A bit of Lindy hop & salsa

_MAL9212, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

After skating on Sunday, I went to Chicago for a couple of hours of Lindy hop. I saw Lisa D. & Sara H. there, as well as these two happy dancers whose names I didn't catch.

_MAL9279, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

A bit later, I went to Container for a few more hours of dancing — this time, salsa dancing. I met some folks I had never seen dancing before, including Sara and Sanna, above. I also met Martin, right, and Alfred. I don't often meet the men when I'm out dancing, so it's nice to have a chance to learn their names once in a while. Actually, it's always nice to meet nice folks.

Dancing on Wednesday

_MAL8373, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

Wednesday night was full of dancing. After my salsa lessons at Sacuye, I went down to Chicago for the Lindy hop social. Mathias & Beate were there, and showed off some fancy moves.

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Then around 23.00, I went to La Isla for a few more dances. Liza was there and favored me with a dance. Pierre took a few photos of us.

Lindy hop lesson @ Chicago on Monday

_MAL8060, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

Monday was the last of this batch of Lindy hop lessons. I had a great time and actually got two lessons for the price of one because I arrived an hour early by mistake.

I have already signed up for the intermediate course that begins soon. Lindy hop is beginning to grow on me!

Emma & Peter @ Container

_MAL8029, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

I swung by Container for a bit of salsa dancing tonight. It was a fun couple of hours, but too short! I had failed to notice that they had changed their hours; tonight they closed at 22.00 instead of their normal closing time of 23.00. I suppose I should have arrived earlier! As it was, I only got in a couple of hours of dancing.

There were many familiar faces there; and I also made some new friends.

For more dancing, take a look at tonight's photos.

Me & Caroline @ Sacuye's salsa social

_MAL7645, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

Thursday evening, the fine folks at Sacuye arranged another of their excellent salsa socials at Chicago.

It was a blast! I danced with many excellent dancers that night, including the lovely Caroline.

Erlend took the photos that have me in them.

Lindy hop course @ Chicago

_MAL7253, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

I recently started taking a Lindy hop course at Chicago on Hornsgatan down on Södermalm. It's the same place where Sacuye has its salsa socials every other Thursday evening.

The idea to take Lindy hop lessons began to take shape my head about a year ago, when I was taking a salsa course a Chicago. Chicago is a club and dance studio primarily centered around swing dances; but they also have a few latin dance courses there too. Right after our salsa course was a Lindy hop course. So while I was changing back into my street clothes and getting ready to leave, I would hear the jazz & big band music playing and would watch the folks warm up, dancing all sorts of fun looking moves.

Then a few months later, I saw a documentary film on SVT called Swingen Anfaller (Swing Attacks). The film was about Herräng Dance Camp, probably the world headquarters of swing dance, including Lindy hop. I was reminded of Herräng when I went out for a bit of salsa dancing at Dallas night club in Austin last November. I was dancing and chatting with with a girl there. When she learned I lived in Sweden, she said “Oh, I was there last year to dance Lindy hop at a place called Herräng!” It's a small world.

Well, back in Sweden, I discovered Glenn Miller Café; this rekindled my appreciation of jazz music, and at the same time frustrated me because there's just not enough room to dance there. The place is tiny. Plus, I have not taken a swing lesson in years, and I was never much good at Lindy hop, the swing dance that seems to be in fashion these days.

So I started taking Lindy hop lessons and going to swing dance socials at Chicago. Now I'm most of the way through a series of 5 beginner's lessons in Lindy hop. The last lesson is tomorrow, and I'm sure I'll continue with more lessons after that because it has gotten under my skin!

Naturally, I have many more Lindy hop photos from the lessons and socials.

Sacuye Lesson

_MAL6057, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

Last night was the first Sacuye lesson of the season, and it was a good one. As usual, I was dancing too much during my own lesson to take many photos; but I stayed after and took lots of photos of level 4+ course. Above, Mats & Hanna practice the new moves. Take a look at the other photos!