Welcome to swing town, where the hep cats and kitties go to jive dancing the blues away into the wee small hours of the morning. I am your default host James “Jimbo” Bretney swing dancer par excellence and I want to welcome you into my world.
Swing dancing – what is it? Swing dancing is a partner dance popularized by the late 20’s and early 60’s set to jazz standards. As I write, Mr. Artie Shaw is in the background playing “Begin the Beguine.” The basic dance, we teach in swing town is the jitterbug. It is a step – step - rock step. For gents, you will step with your left foot, then your right, then you will place your left foot behind your right and shift your weight to create a rock step. Ladies, you do the opposite. You do that and BAM! – you are officially a swing dancer or swing cat as we say in T-town!
Why dance? Good question, folks I think everyone should dance. I will have so much fun at a swing dance event that hurts me that not more people dance. It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. It is that good.
Enclosed is a music video, your humbled author wrote, directed and produced to give you the uninitiated a glimpse of the joy that is swing dancing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZuz8ggYpXY
I have also attached a few flattering pictures of your esteemed author to democratize any misconceptions you might have that swing dancers are effete elite pretty people with the social acumen appropriate of a Baz Luhrman cast member. We are just regular people trying to have fun.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=318301&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=1484928356&id=1484928356
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=318302&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=1484928356&id=1484928356
