Balance February 18 - 12

K I N G O F T H E SW I N G E R S

t h e manual

I thought
swinging was
something
else entirely

s
'
r
e
m
i
T
t
Firsuide to...
G

ACTION MANTRA
by GEMMA CORRELL

swing dancing
A

merican GIs,
Jimmy Stewart
movies, girls in pleated
full circle skirts bopping to the Glenn
Miller Band. Ah, swing. I love this
music. Jimmy and his unit were most
likely dancing the Lindy Hop, the core
dance at Swing Patrol, a company
that has made old school dancing
super on-trend.
With 35 classes a week across London,
including half a dozen weekly lessons
for beginners, I took a class with 40
people. A third of us hadn't swung
before, but fear not. They've figured
out a system so you can pick up enough
in an hour to dance without kicking the
hell out of your partner. Mostly.
 The class is split into leaders and
followers with most men choosing
to lead and most women choosing to
follow though, this being 2018, gender
roles were fluid.

SWAPPING PARTNERS
A big circle was formed by the 20
leaders and 20 followers with the
teachers in the middle. The follower
moves on to a new partner every
minute and by the end of the class I'd

swung with 20 women and
one guy, a lovely chap called
Tiziano. He promised me he
wasn't being paid to sing Swing
Patrol's praises but said his life
had changed since he found the
delights of the dance. 'Before
my life was split into week
and weekend. Now I do swing
classes and it's weekend on
a Tuesday.' Imagine a thick
Italian accent and a smile.
 

SWINGS AND GADABOUTS
Tiziano also made the point that 'you're
in physical contact with people here,
which is something you don't normally
do in London.'
Truth is, everyone holds hands
while they swing so if you find physical
contact with strangers off-putting, you'll
need to get over that quick smart.
Worry not, English readers. This
is a vibrant, warm and welcoming
community - you'll be dancing like an
American and sounding like an Italian
within minutes.
 Classes cost £10 for the hour. I'd
say wear comfy shoes and clothes
you don't mind getting a little sweaty
in. Of course they don't just cater for
beginners. At their weekend social
dances folks dress up in 40s and 50s
Americana and Lindy Hop till they
drop. See you there.

SWING THE NIGHT AWAY
For Lindy Hop
swing classes and
more, check out
swingpatrol.co.uk
for full details

12

Where
There are more
than 40 classes at
35 venues across
London and in
Brighton

Level
Suitable
for all

Cost
A mere
£10

Time
Sessions last
an hour

BA LA N CE February 2018

life coach corner
CHOOSE
YOUR MOOD
by SARA MILNE ROWE
Few of us are taught to manage our
emotions. Too often, when we're
under pressure, our automatic
responses take control, making us
nervous, snappy or overeager. We
might shout, close down or cry.
When you feel a mood take you
over, these things allow you to press
pause, return to neutral and actively
choose your mood.
1. Change Posture. e.g.: Sit up;
Smile; Pull your shoulders back
2. Focus on your breath. Slowly
exhale for seven seconds).
Founder of Coaching Impact and
author of The SHED Method:
Making Better Choices When It
Matters (£12.99, Michael Joseph)

PHOTOGRAPHY: IAKOVOS KALAITZAKIS, GROOMING: VICTORIA BOND

Jamie Glassman
finds it don't mean
a thing, if it ain't
got that swing
http://swingpatrol.co.uk
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance February 18
