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I'm not sure why but swing dancing stirs something in me, more so than any other type of dance. It begins upon entering the room. The buzzing of energy seems to radiate off the walls. Yehoodi's weekly Frim Fram Jam party at Club 412 is practically vibrating and you can't help but feel it the second you walk in. The space is narrow (yet still plenty of space to dance), but you'll see some great dancing there. The room is divided into two halves, one side is for advanced dancers and one side is for beginners. The party starts early and while it runs until 1 am you're better off coming early, as the party dies down around 11 pm. Swing dancing originated in the 1920s. The amazing aerials which come to mind when you mention swing dancing were discovered on the floors of the Savoy ballroom in New York by Frankie Manning to the music of the famous big band leaders of the time. Swing was more of a crazy rebellious dance at that time and over the years swing venues have developed an almost cult like following. People discover swing dancing and just get hooked, returning week after week to their favorite spots. Club 412 is a favorite amongst New York City swing dancers. The movements of swing vary greatly between dancers, with so many different styles. Swing is sensual with people rocking back and forth and crazy with people kicking and throwing each other in the air. It's sexy with dips and fun with countless swing outs. The floor is crowded with this menagerie of movements, but nothing is lost, every heel tap, soft little slide, and stomp off is felt in the music even if it is not seen. The people who attend are so into the music, you can see it on their faces, the way they move their bodies; slightly erratic yet rhythmic and almost poetic. Where else can you dance on the floor by yourself and look cool? Its not that you don't have your choice of a partner, but more that you can't sit still; you just need to move. Despite how well everyone moves together and how great it looks, there is an unspoken clash on the dance floor between the Lindy Hoppers and well everyone else. You hear " triple step triple step- come on Lindy Hopper" shouted across the floor from another dancer on the sideline. The friendly taunting is common but it's all in fun at the Frim Fram Jam. The crowd is mixed, lots of young people mingle with older dancers. When asked why one of the younger guys started his reply was similar to what you usually hear, his girlfriend dragged him in. Another girl states that her friends forced her kicking and screaming to come. No matter how they initially got into swing dancing, they keep coming back week after week on their own. Many of the dancers have been coming for awhile. However, even the more experienced dancers are willing to teach anyone a few moves. Frim Fram Jam is held every Thursday at Club 412, at You Should Be Dancing Studios. The studio is located at 412 8th Avenue at 31st street and can be contacted at (212) 244-0011. For more information check out Yehoodi.com and YouShouldBeDancing.net. The party starts at 9pm and ends at 1am. Its $8 to get in but college students have a special discount and only pay $5. See you there!
Swing dancing at Frim Fram Photo © & courtesy of Janine Silver |
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Swing dancing at Frim Fram Photo © & courtesy of Janine Silver |
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Swing dancing at Frim Fram Photo © & courtesy of Janine Silver |
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Swing dancing at Frim Fram Photo © & courtesy of Janine Silver |
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Swing dancing at Frim Fram Photo © & courtesy of Janine Silver |
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Swing dancing at Frim Fram Photo © & courtesy of Janine Silver |
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Swing dancing at Frim Fram Photo © & courtesy of Janine Silver |
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Swing dancing at Frim Fram Photo © & courtesy of Janine Silver |
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Swing dancing at Frim Fram Photo © & courtesy of Janine Silver |
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Swing dancing at Frim Fram Photo © & courtesy of Janine Silver |
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