Swinging the States

After grabbing a few hours sleep I wake to get ready and pack my stuff so I can catch the train north to Seattle, Alana gives me a ride to the station and I head North on a 4 hour trip. Whilst sitting in the lounge car I meet Kate Brown who is heading back home. I convince her it would be a great idea to take her first swing dance class at the century ballroom 9:30pm that evening. Since we arrive in Seattle early we take a tour around down town, enjoy some beers, then Kate grabs a dress in Gap just before they close. Century ballroom is rammed, mostly with teenagers doing East coast, but as usual the Lindy lot are hidden near the stage or DJ booth, Peter Loggins turned up so it was nice watching some great Balboa dancers do there stuff. Kate’s brother is kind enough to put me up for the night at his apartment.

Monday morning I book a hire car until the end of my stay in Seattle, I developed a little dependence on the car through California, so decided to treat myself. Kate and I went to the Pike place market and went up the Space needle, usual touristy type things, then I said farewell and made my way to ‘Swinging Mondays’ at Sonny Newman’s for some great dancing with Seattle’s Hoppers, I had some fun dances and get to shuffle with a lovely Bal follow Joann Coker who’s DJ’ing the night. Towards the end of the evening I dance with Rebecca Hine who’s an Aussie spending 3 months in Seattle mostly for dancing. She offers me a floor to rest on (and a big bean bag). The house she lives in is full of dancers mostly swing/blues. It has an amazing wood floor which is often used for practicing in the day.

Tuesday I relax most of the day and head out for the evening with Rebecca and another housemate Alex for some blues at Waid’s Place, It’s my last taste of blues before I leave America, and I also manage to squeeze in some west coast with Rebecca who I’ve turned to the ‘dark side’

Wednesday I drop the car off and catch my flight home. I’ve met such an incredible number of warm generous people on my travels. I will be continuing my swing tour in Europe for as long as my savings can last. I’ll return to America some day soon as I haven’t even come close to absorbing some of talent that swings the night away on these shores.

I’ll close this swing chapter with some of my favourite dance quotes :

Any problem in the world can be solved by dancing.
- James Brown

While I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole. That is why I dance.
- Hans Bos

Dance is a little insanity that does us all a lot of good.
- Edward Demby

Dancing, is, for the most part, attended with many amorous smiles, wanton compliments, unchaste kisses, scurrilous songs and sonnets, effeminate music, lust provoking attire, ridiculous love pranks, all which savor only of sensuality, of raging fleshly lusts. Therefore, it is wholly to be abandoned of all good Christians.
- Puritan William Prynne

Trackback URI | Comments RSS