Yeah Baby, I'm a Swinger!

No, not that kind of swinger. The dancing kind. Specifically, west coast swing.

I LOVE IT!!

So I realized that I've been dancing for about ten months now (although I've only been a west coaster for three) and most of the people who read this blog don't know and probably won't get to see me dance until I start uploading competition videos, and I'm guessing that won't happen until my kids are grown (a few more years).

So anyway, since I had no idea what west coast swing was until I saw folks dancing at the club, I figured most of you don't know either. Well, being the sharing kind of blogger that I am, I thought today would be perfect. If you have a little time, here are several videos for you to sample.

Let me just say this first. What really draws me to west coast is that it is most often danced to the kinds of music I like best, and it has the added benefit of being a partner dance. So it's club dancing with flair. Or salsa toned down. Or rockin', bluesy, sexy, fun to move to the music, kind of dancing. When I tried to describe why I love this dance, I thought, this dance is how I feel on the inside. You know, that part of you that isn't embarrassed or afraid. The part that is just alive. Yeah, that's what it is to me.

So the first video starts with the most basic (I can do all of those moves), and then there's one I'm aspiring to now that I've joined a swing club on Thursday nights. The third one showcases the instructor couple I'm dying to take lessons from (but they are on the other side of town, so for now, not yet), and the final one has some national champions just cutting some serious rug (like wowsers...and to think they were in Houston last weekend and I missed them)!

Enjoy!

Oh, and let me know what you think, ok?



Forest and Yolanda at Waltz Across Texas, in Houston, Oct. 2007
(event sponsored by Texas Two-Steppers...my dance studio peeps)



Unnamed Improvisors
(This is my goal for my one year dancing anniversary in June!)


WARNING: Video camera operator is enthusiastically loud,
watch your volume!

Lisa and Damon D'Amico (my dream teachers), in Seattle



Michael Kielbasa and Jennifer Deluca
1st Place Winners at America's Classic, Houston, 2007

Aaaaaahhhhhh....it's good to be Swing! =)


© Nicole J. Williams, 2007, all rights reserved.