Charleston. Lindy. East Coast.
Brass instruments blast out an upbeat, bouncy tempo. Dancers zoom around the floor. There is enough energy in the movements that you can sense the rhythm even without the music.
Such is the feeling when you walk inside the Russian Cultural Center on 19th Avenue East on a Thursday night for a HepCat swing dance. Dancers are almost transported back to the 1930s. Flashes of polka dots, suspenders, fedoras, skirts and cabby hats dance by. The music of Count Basie and Benny Goodman blares through the speakers.
GETTING IT ALL STARTED
Chris Chapman, 33, began the HepCat swing dances more than 10 years ago. He started swing dancing when he was 14, and when he went to school at the University of Washington a few years later, he created the UW Swing Kids, which is still a popular club on campus.
Around this time, swing dancing was becoming very popular again and Chapman's new club at the University of Washington began filling up. The community showed an interest in swing as well, and Chapman realized a new dance venue was needed not only for advanced dancers, but for beginners and those under 21.
"My weekly dance started out as a place that felt comfortable for my students and other beginners," he said. "A place that fit more with what was wanted by people who were already really into the dance, and the only regular event for the under-21 college crowd."
Although the target age group was originally the under 21 crowd, all ages can be found dancing their Thursday's away. There are of course, the 20-somethings, but it is not uncommon to see adults in their 40s and older. A big draw for everyone at the Russian Community Center is the sense of community and varying skill levels that can be experienced.
Ian Derrington, 25, has been dancing for a year and says his favorite place to swing dance is at the Russian.
"It's really nice because there's lots of really good dancers who are into Lindy," he said. "I enjoy dancing with novice people but it doesn't necessarily help me improve."
For other dancers, it is the adventure traveling back in time that draws them to not only the Russian, but swing dancing, week after week.
Ashley Howisey, 21, has been dancing most of her life, but only began swing dancing around September. Within this short amount of time, she has become fascinated by all aspects of it.
"People dress up and really embody the culture," she said. "That's one of the things that has really inspired me to swing dance."
Rock-step, kick, kick, kick back, rock-step.
The Russian Community Center, located on the corner of 19th Avenue East and East Roy Street, does not have all the flashy lights and attractive signs common to most buildings in the area; in fact, the building can be easy to miss. Instead, a simple, fold-out sign sits outside every Thursday advertising a $5 swing dance from 8:45 to 11:30 p.m.
Walking inside the actual building, dancers are greeted by someone sitting at a table, likely with a crowd of friends around them, waiting to collect the charge fee. And, if they are extra friendly, they may even offer a piece of free candy from a dish sitting on the table.
ENTER THE PAST
It's about dance, not design. There is no special lighting or decorations, but there is an energetic, upbeat vibe throughout the room. People mill about both on the dance floor and on the half-level leading onto the floor. Congregations of people who have already been dancing linger near two large containers of water in the hopes of rehydrating themselves.
On most nights, a table is located in a corner and has the sound system set-up. A small group of people are huddled around the DJ. Occasionally, a few of them meander out of the corner and ask people to dance, but often, they spend most of their time chatting.
Howisey said the Russian reminds her of summer camp in a way.
"The free water and candy, the small venue, the stage...It gives you that whole nostalgic feeling."
It is this nostalgic feeling that Chapman is going for. Toward the beginning of HepCat's existence, it was the only venue that had a weekly dance for all ages. As the years progressed, other dances came along that were all ages, and many of the same people that attended the Russian also went to those. A difference though, is Chapman has tried to stay true to the traditional swing era.
"I always have focused on keeping true to swing music all night, and keeping the fun and energetic musical style that it entails," he said. "Some of the earlier venues that aren't around anymore didn't know swing music as well. Often their big band stuff would be less swinging and the energetic music they played wasn't swing music."
It is hard to say what draws each person into swing dancing in the first place. For some, like Howisey, the culture and exposure to the past is a draw. For others, like Chapman, the dance form itself is so intriguing they have continued dancing for years.
"One thing is that swing, or specifically, Lindy Hop, takes everything that is great about dancing by yourself, and combines it with everything that is great about dancing with a partner, and then takes it even further," he said.
"Each dancer takes inspiration from the music, the individual flourishes of movement each puts into the moves, as well as playing with what they feel in their partner connection. Each dance allows for the creation of some fun stuff that neither could have come up with on their own."
Others love the interaction and meeting new people. Some go because their friends go. Still others begin as a way to meet people of the opposite sex.
"Although I primary started to met people and women," Derrington said, "I fell in love with dancing itself."
Step, step, rock-step.
To find out more information about HepCat Productions visit: www.SeattleSwing.com
Shannon O'Hara is a student at the University of Washington's School of Communication newslab. Reach her at editor@capitolhilltimes.com.
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