I had to sign up.

Returning to swing dancing last Friday night, I bumped into many people I have not seen for the past couple of years.  Most of them had no idea as to why I had been gone for so long but were matter-of-factly glad to see me back.  As I took a few turns, I realized how much joy dancing brings.  After five hours of workshops on Saturday and then another dance, I was also reminded of which muscles are more uniquely used for dancing than other more recent activities.  I have been known to overdo it a bit.

I think one of the greatest treats was a musicality class taught to us swing dancers by the band members (the amazing Boilermaker Jazz Band).  We were reminded that musicians count to 4 whereas dancers count to 8.  They played three different versions of Honeysuckle Rose:  a 20's style, 30's style, and late 40's style.  They highlighted the various accents of the drums, bass and guitar and discussed the overall structure of typical jazz swing - AABA.  If dancers get it, then we are able to hit the breaks with cool moves.  There are also certain signature sets of notes or structures that end a song; though, of course, the band can play a trick ending.  One thing became clear to me, that the 30's style jazz is so much more sophisticated and beautiful sounding and more dance-inspiring than the boogie-woogie beats of the next decade or two.  I am sure that this is a matter of preference.  I would not be sad if I never ever heard another boogie-woogie song in my entire life.  Swing music, on the other hand, is a joy just to listen to and even more joyful with a little movement.  I can keep on going for three hours without even realizing it's exercise.

How much a part of my life will swing dancing now become?  I don't think I will get back to three nights a week, like it was in my late 20's.  Hiking, biking, soccer coaching, and community-building have all occupied some of the space that swing dancing used to occupy.  Perhaps it'll be a dash of dancing!