November 10 Challenge: Swing I

Class 3 of 10:  I've wanted to learn how to swing dance since the "jump jive and wail" Gap khakis commercial from 1997.  Third Street Dance Studio, where I taught my last beginner session, was called the Best Ballroom Dance Studio by LA Weekly.  I discovered they had a beginning swing session on Tuesday evenings so Andrew and I signed up.

I have a few reasons for wanting to learn swing (besides that Gap commercial).  First, Andrew and I perform together and partnering skills will bring more to our performer repertoire.  Second, we hang out with people who are into the retro revival, so having the basics of this social dance under our belts will make us more fun at social gatherings.  Third, I'm trying to take ten classes this month and ten aerobic dance classes would probably kill me at my current fitness level.

I had a great time in the first class.  We learned the East Coast Swing basic step, an inside and an outside turn.  We got to change partners twice and really had a great opportunity to drill the technique we learned.  So much information was packed in the hour of class.  I was delighted that it was all about technique because that's what I really want right now.  And Andrew seemed to really enjoy himself, so that made the class even better.