[Dixielandjazz] Swing Dancers

[Stephen G Barbone]

On Jan 14, 2012, at 5:13 AM, Pat Ladd wrote:

> Personally I find their energy incredible>>
>
> Really?  We were all like that back in the late forties when all the  
> dances were improvised around a few basic figures and the phemenon  
> of dancers dancing in lines all doing the same routine would have  
> brought gales of laughter.
>
> Pat

Dear Pat:

Tell me about it. VBG  Seems I first played at a swing dance in 1949  
so I hope you are including me.

The current swing dance scene in my territory is indeed improvised,  
but around slightly more than a few basic figures, (just like  
Dixieland in all it's forms), vibrant, competitive, fun to watch and  
performed by a respectful and wonderful segment of the younger  
generation who, along with our band, are having a great time..

The many differences in throw outs, and the varying levels of  
expertise by the individual dancers and couples are, like I say,  
incredible. The two dance circles each night where each couple gets to  
strut their stuff inside a circle of peers clapping to the rhythm are  
a sight not quickly forgotten. Any couple that wants gets about 30  
seconds of fame inside the ring and the band plays music as long as  
someone is dancing inside the circle.

They are competitive, very different, improvised and very charming  
about it. Every couple gets a huge hand. Our longest song went for  
over 10 minutes at one such event as more than 20 couples went into  
the circle one after the other.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband