Team Swingout Line video at the Dance-a-thon
Click picture to see the YouTube video
Diane Cheng
I am dedicating my fundraising efforts for the 24-Hour Dance-a-thon to my grandparents on my mom’s side, who both died of cancer. My grandmother was a strong presence in my life (my childhood especially) and I wish that I had had the opportunity to meet my grandfather; if he was anything like my mom, I’m sure we would have gotten along great. I would also like to make a dedication to my aunt, who is a survivor of breast cancer and one of the strongest people I know.
Compared to the other (amazing) people on the San Francisco team, I am a newbie to Lindy Hop, but I have a feeling that I’m going to stick around for a while. Given the plethora of fun and interesting things to do in the city, I thought I was going to only take Lindy Hop lessons for a month or so, then move on to something different. One year later, I’m not only still taking lessons from 
Nathan and Cat (pictured), but it seems that I’ve truly been sucked into the world of Lindy Hop – frequenting dance events around SF (ex. Cat’s Corner, The Rent Party, Lindy in the Park), participating in the SF Lindy Exchange, Lindy-bombing public spaces (so much fun!!!), attending a Lindy Hop workshop at San Luis Obispo (which has some of the friendliest dancers ever), and even scheduling my travel plans around Wednesday nights at Savanna Jazz. This 24-hour Dance-a-Thon is a new (and major) milestone in my personal journey with Lindy Hop and I am excited to meet and learn from all of the experienced dancers there – both on my team and from other parts of the state/country.
What do I love about Lindy Hop?
1. The dance itself is a lot of fun! I love the connection you have with your partner, the athleticism of the dance, the quirkiness of particular moves, and the energy of a room full of Lindy Hoppers. I feel like I have grown substantially as a dancer during the past year and there is still so much left to learn! Watching or dancing with people who have been at this for 5+ years is pretty daunting to say the least, but they give me something to aspire to. Which leads me to…
2. The people in the Lindy Hop community are amazing! With most activities I’ve been involved in, it’s the people that really get me to stay. Lindy Hop is no different. I have met so many inspiring, friendly, and good-hearted dancers in SF and beyond. Thanks to all of you for welcoming me so warmly into your fold, patiently teaching me new moves or ways to improve my technique, and not being upset when I accidentally kick you or spin off in weird directions (I still have to work on the dizzy problem…).
3. I love love love live music. Besides being a Lindy Hopper, I am a proud groupie for a handful of talented musicians. Their concerts are like a rejuvenating breath of fresh air that clears out all of the junk cluttering up my mind and leaves behind the simple belief that life is beautiful and happiness is 
simpler and closer than it seems. If you add the normal energy of a live show (the musicians feeding off the audience who’s feeding off the musicians, everyone feeling touched by the music in their own way and connected to one another) to the normal energy of a swing dance venue, you have a winning combination. My all-time favorite band to dance to in SF is the Fil Lorenz Orchestra (pictured). If you’re in town, don’t miss them!
Brian Zimmer
Click here to sponsor me in the 24 Hour Dance-A-Thon!
Anyone who knows me at all knows that I Swing. It has to a large degree become a part of who I am. I have gained many of my best friends through this dance. It has become much more than just a hobby for me – it is my passion, it drives me, and it provides a way for me to just let loose and de-stress.
Lindy Hop has given me a reason to travel across the US to see new places (Seattle pictured above), make new friends, take part in competitions, and learn from the best dancers in the world. Because of it, I have friends from Hawaii to Seattle to Ohio to Boston that I can call up and visit if I ever come through their neighborhood. But more than just that, it has given me a community of people in my area who I share life with and who encourage and support me.
Most of my close friends would also tell you that purpose and meaning are very central concepts in my life. For the most part, up until now the way that I tried to find meaning and purpose into my dancing was by teaching everyone that I could how to dance and show them the joy that can be found in Lindy Hop. The Dance-A-Thon strikes me as an amazing way to continue trying to give more purpose and meaning to my dancing. I am fortunate enough to not have been directly impacted by the devastating effects cancer can produce, and I hope to keep it that way. However, I can see the effects of it in the lives of many of my friends, and though it is in no way the same, I still share in some aspect of their pain.
Due to my obsession with science during school (and the fact that I’m a huge nerd), I was nominated several times in yearbooks as “Most likely to cure cancer.” I think it’s pretty obvious that on my computer science career path I will not likely be able to do such a thing. However, with your help, I can still contribute to the fight through the journey I am on with swing dancing.
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