Post 7: A Passion for Swing Dancing

What’s your passion? College students all across America probably heard this question asked thousands of times while trying to decide on the ‘perfect’ college. I know I did. Hearing this inquiry over and over again, I finally gave it some consideration. What are my passions? After much thought and analysis, I came to the conclusion that I don’t really have one main passion. I’m passionate about a wide variety of things; one of these being country swing dancing .


Have you ever watched a couple swing dance? To me it is one of the most fascinating things. It’s amazing how the pair’s arms can appear so twisted up and get there with such speed and rhythm, yet they don’t actually get tangled or mess the dancers up. The lifts and stunts pulled by swing dancers are also spectacular. Over the head, around the waist, under the legs, to the left or to the right, there are an endless amount of tricks that the couple can do and still manage to stay on beat.

I can still remember the first time I learned how to swing dance. It was during my sophomore year of high school. Starting to catch the hang of it about the middle of the song “Fishin’ in the Dark”, I was suddenly shocked when my partner grabbed me around the waist and, before I knew what was happening, he flipped me upside down and back up again. Startled, I let out a little yelp, just as he set me back down safely on my feet. It was an exhilarating and liberating feeling, almost defying gravity. From that day forward, I never passed up a chance to go swing dancing.

Coming from a little town to the big city, I’ve found that not as many people listen to country music, which is rather disappointing, but I was ecstatic when I discovered the Pla Mor Ballroom , which holds country swing dancing nights every Sunday. Whenever I get the chance I try to go and improve upon my four years experience of swing dancing. I love learning new moves and tricks. Dancing with a wide range of partners, from very experienced to no experience and me having to teach the moves, I can truly say that swing dancing has become a part of who I am and is, and probably always will be, one of my passions.