Swinging into a ‘wholesome’ love of dance and community

Over 100 swingers joined the DalKings Swing Dance Society for a Valentine’s Day celebration at Dalhousie University’s Studley Gym on Feb. 7.

The event included dance lessons, a live 18-piece brass band and a blindfolded dance competition. 

Swing dancing — a high-energy, partnered dance style, traditionally performed to music by large jazz bands — has roots in African American communities, emerging from the jazz scene in New York City’s Harlem neighbourhood in the 1920s.

Jacob Savoie, a fourth-year acting student at Dalhousie, joined the swing society in his first year. He’s been in love with swing ever since.

“As someone who identified early on as a non-dancer, I said to myself a lot that I couldn’t dance,” he said. “Now, I dance a lot.”

Mark Manser, an instructor at Halifax West Coast Swing, joined the society in 2008.

“At an event like this, you can dance for a while, just go talk for a while, and you can go back and forth between those two things,” Manser said. “For people who are a bit more shy or new to a community, it’s a great way to meet a whole group of people.” 

Lola Ocana, a second-year Dalhousie creative writing and sustainability student, was a new swing dancer when she arrived at the Feb. 7 event.

“My friend Daniel encouraged me to come out, and I didn’t know anything about swing dancing,” she said. “I just went into the 30-minute lesson, got taught a little rock step, triple step, and then I was in there getting twirled around. It was so much fun.” 

Yeliz Christensen performed with the Tuesday Night Band at the event. For Christensen, big band music and swing have a special place in her heart.

“We always get so excited when we play for DalKings Swing Society because we know there’s going to be wonderful people dancing,” Christensen said. “Most of the time, I forget about singing. I like watching people. It’s so fun to watch.” 

The society offers year-round dance classes, runs weekly workshops and hosts special events, including an annual Seaside Shimmy at the Halifax waterfront.

Ocana said fostering connection is especially important during the winter months.

“It’s really lovely to see people from all different backgrounds and walks of life coming together on a Saturday night to do some swing,” she said. 

Savoie agrees. 

“We have a lot of people who want to do this and who want to keep learning, and Dal Swing does a good job of just being like, ‘Welcome to the group.’”