Level Up Your Partnered Dancing: Why Music Listening is Your Secret Weapon on the Dance Floor

This is the introduction of a lesson series that we will be introducing in the very near future, so check back here if this interest you!

A Guide to Music Listening: Fundamentals and Elements (Podcast)

Have you ever found yourself slightly out of sync with your partner on the swing or Carolina Shag dance floor? Do you sometimes feel like you're just reacting to the steps rather than truly embodying the music? The secret to unlocking a deeper connection with the music and your partner might just lie in honing your music listening skills. Our "Music Listening Basics" course is designed to equip you with the fundamental knowledge and abilities to do just that.

This series of lessons delves into the core elements that make up music, providing a framework for active and engaged listening. Think of it as building a stronger foundation for your dance. Just as understanding the steps is crucial, comprehending the music's language elevates your movement from routine to a truly expressive art form.

One of the most direct connections to partnered dancing lies in understanding rhythm and tempo. Our Lesson Plan 2 focuses entirely on these vital elements, teaching you how to identify beats, measures, and time signatures. Imagine being able to effortlessly feel the underlying pulse of the music, anticipating changes in the rhythm, and naturally aligning your steps with the beat. This isn't just about keeping time; it's about feeling the music in your bones, allowing for smoother transitions and more dynamic movement with your partner. The course even introduces the use of a metronome to measure tempo, helping you to precisely identify the speed of the music, a crucial skill for adapting your dance to different tunes.

Furthermore, our lesson on analyzing song structure (Lesson Plan 4) can significantly enhance your dance experience. By learning to recognize common song forms like verse-chorus and ABAB, and by identifying the different parts of a song such as the intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro, you gain a roadmap of the music. This allows you to anticipate changes in the music, plan your moves accordingly, and add variations that complement the song's structure. Knowing when a new section is approaching can cue you and your partner for a change in energy or a different set of steps, leading to a more nuanced and engaging dance. The course emphasizes the role of repetition and contrast in song structure, concepts that can directly inform your choices in movement and styling.

The "Introduction to Music Listening" lesson (Lesson Plan 1) lays the groundwork by distinguishing between active and passive listening and highlighting the importance of listening skills. It encourages focused attention, mindful listening, and active engagement with the music – techniques like tapping your foot or moving to the music. These practices train your ear to pick up on subtle nuances in the music that can inspire your dance.

While the course also explores musical genres (Lesson Plan 5) and the emotional impact of music (Lesson Plan 6), the understanding of rhythm, tempo, and song structure provides the most immediate and tangible benefits for partnered dancers. By actively engaging with these fundamental elements, you move beyond simply executing steps and begin to truly embody the music with your partner, creating a more joyful and connected experience on the dance floor. So, whether you're just starting your dance journey or looking to deepen your connection to the music, developing your music listening skills is an invaluable investment!

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!