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TEN WAYS TO BECOME A BETTER
SWING DANCER

Before proceeding to the "10 Ways" below, one overall piece of advice -- learn the original swing dances:
Lindy Hop and Balboa.  In swing dancing, you can't separate the dance from the music.  Learning and becoming proficient at Lindy Hop and Balboa will help you connect to the music and gain a much greater appreciation for the dance itself.       

Yes, it's true, at most Hepcats events (and at lot's of other swing dances), the pre-dance lesson is often a "step, step, rock step" type of lesson.  But that lesson is designed to get those up on the dance floor that have never danced before or that have very little dance experience.  So as you progress, don't settle for anything less than the original swing dances:
Lindy Hop and Balboa!  

1.  Go Dancing!  Classes, workshops, and practice are really important.  But those should be combined with lots of social dancing, so got out dancing!  Take advantage of the Hepcats regular swing dances and events with live music.  A swing dance event with good live music can be an exhilarating and inspiring dance experience.  Go swing dancing at other good out of town dance venues.  Experience different dance floors and dance venues.  Lindy exchanges are a good way to experience different types of venues and swing dance scenes.  But take note:  you should not attend Lindy exchanges in lieu of attending workshops.  A good rule of thumb is that you should attend 2-3 workshops (both weekend and one day workshops) for every Lindy exchange you attend.  Most people only have a certain amount of resources available for swing dancing; so use a majority of those resources to attend workshops!  
 
2.  Seek Out and Take Opportunities To Learn.  Attend as many good workshops, both Lindy Hop and Balboa, as possible.  Take a private lesson, learn from good Lindy Hop and Balboa instructors.  Lindy Hop and Balboa should be seen as a journey, not a destination.  Good Lindy Hop and Balboa dancers are life-long learners.
 
3.  Listen To And Learn About Great Swing Music.  Being able to hear and interpret the breaks and phrases of the music are essential if you want to be able to dance to the music, rather than just dance.  Note that there is a lot of music played in 4/4 time that people "swing dance" to, but that doesn't make it swing music.  (Go to a West Coast Swing, Ballroom, or a Bop Club event.)  Many swing dancers say that the ability to physically express and interpret the music you are dancing to is what "ties it all together". 
 
4.  Try New Things.  Sometimes dancers find they seemed to have reached a "plateau".  If you find yourself at a "plateau", do something different.  Analyze your basic steps and patterns and add something different.  Be innovative and get creative!  Don't be afraid to copy from other people, experiment.  If the new "thing" works for you, great!  If not, don't worry about it and move on. 
 
5.  Ask Someone You Trust To Honesty Evaluate Your Dancing.  Evaluate how you feel and look, not just your dance style.  Leaders:  are you making your partner look good and feel comfortable?  Followers:  are you letting the leader lead?  Are you dancing to the "beat" of the music?  Do you have good "pulse" in your dancing style?  If you enter contests (which you should), are you getting good marks from the judges, are you making the finals (especially for regional and national level competitions)?  
 
6.  Don't Get the Big Head!  Stay humble.  There are always better dancers, and there is always more you can learn.  Besides, if you think you're great, you won't be open to new ideas. 
 
7.  Develop Your Personal Dancing Style.  Everyone's body works slightly different.  Learn to incorporate steps and patterns into your Lindy Hop and Balboa that make you and your partner feel good and look good.  Be yourself! 
 
8.  Don't Be Shy!  No matter your ability level, don't be afraid to dance with different people.  Remember that the "beginner" dancer of today will some day in the future be an "intermediate/advanced" dancer.  Conversely, don't be afraid to ask a more "experienced" dancer for a dance.  This applies to leaders and followers!  At swing dances, it's quite acceptable for a woman to ask a man if he would like to dance.  (Of course, one always has the option to decline a dance, either ladies or gentlemen).  Dance with everyone - don't limit yourself. 
 
9.  Stop doing steps and patterns.  What?  Yes, at some point, you'll want to move from being a "steps & patterns" dancer to becoming a dancer that dances to the music.  Sure, we all have to learn new steps and patterns.  But dancing is all about connecting to the music and your partner.  Take time to listen to good swing music; feel the beat; become familiar with swing music phrasing, etc....  It's really not that hard and will make a world of difference in your dancing!      
 
10.  Participate in Jam Circles -- Enter Competitions -- Join a Performance Group.  One of the best ways to take your swing dancing to the "next level" is to participate in "competition" type activities (of course, friendly and fun competitions).  Participating in competitions, be it a jam circle, a performance group, a couples contest, a Jack and Jill contest, etc...gets the competitive juices flowing and is often a catalyst  for individual improvement.  Friendly and healthy dance competitions also bring excitement and enthusiasm to the swing dance scene, and often inspire other swing dancers to take their dancing to the next level!

See you on the dance floor!

For questions or information about Hepcats activities, contact Mike Richardson,
 info@Luv2SwingDance.com or 859-420-2426.

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For questions or information about Hepcats activities, contact Mike Richardson,
 info@Luv2SwingDance.com
or 859-420-2426.

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