Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective

The Common Thread: ECS, Lindy, Shag, and WCS Denise and I have spent our lives immersed in the rhythms of East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Carolina Shag, and West Coast Swing. While these dances each have their own distinct flavor and "Spectacle," they share a single, powerful commonality that serves as the "Rosetta Stone" of swing: the 8-count rotational move. Rooted in the original Lindy Hop, this rotational movement is the thread that binds these styles together. It is the bridge that allows a dancer to move with substance across genres. When we teach, we don't just teach steps; we teach you how to use this common ground to transition seamlessly from a 6-count structure to an 8-count flow. Understanding this connection is the key to unlocking true dancing pleasure. It moves you past the anxiety of "memorizing a move" and into the tranquility of "feeling the dance." In our recent intermediate sessions, we explored a truth that applies to both t...

In the world of partner dance, there is a distinct difference between "the spectacle" and The Craft . While many dance styles thrive on high-energy aerials and viral-ready showmanship, the Carolina Shag offers something deeper: a "Slow-Zone" meditation that connects us to the floor, our partners, and a storied history. At the heart of this discipline is the "Sand-Dancing" Aesthetic . More Than a Step: A Historical Necessity The Shag wasn't born in a ballroom; it was born in the pavilions and boardwalks of the Grand Strand. Our predecessors at Ocean Drive weren't just dancing; they were navigating the grit and salt of the coast. To "kick up the sand" was to lose your balance and break the spell. The result? A dance that became bottom-up . While the upper body remains a "Quiet Brain" of tranquility and steady posture, the feet engage in a sophisticated, rhythmic conversation with the floor. This "magnetic" connection—whe...

I n most social dance environments, the primary barrier for the beginner is not a lack of rhythm, but an overwhelming "cognitive load."   When the brain is trapped in the prefrontal cortex—manually calculating counts, steps, and etiquette—it creates a neurological traffic jam that makes true connection impossible. The Underhill Method is a strategic pivot away from this mechanical noise. By optimizing the physical "hardware" of the body through applied biomechanics and offloading the "software" of the dance to the subconscious, we unlock a state of structural telepathy. This is the path to sustainable excellence: a way to silence the mind, protect the body, and let the fingertips tell the story. I. The Vision: From "Cognitive Load" to Structural Telepathy In most social dance environments, the primary barrier for the beginner is not necessarily a lack of rhythm, but an overwhelming "Cognitive Load." When the brain is trapped in the Pre...

Y ou’ve finished the 6-week beginner series. You know your Rock Step from your Triple Step. You can count to six. But then, you walk into a social dance venue—perhaps our local Richmond Shag Club or one of our Collective events—and you freeze. The lights are dim, the music isn't the same track we used in class, and the floor looks like a chaotic, swirling puzzle. You know the steps , but you don't feel like a dancer . This is the "Gap." It is the terrifying space between Classroom Performance (executing a move when a teacher counts it out) and Social Dancing (navigating a crowded floor with a partner in real-time). We built our new 6-week course, "The Kinetic Connection Bridge," to close that gap. We are moving beyond the mechanics of "where do I put my foot?" to the deeper substance of the Carolina Shag and Swing legacy: the art of non-verbal conversation. It’s Not About the Move; It’s About the Movement In our digital world, we are often disco...

POWHATAN, VA – Underhill’s Swing and Shag Dance Collective is proud to announce a new partnership with the Community Matters Adult Enrichment Program in Powhatan County to offer free Beginner Swing Dance classes to residents of Powhatan and surrounding localities. This initiative represents a unique regional collaboration between Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks and Powhatan County Parks and Recreation . Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks is providing the lead instructor, Roger Underhill, a Recreation Specialist who has spearheaded the dance curriculum. Powhatan County Parks and Recreation is hosting the program, providing facilities to bring this opportunity to their residents. Dance as Wellness This program is more than just dance lessons; it is designed as an Active Lifestyle and Wellness program. Under the direction of Matt Spruill, Director of Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks, the curriculum was developed to emphasize the physical, mental, and social health benef...

The Morning After the Night Before You know the feeling. You wake up in the morning after an incredible night of social dancing—maybe it was fast Lindy Hop, high-energy Salsa, or Carolina Shag. Your mind is still buzzing with the music and the amazing connections you had on the floor. Then, you try to get out of bed. Ouch. Your calves are screaming, your quads feel like concrete, and walking down the stairs seems like an impossible task. You aren’t injured, but you are profoundly sore. There is an old gym cliché that says, "Soreness is weakness leaving the body." It sounds tough, but it’s biologically wrong. As dancers, we need a better mantra. A more accurate way to look at that morning-after hobble is this: Soreness is inflammation gathering to repair your body. Here is the science of why fast dancing beats you up, and why that pain is actually proof of progress. It’s Not the Speed, It’s the Stops Why does a night of dancing often hurt more than a steady 5-mile run? It come...