Our Mission

Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective's mission is to rekindle the social connection and joy of partner dancing by providing accessible instruction, promoting public dance events, and empowering a network of passionate instructors and ambassadors to bring swing and shag back into the heart of our communities. We envision a future where partner dancing is a thriving and inclusive cultural experience, enriching communities through spontaneous public dance events, fostering intergenerational connection, and instilling a lifelong love of movement.

The Flow State in Dance: An Infographic

Finding Your Flow

An infographic on the psychology of optimal experience on the dance floor, inspired by the Swing & Shag Dance Collective.

What is the "Magic"? It's Called the Flow State.

Have you ever had a dance where everything just clicked? Where you weren't just executing steps, but *being* the dance? That feeling has a name: the Flow State. Coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, it's a state of complete immersion where you feel and perform your best. Let's break down its core components.

The 7 key characteristics of flow, working in harmony.

1. Complete Immersion

Distractions fade away. Your focus narrows to the music, your partner, and the present moment.

2. Effortless Action

Movement feels intuitive and automatic. Your body just knows what to do, without conscious thought.

3. No Self-Consciousness

The internal critic goes silent. You stop worrying about how you look or if you're making mistakes.

4. Time Warps

A 5-minute song can feel like seconds. Time loses its grip as you become absorbed in the experience.

5. Clear Goals & Feedback

The "goal" is the next beat, the "feedback" is your partner's responsive movement. It's a constant, silent conversation.

6. Challenge/Skill Balance

The dance is just difficult enough to be engaging, but not so hard that it causes frustration.

7. Intrinsically Rewarding

The pure joy of dancing is the reward itself. You do it for the love of the experience.

The Shared Journey: Flow in Partner Dance

In social dance, flow isn't a solo act. It's a beautiful synergy where individuals, connection, and music merge into a single, collective experience.

🕺

The Lead

💃

The Follow

🎵

The Music

→

✨

Shared Flow

Regular Dancing

🤔 Consciously thinking about steps.
😟 Worrying about mistakes or judgment.
⏱️ Aware of the song's beginning and end.
⚙️ Feels like executing a mechanical task.

Dancing in Flow

🧘 Moving intuitively and spontaneously.
😄 Feeling absorbed, joyful, and free.
🌀 Losing track of time completely.
🌊 Feels like being carried by a wave.

Flow is for Everyone: The Challenge vs. Skill Balance

Flow isn't reserved for experts. It happens when the challenge of the dance is perfectly matched to your current skill level. A beginner can find flow in a simple 6-count basic just as an advanced dancer finds it in complex musicality. The key is to be engaged right at the edge of your ability.

Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective