Swing Dance for Life!

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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!

Filed under: Team Members by dianecheng