Social Dancing in Anchorage, Alaska

Social Dance for Everyone - Thursdays, 6-8pm. Lesson by Katie and Dustin, and open dancing at Providence Extended Care (4900 Eagle St.), $5

SWING Club - 2nd Saturday of the month, Ages 12-20, Lesson by Katie and Dustin 6-7pm, Dancing 7-9pm, at TBA Theatre (8200 Homer Dr., on the corner of Dimond and Old Seward next to Skateland), $2

Swing and Social Dance - Sundays, 7:30-9:30pm with Dance Connect

Argentine Tango - Wednesdays, Lesson 8-9pm by Dan and Hiroko, Open Dancing 9-10:30pm, ages 21 and over, at Club Soraya, $5 dancing, $10 dancing + lesson

Latin Dance - Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays with Ritmovida

Contra and Square Dance - with The Dancing Bears

Kevin and Carla at BarSwingOna

Kevin St. Laurent and Carla Heiney demo completely improvised Lindy Hop at the 2003 BarSwingona in Barcelona, Spain.

Hellzapoppin'

Clip from the 1941 movie Hellzapoppin' featuring Whitey's Lindy Hoppers and Slim Galliard's "Hellzapoppin' Jam"

General Notes

Keep fingers loose, especially on turns. To be more responsive to your partner, keep tension in the arms and frame (upper body), and keep your arms connected to your body (no noodle arms!) – think of a G.I. Joe or Barbie Doll where there aren’t any movable joints. Be gentle to your partner, both physically and verbally. Try not to correct your partner unless the s/he asks for it. However, if your partner is doing something that might hurt you, then please, speak up! Be open to new dance and social possibilities. And most importantly, have fun!

Following

The art of following requires a great deal of sensitivity and trust. Your work is to interpret the gestures of your partner and transform those small motions into turns, pauses, and other moves. Following also requires you to allow the lead to dictate what move will happen next – be generous and give the lead this opportunity to make decisions.

Leading

Leads should be attentive to the music, and your partner. There’s no need to crank your partner’s arm, simply suggest to your partner that she execute a turn. Your work is to keep the dance musical, think of the next move to execute, and then lead that move with confidence – if you don’t know what you’re doing, neither will your follow. See what your leading produces in the follow’s movements – if it’s not what you expect, then try leading in a different way.

Follower's Outside Turn - Cha-Cha-Cha

Leads: Moves are led on forward, back, cha-cha-LEAD. Leads raise your left hand and allow the follow to walk under it – lead’s continue stepping to the beat while the follow makes their turn.

Follows: turn counter-clockwise under your right arm, continuing to step in the basic rhythm. Step left forward toward your partner, then turn around 180 degrees, putting your weight on your right foot while keeping your feet in place. On the cha-cha-cha, finish your turn, ending facing your partner.