Swing Dance Society keeps big swing era alive

By Jen McShane
Collegian Staff
February 21, 2007

Have you ever wondered what a “jitterbug” is, and how to do it? Have you ever sat back and watched a movie where the characters were swing dancing? If the answer is no, think of It’s a Wonderful Life and the scene at the high school dance. Many of the people in that scene were swing dancing, a style of dance that has been around since the 1920s and was extremely popular even into the 1950s and 1960s. While swing dancing has decreased in popularity, is appears that this fast-paced dance style may be making a comeback.

The Philadelphia Swing Dance Society is making a major contribution to bring back the popularity of swing dancing. The Society is a volunteer organization that offers classes on the art of swing dancing and sponsors dances twice a month. No experience is necessary, as the Society offers pre-dance beginner lessons and special workshops to help people learn the style of swing dancing.

The Swing Dance Society started in November 1987 after a group of dancers decided that swing dancing would be a great experience for the Philadelphia region. From that point, it has evolved to be one of the nation’s largest nonprofit swing dance organizations.

The lindy, or eight-count, is a fast-growing swing dance in Philadelphia and is more involved than the jitterbug. The jitterbug is also called six-count or East Coast Swing.

Think you may be interested in going to a dance? Admission to the dances generally runs about $12. However, students with ID will receive $3 off the admission price, or a person can bring a baked good to the dance and also receive $3 off of admission.

Dances are held twice a month, normally on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Dress is casual and smoking is not permitted at any Swing Dance Society event. Also, partners are not required to be admitted into the dances. The culture of most of the Society’s swing dances encourages participants to dance with different partners throughout the night.

Lessons for beginners are free with the price of admission. The dances typically run from 8:45 p.m. until midnight. Beginner jitterbug is taught from 7-7:45 p.m. Beginner lindy is from 7:45-8:30 p.m.

Participants in the Society’s dances are a variety of ages. According to the Society’s Web site, the majority of particpants on an average night are under 30 or in their early 30s.

The next dance sponsored by the Swing Dance Society will be held March 10 at Felinton Hall on Paxton Hollow Road in Broomall, Pa. Live swing music is included at every dance, and the March 10 dance will feature Melissa Martin and the Mighty Rhythm Kings.

The society will host its annual “Swing into Spring” March 24 at the Commodore Barry Club. This event features what the society calls a “true big band,” The Walt Wagner Big Swing Band.

So if you feel like swing dancing and decide to check out the dances, you’ll be able to learn the difference between a “Boogie Woogie” and a “Jive.”

mcshanej2@lasalle.edu