Underhill's Swing and Shag Dance Collective

We often hear that communication is the key to a great relationship. But what if the secret to a deeper connection isn’t about talking at all, but moving? According to neuroscience, partner dancing does more than just get you off the couch—it actually rewires your brains to be more in sync. Here is the science behind why taking a dance class might be the best thing you can do for your relationship. It Creates a "Chemical Cocktail" for Bonding When you dance with your partner, you aren't just learning steps; you are triggering powerful neurochemistry. The Trust Hormone: The sustained physical contact required in partner dancing—like holding hands or placing a hand on the back—is a primary trigger for oxytocin. This "bonding hormone" promotes deep feelings of trust, calm, and affection. The Reward System: When you successfully master a new move together, your brains release dopamine, the chemical associated with pleasure and motivation. Over time, your brain beg...

Have you ever felt like the last decade flew by in a blur? You’re not alone. As routine gradually displaces novelty in our adult lives, our subjective experience of time tends to accelerate. The years feel shorter because we stop collecting new, unique memories, essentially thinning out our memory load in retrospect. But what if there was an activity proven to flood your brain with novelty, enhance your memory pathways, and force you to be deeply present—making your life feel subjectively richer and longer? That activity is partner dancing. When approached as continuous learning, dance is a powerful cognitive intervention that acts as a profound "anti-aging secret" for your brain and your perception of time. Here is the science of how dancing makes life seem to pass slower: Stopping the Clock: The Power of Mindful Movement The single biggest reason life speeds up is the loss of presence. As skills become automatic—like driving a familiar route or typing on a keyboard—our brai...

Friends and fellow dancers, For a couple years on this blog, we've explored the joy of swing and shag dance. We've focused on the steps, the music, the history, and the wonderful community we're building together. We've worked on the "how" of dancing. But I've always been fascinated by something deeper. I'm endlessly curious about the "why." Why does partner dance feel so magical? Why does it forge such a powerful, non-verbal bond between two people? I believe that what we learn on the dance floor—trust, non-verbal communication, being present, and moving as one—are the exact same skills that build incredible, resilient, and deeply connected romantic relationships. This topic is bigger and more personal than a single blog post. It deserves its own dedicated space to explore. That's why I am so excited to announce a new, separate project: The Kinetic Connection . This will be my new Substack newsletter, and it has a specific mission: to...

"Are you sure this is it?" Pam asked from the back seat, her voice laced with skepticism my wife, Denise, and I had come to expect from past visits with friends. I glanced in the rearview mirror, a smile playing on my lips. "Positive," I said. "This is it." The car crunched to a stop in the gravel lot. Before us stood a plain, concrete block building that looked more like a forgotten warehouse than the destination I’d promised. The last light of Saturday was fading, and the building offered no clues to the life inside. I saw Susan shoot Pam a look that clearly communicated, What has he gotten us into? Inside the Modern Woodmen Dance Hall in Crewe, VA "Alright," I laughed, glancing over at Denise in the passenger seat before turning off the engine. "I know what you're thinking. But the rule of this place is simple: you can't judge it from the outside. Just trust us." We grabbed our cooler and the bag of snacks we’d packed. The fr...

Ever feel like you just click with one dance partner, but struggle with another? It’s not just about the music you hear—it’s about the connection you feel. A new study in Frontiers in Virtual Reality dives into this, showing how the sense of touch can totally change your dance experience. More Than Just Sound The study, titled " Feeling the music: exploring emotional effects of auditory-tactile musical experiences ", found that adding vibrations to music made people feel happier and less anxious than just listening to the sound alone. The researchers used special devices to turn music into touch, with actuators on the hands, chest, and ankles. This proved that our brains don't just listen to music—they combine what we hear with what we feel to create a richer, more powerful experience. Think of it like a live concert, where you don’t just hear the bass, you feel it in your bones. The Secret of a Strong Lead This is the key to a great dance partnership. The study chose to...

For too long, society has promoted the belief that aging equates to a steady deterioration of physical and mental capabilities—what I like to call the "long slow route" of aging . This negative stereotype can feel like a self-fulfilling prophecy, often leading us to believe we are less capable as we get older. But what if this pervasive idea of inevitable decline is fundamentally wrong? The key to unlocking renewed vitality and proving this old idea incorrect lies in the exhilarating, complex, and joyful activity of dancing . Dance is not merely a hobby; it’s a powerhouse activity that strategically works your mind, body, and spirit, paving the way for a vibrant new beginning at any age. Laughter lines are a roadmap of a life well-lived, and a beautiful testament to a friendship that's still dancing strong. Step Into Strength: Guarding Against Falls and Frailty Dance directly counters the physical limitations associated with the "long slow route of aging." It’s ...