Swing Dancing from the Movie Swing Fever (1944)
Since I’m having so much fun trolling around YouTube today, I thought I’d throw this post up as well!
Wednesday night, my friend Todd and I are going to take some dance lessons with my friend Tina and her husband Matt. Todd’s already taken a good two months’ worth of swing lessons, and has tried to show me what he’s learned but it’s difficult when you’re not in a studio with the right music playing and so on.
I know the utter basic moves for swing dancing… step to the right with a little bounce, bounce back on your left and bring your right foot back. (This is from the woman’s position obviously…) Outside of that, I’ve never been quite comfortable enough to really get into the spinning and flipping and twisting just yet. I’m hoping these lessons we’re going to (there will be three in total to start) will help with that!
This clip is from the movie “Swing Fever” (1944). Here’s the writeup of the original poster on YT!:
Swing Dancing from the Movie Swing Fever (1944). Kay Kyser and his Orchestra with Marilyn Maxwell performing One Girl and Two Boys, dancers – Jeanne Phelps Veloz, Don Gallagher, Lenny Smith. Brought to you by the San Francisco Jitterbugs
7 Comments
Oh, have fun! I love swing dancing. I took some classes when I was young and then when I was older I was obsessed (that’s a light phrase) with the Daddies. Their shows were amazing – -full of swing. I think I went to over 20. Ah, nice memories. I hope you have a great time. Swing is the ultimate fun.
I took swing dance too… It was a riot. I would say we should ” cut a rug ” ( I believe that is slang for dance ) the next time we hang out, but it has been so long since I took it I don’t think I would remember any of the steps.
Oh I love the Daddies, Jennifer!
Never got to a show though, I bet they were great!
Izzy – I know the basic already, it’s all the turns and stuff that I need to learn “professionally” (ie. not by watching old movies!)
We may end up actually taking some latin dance lessons – which is what I’ve reallllllly been wanting to learn for a long time. We’ll see!
So, are you going to post a picture of how you dressed up on Wed or what? I’m waiting…. And yes the Daddies were the ultimate show. I’ve got some great old poster comic books of their’s; since I’ve been slacking on your other plan to come up with ideas I should see if there are any good swing ones and email them to you — in fact I think I’ll check before the nights out. (I can’t remember what’s in there though).
Hey Jennifer – we actually wound up having to postpone the dance lessons…
I’m bummed, but I’m sure we’ll hit it up soon enough!
I’d love to see the comic poster book things!
Oh, that bites. You have plenty of time to swing though. Don’t forget to take pictures!
I looked through my book and box of concert posters and I can’t find my swing poster — lame. We just moved so I can’t find jack. The closest I found was a cool daddies poster book piece with a beatnik and a tiny copy of Howl on the table — but isn’t that more my blog stylee than yours? The eras sort of mesh. If you need a beatnik deal ever I will send it your way though. You inspired me to get out all my old daddies CDs… so thanks. I’ve been writing to swing all evening and will keep my eyes open for any cool stuff to send your way.
Yayyy! I’m so glad I had an effect on your musical choices for the evening!
Thanks for keeping your eyes peeled. I do have a Janis Joplin story (not unlike many out there) to share with you someday when you’re ready too. Was told to me by a Hell’s Angel at one of the local bars up here… lol