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Question: Is Swing Dancing tricky to learn !?!?!?
I love the look of it and the music!. I'd like to try it one day!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Like any lead and follow dance, the basic footwork is easy and you can normally learn enough to start dancing after a single hour long dance lesson, but you have to remember that it takes time and work to get "good" !. !. !. and when I mean work, I just simply mean going out and social dancing (i!.e!. applying what you learn in a class)!. also, you shouldn't expect or worry about doing "aerials" right at the beginning or on a social dance floor!. That aspect is strictly part of the performing side of swing dancing by experienced dancers!.

Swing is a social dance, so it's important to find a social environment where you can learn the dance!. (Online resources might help you learn more, but they aren't going to get you started!.) I recommend that you find your local lindy hop scene/instructor to get you started (where you can learn about lead and follow dancing)!.

Try searching you City/State on this website:
http://www!.thelindyhop!.com

You should try and find a "social swing" night!. At these events there will be a cost for going (anywhere from $3 to $10)!. The benefit is that at these venues, there will normally be a swing dance lesson for about an hour, and then social dancing for the rest of the night, and you never need a partner!



That being said !. !. !. there ARE some online resources you can watch to increase your knowledge!.


As a beginner, you'll want to start out by learning some East Coast Swing!. This is the easiest to learn as a beginner!. It's a 6-count basic, and stays in that basic!. It's also a standard ballroom dance, and is very easy to find a teacher!.
Here's how to dance it:
http://www!.youtube!.com/watch!?v=BuCqgF90H!.!.!.
You'll want to learn some basic moves like Inside Turn, Outside Turn, Cuddle or Sweetheart, etc!.

Now, unless you're going into competitive ballroom, there's really no reason to stick with learning ONLY east coast, you'll want to move on to Lindy Hop!.

Lindy Hop is the original swing dance that developed out of the Charleston in Harlem back in the 1920's and 1930's!. It's almost always danced to what's considered "swing music" by most people's standards (and is also called The Jitterbug)!. It's an 8 count dance that can have different variations!.
Here's how to dance it:
http://www!.youtube!.com/watch!?v=VVJu2q1cg!.!.!.

In addition you may want to learn other swing type dances like Charleston, Balboa and Collegiate Shag!.

There are a few free instructional videos on YouTube and Google Video you can search for, but I find the best online resource is:
http://www!.idance!.net
They have some free lessons, but most you have to pay for !. !. !. don't worry, it's only a $1 per video, so that's pretty cheap! (Try searching "idance" on youtube and googlevideo to see free lessons they've posted!.)

If you want a little inspiration about swing dancing, check out this video (It's from a professional Lindy Hop competition):
http://www!.youtube!.com/watch!?v=myJj0mNNe!.!.!.

I hope that helps!Www@QuestionHome@Com

No, it is no more difficult than any other dancing!. It is a bit athletic and a fair workout!. Modern swing is a bit more athletic than it was in the 50's!. It is more popular now than it was in the 50's!. Ballroom dancing was on it's way out!. It seems to be making a comeback!. If you can do your forms you can certainly swing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Swing was the first dance I learned, aside from slow dancing, and with my partner have won several contests!. Once you master the beat and the rhythm it's a fun dance and you can create your own moves!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

my lovely and talented wife and i took a lesson a couple of years ago!.!.!.and i figure that after maybe 3 or four lessons i may start to catch on, and i'm a bit on the slow side, so i'm thinking it's fairly easy to learn!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The basics aren't difficult at all!. The technique can take some work, especially if you want to learn several different swing variants!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

dont know what it is!.

is it where everyone goes to a party then they do naughty things with each other, like swinging!?

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My daughter and her boyfrend took Swing Dance lessons in time for their prom!. They were quite good at it, then he broke his leg BMXing and they couldn't dance for the prom!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm still having trouble with The Twist so don't ask me!.Www@QuestionHome@Com