Swing Dance Organizations and Lindy Hop Dance Communities There are different folks and different groups of people with different notions of what is "swing". Sometimes some folks feel that that's a bad thing, and that all should be "united". While there may be overlapping interests, it is not clear to me that one groups needs to convert, include, control or otherwise impose its culture on another. The following is an attempt to contrast tendencies in the views and feelings of two kinds of "swing" dancers, as a basis for thinking and talking about these differences. My feeling is that it's o.k. to acknowledge that there are differences, to learn from each other, and to refrain from trying to steer each other's canoe. I'm hoping that through this forum we may be able to refine the words, to the satisfaction of both sides ... let our purpose be to recognise and live comfortably with our differences, rather than trying to assimilate. Swing Dance Organizations A formally organised B member focussed C "promote, teach and preserve all forms of swing dance" D swing is a kind of *dance*, defined by steps. E these steps can be done to all sorts of music, including R'N'R, C&W, Disco, ... swing music is what you get when you set the sequencer to "swing". (swing eights, shuffle rhythm). Rooted in the 1950's. Swing music has a strong up-beat. It rocks! Jump-Blues, R&B, R'N'R, C&W, Disco, Salsa, Ska, Punk, Rockabilly, Neoswing -- it's all swing music. F 6-count basic, 8-count, standards, dancesport, franchises, dance-institutions G different dance cultures - ballroom, C&W, etc. H dancers tend to do other modern dances - Salsa, Disco I anything that calls itself swing belongs J desire to expand, to convert, to include ... K come to us -- we give you a variety of (recorded) music and of dances L Lindy Hop is a complex dance with many steps. Learn ECS first. M All should be united N The organization diversifies and evolves with market forces. The original purpose dies, as the organization lives. -- Hustle, NC2S, Modern Jive, perhaps Salsa are embraced, as popular music changes. Lindy Hoppers A don't fence me in B community focussed C the music is the key. feel the music D swing is the music. jazz music. Afro-American. Rooted in the 1930's. E lindy hop is an Afro-American Jazz dance that evolved with Swing music. swing music has a strong flow, not a strong beat. It's easy, playful. It has flavour. It breathes. Swing music is pure joy. It puts a smile on your face. Swing music is simply called "swing". If it's *called* something else, it *is*s something else. It's not the repertoire, it's the style, the way that it's played. F feeling, passion, respect for the culture and history of our music and dance G focussed on own tradition; not interested in other cultures - ballroom, C&W H dancers tend to do other traditional dances - Charleston, Ragtime, Blues, Folk I not interested in neoswing, hustle, etc. J no desire to be adopted, controlled, defined or included by institutions K can't get enough of the (live!) music and the dance that we love so much! L Lindy Hop is about feeling the music and being in tune with your partner. -- natural, grounded, gentle, playful - pure joy, energy, vitality M Peaceful co-existence, each supporting what they find supportable in the other N The purpose is most essential. Not size, money, or mainstream popularity.