Houston Swing Dance Society

From time to time, other than delivering Swing Dance news around town and making music suggestions to you; we also like to include our members in the club's newsletter process. This month, we've asked Chris Foster to tell us about his dancing experience. If you have any of your dance experience you'd like to share, please contact us at. We'd love to hear from you.

Second Cup Swing hosts their monthly dance at Taft Street Coffee (2115 Taft) Saturday July 26st at 8:30pm till Midnight. $4
 

 

Demitasse Dance every Saturday (except for Taft dance) 9PM @ Té House of Tea (1927 Fairview) FREE!!!

 

The Aggies are having their monthly dance July 19th @ 8pm. Click here for complete details and directions.

 

Four on the Floor is having a Balboa workshop July 12th from 11:45-3:30 @ Uptown Dance Center

• Join PotatoChips to post and receive periodic email announcements about swing dance events.

   

• Go to Houston Swing Out to join discussions regarding dances, etiquette, overcoming shyness, or getting a group together for movie night. It's all there.
  

Now that you have 2 months of Balboa and still can't get enough of it. Here's some song suggestions to hold you over until the next time:

Saratoga Drag- Luis Russell

Chicken and Waffles- Bunny Berigan

Can You Take It!-- Fletcher Henderson

What a Shuffle- Chick Webb

Blue Minor- Chick Webb

Man from Mars- Artie Shaw

Viper Mad- Sidney Bechet

Back Beat Boogie- Harry James

There's Rhythm in Harlem- Mills Blue Rhythm Band

Celery Stalks at Midnight- Will Bradley

Moonglow- Benny Goodman

My Melancholy Baby- Benny Goodman

Apollo Jump- Lucky Millinder

Riffin- Fletcher Henderson

It's Sand Man- Count Basie

Breakin' In A Pair of Shoes- Benny Goodman

Slip Horn Jive- Glenn Miller

Bugle Call Rag- Metronome All Stars

Traffic Jam- Artie Shaw

Casa Loma Stomp- Casa Loma Orchestra

Have you ever wondered if you're getting the moves you just learned in class right or needed just a little more time for questions you've been wanting to ask? How about just taking your dance to the next level? Well, we're here to help. Your HSDS instructors are here to serve new and old dancers by offering private lessons at a discounted rate. We understand not everyone need a full hour of private lesson, but just need some time to just clear up some questions and make sure the moves are done right. For $10, your instructors will give you 30 minutes of instruction time tailored to your needs. This is time for you to ask questions about what you learned in class, or improve on how to be a better dancer. To check it out or sign up, come by the front room between 6:30-8:30p every Sunday, except 5th Sundays. All proceed will be going back to the club to bring you more live acts, water cups, and other amenities we provide to our members.

The first time I tried Lindy Hop, I walked away frustrated, thinking "I'm never doing that again." Six years later, I can't imagine my life without it.

Long before any of that, I had developed an interest in big band era swing. When I was in middle school, among the first CD's I bought was a compilation of big band music from the World War II era, including songs by Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller. I enjoyed this music for years before I learned to dance.

I took my first dance lessons in a college class that taught several different types of ballroom dancing, including waltz, foxtrot, tango, and swing. Not surprisingly given my previous interest in big band jazz, I really latched onto swing. That particular class only taught the basic 6-count steps. Later that year, I was introduced to the 8-count swing out. As hard as I tried, I just could not get it. Other than the odd wedding here and there, I didn't dance for the next four years.

Then, two years ago, I was invited by a couple friends to take a class at HSDS. When I arrived and found out we would be learning the basic 8-count Lindy, I was a little hesitant. But somewhere in the previous four years of inactivity, something had clicked. I picked up the 8-count basic a lot better than I had the first time I tried it. My friends that invited me took the lesson that one week and stopped showing up. I took the same class, and haven't stopped since.

Since coming to HSDS, swing dancing has become a passion of mine. I love how it attracts people from all sides of town, from all ages and walks of life and unites them around the music and the dance. For a few hours a week, you can escape your routine and become another version of yourself that is quite different from the day-to-day. Because of swing dancing, I've met people I never would have met otherwise. In hindsight, I wish I hadn't given up so quickly after my first lesson.

~Chris Foster

HSDS's newly performance and outreach group, The Houston HepCats, will perform every first Sunday of the month at the Melody Club.  Come on out and support the team.

National Events

International Lindy Hop Championship
ILHC
August 22^nd – 24^th Join all your favorite dancers for workshops and competitions.  This will truly be the first event of its kind, recognizing the international presence and appeal of Lindy Hop, while preserving its spirit and giving the dance the respect and honor it deserves. This will be a world-class event with top-level competitions organized, performed and judged at the highest levels possible. 

If you're traveling or interested in more out of town events, please check out: Lindy Exchange or Yehoodi.