Dreaming of Swing and Carolina Shag in Our Community: Join the Vision!

Hey everyone,

Roger & Denise Underhill here, and we wanted to share something we've been dreaming about: bringing the joy of swing and Carolina Shag dancing back into the heart of our community. Like many of you, we miss the days when partner dancing filled our parks, bars, and community centers with laughter and rhythm.

Although there are dance studios, dedicated clubs, competitions, and dance event weekends that keep the dancing spirit alive, the spontaneous enjoyment of social partner dancing seems to have disappeared from the public eye. However, whenever we partner dance in public, we see that spark of interest and desire to learn and connect from people who approach us and ask, "Where can we learn to do that?" This is what has driven our vision of establishing the Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective.

A Vision for the Future:

We envision a community where swing, Carolina Shag, and other partner dances are a regular part of our social scene, where we can gather and dance together in public spaces, creating moments of pure joy. To make this happen, we've been thinking about:

• Building a community of passionate instructors: A network of teachers who love to share their knowledge.

• Empowering Dance Ambassadors: People who can bring the dance to the people, wherever they are.

• Creating a resource hub: A website (swingandshagdancecollective.com) with information on instructors, events, and learning materials.

• Organizing public dance opportunities: Finding and creating venues for social dancing.

Please Note: These are currently plans and dreams. This collective is not yet fully formed, and these resources are not yet fully available. But we wanted to share this vision with you and see if others share the same passion.

Join the Dream!

If you're a dancer, instructor, or simply someone who loves the idea of bringing swing, Carolina Shag, and any other partnered dance back to our community, we'd love to hear from you. Let's connect and see if we can make this dream a reality.

Here's how you can get involved in the early stages:

• Share your thoughts: Let us know what you think of this vision.

• Connect with me: Reach out if you're interested in helping to build this collective.

• Spread the word: Tell your friends and family about this idea.

Let's Build This Together!

We truly believe that partner dancing has the power to bring people together and create something special. While these are just plans right now, with your help, we can turn them into a reality.

Visit swingandshagdancecollective.com to learn more about the idea, and feel free to reach out to me at w.roger.underhill@gmail.com.

Let's start building this community together!

"Can You Dance To That?" - A Challenge We Love To Answer

On an early march evening at Atlas42 in Richmond, VA, we found ourselves immersed in the muffled, but vibrant sounds* of the Crain Brothers band. The air buzzed with energy, and the music, mostly a blend of classic rock, filled the smooth concrete dance floor. But amidst the rhythm and revelry, a question kept popping up: "Can you dance to that?"

Our response? A resounding, "Watch!"

It's a question we've heard countless times, often accompanied by a raised eyebrow or a skeptical glance. And it’s a challenge we absolutely adore. Because what we've discovered is that the partnered dance style we've cultivated, a beautiful blend of 6-count and 8-count rhythms influenced by Lindy Hop, Balboa, East & West Coast Swing, Bop, Carolina Shag and others, is remarkably adaptable.

We've learned to listen deeply to the music, to feel the nuances of the rhythm and the emotions woven into the melody. Whether it's a slow, soulful ballad or a high-energy, foot-stomping tune, we find a way to connect, to move in harmony with the music and with each other.

What makes it possible?

• Musicality:

• It's about more than just steps. It's about understanding the music's structure, its peaks and valleys, and letting that guide our movement.

• Connection:

• Partner dancing is a conversation, a dialogue between two people. It's about feeling your partner's energy and responding in real-time.

• Adaptability:

• We've learned to be flexible, to adjust our style and tempo to match the music. We don't force the music into a box; we let it inspire us.

• Joy:

• Most importantly we have fun. The joy of dancing to live music and adapting to the music is a large part of the fun.

It's a beautiful thing to witness the surprise and delight on people's faces when they see us dancing to music they thought was "undanceable." It's a reminder that dance is a universal language, a way to express ourselves and connect with others, regardless of the music's genre or tempo.

So, the next time someone asks, "Can you dance to that?" we'll simply smile and say, "Watch!" Because the answer is almost always, "Yes, we can." And we'll be having a blast doing it.

Call to Action:

• Have you ever danced to unexpected music? Share your experiences in the comments below!

• What is your favorite genre to dance to?

Happy Dancing!

* Sadly, the sound quality forced us to leave after the first set. The venue's PA system was simply too small, leading to excessive volume levels that quickly became distorted and unpleasant. What began as a promising performance deteriorated into an audio nightmare by the end.