Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective

Friends and fellow dancers, For a couple years on this blog, we've explored the joy of swing and shag dance. We've focused on the steps, the music, the history, and the wonderful community we're building together. We've worked on the "how" of dancing. But I've always been fascinated by something deeper. I'm endlessly curious about the "why." Why does partner dance feel so magical? Why does it forge such a powerful, non-verbal bond between two people? I believe that what we learn on the dance floor—trust, non-verbal communication, being present, and moving as one—are the exact same skills that build incredible, resilient, and deeply connected romantic relationships. This topic is bigger and more personal than a single blog post. It deserves its own dedicated space to explore. That's why I am so excited to announce a new, separate project: The Kinetic Connection . This will be my new Substack newsletter, and it has a specific mission: to...

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...

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 ...

Intermediate Carolina Shag: A 6-Week Journey Intermediate Carolina Shag Dance Your Way to a Sharper Mind & Effortless Flow 🧠 Enhance Brain Health Connect dance practice with scientifically proven benefits for memory, plasticity, and cognitive function. 💃 Master the Dance Deepen your mastery of Shag's smooth style, intricate footwork, and partner connection. 😊 Find Your Flow Cultivate musicality and improvisation to experience the exhilarating "Flow State" on the dance floor. The 6-Week Journey to Mastery ...

The Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective's mission to rekindle the social connection and joy of partner dancing directly aligns with the extensive documented health benefits of dance, promoting overall well-being for individuals and the community. The collective's core mission is to rekindle the social connection and joy of partner dancing. They do this 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 communities. Their vision is to foster a thriving, inclusive cultural experience that enriches communities, promotes intergenerational connection , and instills a lifelong love of movement. The documented health benefits of dance directly support and are promoted by various aspects of this mission. Physical Health Benefits Dance is a low-impact, full-body workout that improves physical health, coordination, and flexibility. It also helps...