Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective

"Are you sure this is it?" Pam asked from the back seat, her voice laced with skepticism my wife, Denise, and I had come to expect from past visits with friends. I glanced in the rearview mirror, a smile playing on my lips. "Positive," I said. "This is it." The car crunched to a stop in the gravel lot. Before us stood a plain, concrete block building that looked more like a forgotten warehouse than the destination I’d promised. The last light of Saturday was fading, and the building offered no clues to the life inside. I saw Susan shoot Pam a look that clearly communicated, What has he gotten us into? Inside the Modern Woodmen Dance Hall in Crewe, VA "Alright," I laughed, glancing over at Denise in the passenger seat before turning off the engine. "I know what you're thinking. But the rule of this place is simple: you can't judge it from the outside. Just trust us." We grabbed our cooler and the bag of snacks we’d packed. The fr...

Ever feel like you just click with one dance partner, but struggle with another? It’s not just about the music you hear—it’s about the connection you feel. A new study in Frontiers in Virtual Reality dives into this, showing how the sense of touch can totally change your dance experience. More Than Just Sound The study, titled " Feeling the music: exploring emotional effects of auditory-tactile musical experiences ", found that adding vibrations to music made people feel happier and less anxious than just listening to the sound alone. The researchers used special devices to turn music into touch, with actuators on the hands, chest, and ankles. This proved that our brains don't just listen to music—they combine what we hear with what we feel to create a richer, more powerful experience. Think of it like a live concert, where you don’t just hear the bass, you feel it in your bones. The Secret of a Strong Lead This is the key to a great dance partnership. The study chose to...

For too long, society has promoted the belief that aging equates to a steady deterioration of physical and mental capabilities—what I like to call the "long slow route" of aging . This negative stereotype can feel like a self-fulfilling prophecy, often leading us to believe we are less capable as we get older. But what if this pervasive idea of inevitable decline is fundamentally wrong? The key to unlocking renewed vitality and proving this old idea incorrect lies in the exhilarating, complex, and joyful activity of dancing . Dance is not merely a hobby; it’s a powerhouse activity that strategically works your mind, body, and spirit, paving the way for a vibrant new beginning at any age. Laughter lines are a roadmap of a life well-lived, and a beautiful testament to a friendship that's still dancing strong. Step Into Strength: Guarding Against Falls and Frailty Dance directly counters the physical limitations associated with the "long slow route of aging." It’s ...

Hey Dancers! We've all been there: You're in a workshop, the instructor demonstrates a beautiful new pattern, and it looks so smooth and natural. But then, you try it, and movements to one side just... stick . Your brain feels like it's fighting itself, and that "simple" left turn or right rotation feels like learning a whole new language. If this sounds familiar, I'm here to tell you: it's not you, it's your brain! And understanding a bit about how your brain is wired can unlock a whole new level of learning and enjoyment on the dance floor. My "Aha!" Moment: The Left-Side Labyrinth For years, I noticed a distinct pattern in my own dance journey. New patterns or complex movements that involved going to my right felt intuitive and clicked almost immediately. But anything requiring a sustained movement or sequence to my left ? It felt clunky, disconnected, and took three times the effort to commit to memory. I used to get so frustrated, but ...

As a passionate advocate for social partner dancing, I've been watching a trend emerge that fills me with both understanding and deep concern. It's happening in Carolina Shag clubs, in general dance halls, and at social events across the country: line dancing and other solo-in-a-group choreographies are increasingly offered as a substitute for, rather than a supplement to, partner dancing. And frankly, I think it poses a significant threat to the very essence of what makes partner dancing so special. The Allure of the Accessible: Why Line Dancing is Booming Before we delve into the potential dangers, let's be fair. It's not hard to see why line dancing has exploded in popularity: No Partner Needed: This is the big one. Show up alone, and you can still hit the dance floor immediately. No awkward asking, no waiting to be asked, no uneven lead/follow ratios. Lower Barrier to Entry: Most line dances are based on memorizing a sequence of steps. While they require coordinat...