Chris and I had a wonderful time at our first class in the Gotta Swing beginner series on Sunday night at McGinty’s in downtown Silver Spring! Here’s a video of what we learned:
OK, OK, obviously that’s not us. That’s Tom and Debra, the owners of Gotta Swing. But Chris and I did learn the basic six count partner step that is the building block of swing dancing. We also learned how to execute a basic ladies’ spin – or to be politically correct and in swing-speak: when the leader signals and then turns the follower. We also worked on how to move our basic step into a side by side step and do it in unison, and how from this side by the side the leader can push the follower out away from him, bring ‘er back in and then resume the basic six count step together. It was awesome!
Our instructors are the incredibly talented, funny and fleet-footed Dabe and Janelle. They are patient, accessible, skilled teachers. At the start of class, they divided the class into leaders and followers (traditionally men are leaders and women followers, however you can switch teams if you chose, no sweat.) During class, as Janelle and Dabe teach us each small building block of beginner swing dancing, they have us switch partners. This means that by the hour’s end, every leader has danced a bit with every follower. So even if you come with a partner or spouse, you are definitely not spending the majority of the class with him or her. During the registration process, the Gotta Swing team ensures that the number of leaders and followers is as equal as possible.
Dabe and Janelle, mid-move
After the first few partner switches, it felt very natural to have strange men and women’s hands in mine and I felt that I really was learning more this way than if Chris and I were simply working together the entire time. I learned how to modify my movements to different persons’ styles, rhythms, heights, comfort levels. I couldn’t develop a bad habit or misstep and then get stuck in the rut of doing it, for a brand new partner’s differences would bring me back to the steps we’re learning. The combination of the instructors teaching our group and then the group working together to learn is very effective.
After class, Chris and I grabbed some dinner and watched the intermediate class that meets right after ours. These dancers really know their stuff! It was inspiring to see how far we will hopefully come in eight weeks!
At 8pm the free dance begins, and EVERYONE (that means you!) is invited. This is where Chris and I spent a good deal of time dancing together to music, guiding each other and putting to use what we had learned. There were other complete novices like us doing our simple, sometimes clunky moves. Also there were the intermediates and complete swing dancing pros showing their marvelous moves. The best part? Everyone dances together! Pros dance with newbies, toning down their more advanced steps to help guide the swing freshman. Young people dance with older, tall with short, it’s so cool. Everyone is supportive of each other and the main vibe of the dance? Enthusiasm for initiating new members into the world of swing dancing!
I love it that I could move to the music without having to force three cocktails in my system or fear that my movements are too dated or weird, hootchy-mama or prudish. I got to dance with instructor (and swing dance DJ) Dabe, which was a blast. He was such a great leader, that even I, a total beginner, got to feel (more like pretend) that I was truly swing dancing.
Now Chris and I will be practicing our basic “Triple-Step, Triple-Step, Rock-Step” per Janelle and Dabe’s strict instructins until class meets again on Sunday. The kids get a kick out of watching us, and we can’t wait for next Sunday!
NEXT WEEK: I promise to get someone to film us doing our moves. No shred of dignity will be spared!
