FAQ for The Swing Dance Collective

Frequently Asked Questions about Swing and Shag Dance

Welcome to our FAQ section! Here you'll find answers to common questions about swing and shag dance, the philosophy behind Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective, and the many benefits of partner dancing.

1. What is the overall philosophy and goal of Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective's beginner classes?

Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective aims to provide a fun, encouraging, and community-focused environment where students embark on a 6-week progressive journey to master the fundamental 6-count swing pattern and its variations. The core objective is to build strong partner connections and reinforce key concepts like rhythm, timing, basic steps, and transitions weekly. The collective encourages students to "embrace the joy" of dancing, recognizing that consistent practice is vital for progress. Instructors also play a crucial role in shaping students' habits and awareness, including teaching dance floor etiquette and leading by example, to promote a culture of respect and consideration for everyone's enjoyment and safety in social dancing.

2. How does the "Flow State" apply to social dancing like Swing and Shag?

The "Flow State," a concept by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, describes a state of complete absorption and effortless engagement in an activity. In social dances like Swing and Shag, this manifests as a "shared, collective state of optimal experience." Dancers in flow experience intense focus, effortless and intuitive movement where steps "just happen" without conscious thought, a loss of self-consciousness, and a distorted sense of time. The lead-follow dynamic becomes an "intuitive conversation" where partners' minds merge, anticipating and adapting to each other. The music acts as a "current" that guides their collective movement. Understanding flow helps dancers move beyond just perfecting steps to cultivating presence, making the act of dancing itself the reward. This state is achievable for dancers of all levels, from beginners executing a basic step to advanced dancers improvising complex moves, as long as they are fully committed to the process.

3. What are the key elements of "dance styling" in various swing dances, and how does Carolina Shag differ?

Dance styling refers to the unique and personal ways dancers embellish fundamental movements, adding individual expression, musical interpretation, and adherence to a dance form's aesthetic. It encompasses body carriage, arm usage, footwork variations, and overall presentation, and must be functional to complement lead-follow dynamics. Swing dance is an umbrella term for various dances, including Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Philly Bop, East Coast Swing, and Carolina Shag, each with distinct styling.

• Lindy Hop: Energetic, improvisational, with bouncy movements and emphasizes the "swing out."
• Charleston: Lively and syncopated, with distinctive arm/leg movements and high-energy kicks.
• Balboa: Focuses on close partner connection and intricate footwork with minimal upper body movement.
• Philly Bop: Smoother, more relaxed, with flowing, syncopated footwork, influenced by Motown music.
• East Coast Swing: Upbeat and bouncy, often with circular patterns.
• Carolina Shag: A smooth, graceful slotted dance primarily to "beach music" (R&B-based). Its styling emphasizes smooth, tight footwork "from the waist down," a relatively still upper body, and an extended, level arm connection, creating a gliding motion. It's a "slotted" dance, meaning partners move along a linear path, contrasting with the more circular or open patterns of other swing styles.

While many swing dances share common ancestors, their unique evolutions reflect different musical trends and cultural contexts.

4. Why is "body smarts" crucial for mastering swing and shag dance, and how does it relate to learning?

"Body smarts," or bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, refers to the ability to use one's body to express ideas and feelings. In swing and shag, mastering basics provides "body smarts" by internalizing fundamental steps and techniques, leading to intuitive and automatic movement. This frees the mind from conscious counting, allowing deeper engagement with music and partner. With "body smarts," steps "just happen," guided by an inner knowing as the body is "locked into the music." This enables dancers to interpret songs rather than just execute steps, and transforms lead-follow into an intuitive conversation based on subtle cues and shared momentum. It also fosters adaptability to different partners, songs, and tempos, promoting the "Flow State." Crucially, personal styling and creativity can only truly flourish once this foundational "body smarts" is developed through dedicated practice.

5. What role does music, particularly Southern Soul and R&B, play in swing and shag dancing?

Music is considered the "heart of the dance" in swing and shag. Dancers are encouraged to develop deep listening skills, moving beyond simply counting to "feeling the dang music in your body." This involves understanding rhythm, tempo (beats, measures, time signatures), and song structure (intro, verse, chorus, bridge, outro) to anticipate changes and guide movement, allowing for more nuanced and engaging dancing.

Southern Soul music, a key influence, is a "cultural touchstone" born in the 1960s from gospel, blues, and early R&B, often featuring deep grooves, emotionally charged vocals, punchy horns, Hammond organ, and bluesy guitar. R&B, emerging in the 1940s, blended blues, jazz, and gospel, characterized by upbeat tempos, strong vocals, prominent off-beat accents, and driving rhythms. Both R&B and swing share African American musical traditions emphasizing syncopation and a strong rhythmic pulse. As R&B gained popularity, swing dancers adapted their techniques, influencing styles like Lindy Hop. This deep connection between music and movement is fundamental to the joy, expression, and historical context of swing and shag dancing.

6. What are the main challenges facing the social partner dancing community, and what solutions are being proposed?

The social partner dancing community, particularly "oldies" dance scenes like Philly Bop, faces several challenges:

• Aging Demographics: The original dancers are aging out, with a noticeable lack of younger participants.
• Lack of Male Leaders: There's a significant gender imbalance, with many single women feeling overlooked because fewer men know how to lead or are available to dance with singles.
• Music Selection: DJs often play repetitive or line-dance-focused music, which can bore dancers interested in classic partner dance tunes.
• Venue and Logistics: Finding safe, conveniently located venues with ample parking, and the high cost of events, deter participation.
• Competition from other styles: Dances like Detroit Ballrooming and stepping divide the existing dance crowd.
• Post-pandemic reluctance: Fear and changed mindsets since COVID-19 have reduced attendance.

Proposed solutions include:

• Community Building & Outreach: Creating inclusive environments, empowering "Dance Ambassadors," and organizing public dance opportunities in diverse venues (like parks) to attract new dancers.
• Diversifying & Rebranding: Expanding music selection beyond "oldies" and potentially rebranding "oldies" events to appeal to a younger audience.
• Targeted Instruction: Offering classes that teach various dances, and explicitly encouraging more men to learn to lead through specific classes or inspirational efforts.
• Intergenerational Engagement: Recruiting younger dancers through schools and social organizations, perhaps through "challenges" with seniors, to pass on traditional dances.
• Addressing Accessibility: Securing appropriate dance spaces, like the portable Snaplock dance floor, to ensure safe and comfortable surfaces, and addressing cost and safety concerns.
• Promoting Dance Etiquette: Emphasizing respect and consideration on the dance floor to create a more welcoming experience for all dancers, especially single women.

7. How does Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective structure its beginner instruction, and what key concepts are reinforced?

Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective offers a 6-week progressive beginner swing dance journey designed to build foundational skills. The curriculum starts with Week 1: Laying the Foundation - The Magical 6-Count, introducing swing rhythm, basic steps (Single, Rock, Double, Triple), and open-position partner connection. Week 2: Building Connection deepens understanding of partner connection and introduces transitions between open and closed positions ("Send Her Out," "Bring Her In"). Week 3: Adding Flair introduces triple step variations (Sailor Step, Kick-Ball-Change, Stutter Step) and basic switches. Week 4: Expanding Movement focuses on turns and circles (Closed-to-Closed Circle, Tuck Turn, Triple Step Turns). Week 5: New Challenges introduces the "back-to-back" mirror pattern, a Carolina Shag style move. Finally, Week 6: Grand Finale provides a comprehensive review and introduces "The Sweetheart," a classic swing move.

Throughout the series, instructors consistently reinforce:

• Rhythm and Timing: Feeling the beat and grooving.
• Basic Steps: Mastery of single, double, and triple steps.
• Partner Connection: Non-verbal communication, moving as one, and anticipating movements.
• Transitions: Smoothly moving between positions and linking moves.
• Practice: Encouraging outside-of-class practice.
• Having Fun: Promoting joy and expression.
• Embracing Challenge: Recognizing growth in new, tricky moves.

Dance floor etiquette, including navigating spaces, partner awareness, and handling bumps, is also integrated and modeled by instructors.

8. What are the holistic benefits of participating in partner dancing for individuals and couples?

Partner dancing offers a wide range of holistic benefits that contribute to a more fulfilling life for both individuals and couples:

• Physical Well-being: It's a low-impact full-body workout that improves physical health, coordination, flexibility, and helps manage chronic pain by increasing blood flow, strengthening muscles, and releasing endorphins (natural painkillers).
• Mental and Emotional Health: Dance acts as a stress reliever and mood booster, promoting mindfulness by requiring focus on movement and music. It enhances creativity, reduces self-consciousness, and fosters resilience through overcoming challenges. The cognitive load involved in learning dance also serves as a mental exercise, improving sequencing, attention, and memory.
• Social Connection: Dance classes provide a welcoming environment to meet new people and expand social circles, fostering friendships and a sense of belonging. It strengthens relationships through shared experiences and communication beyond words.
• Enhanced Relationships (for Couples): Partner dancing deepens intimacy through close physical contact and shared rhythmic movement. It significantly improves communication by necessitating subtle, non-verbal cues and responsive interaction, which translates to better understanding in daily life.
• Personal Growth and Purpose: Learning a new skill like dance boosts self-confidence and self-esteem. It encourages authentic self-expression and helps individuals find purpose in the process of exploration, growth, and connection, embodying a playful approach to life reminiscent of children. The "5 C's of Dance" (Competence, Confidence, Character, Connection, Creativity) further illustrate this path to mastery and personal development.