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| Bounce! Russians Dance Swing |
Bounce! Russians Dance Swing “Imagine you’re an old tired Afro-American, idling about in the heat of noon. You go, bouncing as if there were a ball in your hand and you’re…
” I look in the mirror: dark-haired Russian girl aged 24, it’s -30C outside and I’ve got dozens of things to do this evening and tomorrow morning and the day after tomorrow. But as music is turned on, I start bouncing, counting to eight and smiling. I learn to dance swing.
A month ago I read an advertisement in an Internet community of my city; it was said there that persons interested are invited to a swing dance class. All I was to do is come and see, and as I had nothing better to do on Saturday evening, I took a sports form with sneakers and went there. Some young people were dancing to the accompaniment of Glenn Miller’s “In The Mood” (as I know now) and it was so beautifully, naturally and light-heartedly done that I decided to stay and try. It seemed at first that both my legs are left and neither wants to follow the instructions of the coach. But as the people in the dance class are extremely friendly and helpful, in a while I realized that I really CAN dance swing. And I like dancing it! It’s difficult to say where the term “swing” comes from.
In his book “Dialogue with swing” V. Fejertag refers it to Duke Ellington’s theme dated 1932 “It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing” which included this word. They also say that directors of a private British radio corporation didn’t like the word “jazz”, so announcers called the music of dance bands “swing”. The notion became essential for all jazz styles; in dance boom times between the two world wars swing meant a certain rhythmic tension that influenced music and public. In general, swing is a popular dance-oriented jazz style which was extremely popular in 1930-40; you find combinations of five saxophones, four pipes, four trombones and often a vocalist in it. Swing dance is an “epoch of entertainment” product; having deep African roots, both in music and in movement of a body, this dance absorbed in itself everything possible from dancing cultures of different times and people – from slow lyrical blues up to a mad rhythm classical Savoy Style (named after dance hall in New York). Dancers go softly, but are confident as large and to some extent predatory cats; springing steps indeed remind felines, whose bodies live in a jazz rhythm, simultaneously keeping the bearing. Dancing to jazz music has outgrown the fashion of a certain decade and became a marker of American culture; there are dance schools and clubs where people can enjoy the atmosphere of Charlie Parker’s times.
Remember the film “Blast from the Past” in which the main character goes to the jazz club and gets a standing ovation after dancing with two beautiful ladies.)
Swing dancing in Russia is represented by several schools in large cities; the education process and ideology are based on worldwide principles:
• It is a pair dance, that is why feeling of the partner – leading, following – is its major aspect. They say that sex is horizontal pair dance and those who can dance in a pair are worth a lot :)
• There’s a good mnemonic, or catch for memory when you’re practicing basic step: try to repeat a phrase “step, step, triple step”, that is how you get a good feeling of he swing rhythm.
• You change partners during a lesson (so that you can dance with anyone who has invited you anywhere worldwide).
• And, of course, bouncing – the visiting card of swing – should be kept irrespective of style.
• It doesn’t require special clothes and shoes – you choose the items in which you feel comfortable enough to dance.
Representatives of different schools normally meet at dance camps which are held in Russia, Ukraine, and Europe. I heard people say that masters’ classes in such camps may last up to 6 hours but surprisingly no one ever gets tired. As people change partners at lessons, they don’t have a problem dancing with s stranger who might even speak another language.
You have to remember that practicing at lessons is not enough, you’ve got to live and think bouncing, understand the philosophy of swing dances. That is why dancers help each other, exchange information and music, go to different cities to learn a bunch new of steps and see others on the dance floor. Within a city special swing parties and performances are held, sometimes a DJ in a club turns dance jazz for swing companies present.
All information concerning classes and going-outs can usually be found on the Internet; you can also find there links to music, stories about international camps and news about master classes. Swing dance hasn’t become as popular as Hip Hop and other modern dance styles, probably because not many young people listen to jazz, “a treat for intellectuals.” Swing implies the idea of relaxation and carelessness, which does not coincide with the aggressive music youngsters listen to. Modern dances are club-oriented; they put the personality of an individual to the first place, while in swing dance the relations of two people are of prior importance. - I need three fellows! Three young ladies haven’t been danced yet! – After we’ve tried basic swing-out step with he coach, we dare to try it with a new guy. All a girl has to do is follow her partner; there’s nothing interesting for her to observe on the floor or the ceiling or in the mirror – all she needs is in front of her. This dance is a demonstration of light street flirtation – you meet a person, like her or him, fun about, don’t promise anything or worry about your looks – you enjoy “the now” of feeling your partner. And it is a rare luxury in the modern world of worry, stress and hurry. |
| Average rating: 5 | Add 25 Feb 06 Ludmila |
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| Comments |
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| Alex |
How about Russian dances?
Why Russians always so much interesting in the western things. At my point of view Russian culture is one of the greatest of today's world. |
| Ludmila |
Absolutely :)) they say, Russia has always been in between Asia and Europe, so our culture absorbed traditions from both. |
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