Expert: David Lynch - 7/20/2006

Question
Hi there,

I took a VERY short class at school on swing dance this year and now that’s its over I cant get enough of it! I was told I was doing quite well but now that class is done I have no one to dance with nor an instructor to learn new moves from. So my main question from this would be, is it possible to practice swing without a partner? And how can I continue to learn more moves and become a better dancer?

Thank You for your time
Alex

Answer
Yes ALEX, YOU CAN PRACTICE DANCING SWING ALONE.
    YOU DID NOT INCLUDE YOUR AGE, TOWN, OR FINANCES,  SO I AM NOT SURE HOW TO ADVISE YOU IN PARTICULAR, BUT IN GENERAL HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR YOU TO TRY:

  IN FACT, IT MIGHT MAKE YOU A MUCH BETTER DANCER. IF YOU DO NOT PRACTICE YOU WILL START TO FORGET. THE LONGER YOU DO NOT DANCE, THE MORE YOU WILL FORGET.

    GO TO A SAFE PRIVATE ROOM OR PLACE: BEDROOM, BATH, KITCHEN, BEACH, FRIEND'S HOUSE, ETC AND DANCE TO MUSIC.  IMAGINE A PARTNER TO MAKE IT SEEM MORE REAL.
     USE A RADIO, I-POD, CD, MP-3 PLAYER,  OR EVEN AN OLD TAPE PLAYER FROM A GARAGE SALE.
    RECALL YOU FOOTWORK, NOTICE YOUR BALANCE, RAISE YOUR ARMS FOR IMAGINARY TURNS.  TRY TURNING  L AND R WHILE DOING BASIC STEPS. TRY MOVING FORWARD, BACKWARD, GOING IN A CIRCLE, OR TRADING SPACES WITH THE IMAGINARY PARTNER. AS YOU IMPROVE ADD A TOUCH OF YOUR TOE, A TAP, TWIST, A DIP,  A TINY FLICKING KICK DURING THE BASIC STEPS, INVENT YOUR OWN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BASICS.
    GO TO LOCAL LIBRARIES AND LOOK FOR DANCE BOOKS, VIDEOS, CD MUSIC. TRY NEW TUNES.
    GO ON THE WEB AND GOOGLE OR  USE OTHER SEARCH  ENGINES FOR DANCING, CLASSES, INSTRUCTION, TRAINING, FILMS,  SWING, BALLROOM, ROCK, ROCK AND ROLL, SWING HISTORY, BE BOP, EAST COAST SWING, LINDY HOP, CHARLESTON, LINDY CHARLESTON, WEST COAST SWING, TRIPLE SWING, DOUBLE SWING, SINGLE SWING, JAZZ DANCING, BLUES SWING, DIRTY DANCING. SWING MUSIC, AND DANCE CONTESTS.
    ASK MALE OR FEMALE FRIENDS IF YOU CAN PRACTICE TOGETHER. START SHARING EXPERIENCES AND STEPS.  YOU MAY FIND YOU WIL MAKE NEW FRIENDS THIS WAY.  ASK THEIR ADVICE.
    FIND MENTORS, ELDERS, PARENTS OF FRIENDS, TEACHERS, INCLUDING YOU PAST TEACHER,WHO CAN ADVISE YOU, IN DANCING OR HOW TO FIND OTHER DANCERS.
    CHECK OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS, NEARBY CITIES AND TOWNS, YELLOW PAGES PHONE BOOKS.
    WATCH TV SHOWS OR GO TO BOOKSTORES, GARAGE SALES TO FIND INFO ON DANCING.  VOLUNTEER TO TEACH OTHERS WHAT YOU KNOW. IT WILL HELP YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU LEARNED.

LOOK FOR DANCE CLUBS OR PRIVATE PARTIES WHERE THERE WILL BE DANCING.  iF YOU HAVE LOTTSA MONEY OTHERS WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE IT TO TEACH YOU MORE DANCING. I DO IT ALL THE TIME.  
    YOU WILL FIND THAT THESE SUGGESTIONS WILL OPEN UP NEW DOORS. NEW PARTNERS, NEW FRIENDS, NEW DANCES, NEW STEPS.
    LET ME KNOW WHAT WORKS SO I CAN BETTER ADVISE OTHERS IN THE FUTURE.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU, ALEX.

MR L.
MASTER SWING DANCER