QUICK! I need lessons. This woman I've liked for almost 3 years asked me to go to a dance club because she's playing swing, and wants to dance later, but doesn't have a dance partner.

OH GOD!

Swing's easier than most people think. You just have to be gutsy and feel good.

Like any dance, have a good endurance.

That's my advice.

Ask her for a quick lesson. Nothing we can tell you here can take the place of actually doing it.

I just realized you're trying to learn from us.


Massassians don't know swing. We havn't since WWII.

Just be honest with her, tell her you're interested in learning, and that maybe she can teach you.

Well, I wasn't expecting to learn from you guys. But maybe a website or something wouldn't hurt. I only have until Friday to learn, so... yeah.

Also, I realized I don't even know what swing sounds like.

Isn't Zoot Suit Riot by Cherry Poppin' Dadies a sort of swing song?

But your best chance would be to ask her for some lessons, there's really not a better way (over the internet at least).

$20 and you'll be swingin with the pros :p

Speak for yourself. Granted, I'm not a master, but I still know it. The pretzel is my favorite move.

That's probably one of the most famous swing songs.

Anyway, do as what as already been said, and ask her to teach you some moves. Unless you outright lied to her and said you knew swing, she probably assumes you don't. And if she isn't stuck up, she'll find the prospect of you asking her to teach you cute. This has the prospect of being a very fruitful experience for you, provided you can laugh at yourself and she isn't a *****. Also, if for some reason you really want to get into swing, whither it be because of her or not, start working out. There are quite a few moves where you are moving the full weight of the woman around with just your upper body.

What's swing?

Girls love to feel better than you, letting her teach you will make you more attractive, and you will actually learn.

Hahahaha I think Mikus got the nail right on the head there. Let her teach ya man it'll go better for you.

Seriously, if you pretend to know how and you stumble, you will look like a doofus, but if you get her to teach you when you stumble she'll me like "Awww, I'm going to do you so hard"

Well I doubt those words are going to be said. :p But you might get the same result from a sympathy gift.

hehehehe

Bang.

I wouldn't bet the farm on it....

however, at least go in the knowing the basics.

For music, i suggest: "The W's" and "Cherry Poppin' Dadies". If you get bored with that try some "Streetlight Manifesto" or "Ruby Joel".

Brian Setzer Orchestra is da shiznit.

[edit] I don't know if this counts as swing, but I love In the Mood by Glen Miller.

In the Mood - that's IS a classic. Great song to listen to or play.

I used to be musical instructor/director for a local marine cadet corps. I had them playing In the Mood, and they did an awesome job of it.

Somehow, I don't think I'll be hearing those words from someone who's never had a boyfriend or even been kissed. (Mainly because she was home schooled... and is probably picky.) She knows I don't. I told her. I don't lie to women. At least not intentionally. Crap. I'm not so in-shape... at all.

Well anyway, I just sent her an e-mail, so I'll find out tomorrow morning.

Nervous. As. Hell.

See, in Finland, instead of a junior prom, we have the "Old Dances", which is admittedly more fun than it sounds. You have a partner, and throughout several months in beforehand, you have rehearsals where the school teaches you many many dances so that you've memorized all the moves (Waltz, Tango, Samba, Charleston, Lambeth Walk, Twist, Can-can for girls, Zorbas for boys, etc.), which you then dance at the event itself while all the boys have tuxedos and white gloves, while girls wear evening gowns. To be honest, the 21st century ones were the easiest ones, though they tend to require more stamina as they were faster and more energetic.

The Charleston, Salty Dog Rag, and Lambeth Walk are very easy compared to something like the Zorbas, or the ever risky tipping movement in the Tango. Really, you just need to be able to hear rythm well and to keep in step.

I had to do swing dance for a play once. It was all choreographed, but for someone who has never danced before, it was insane.
I mean, at first I was nervous doing it, but it really isnt that hard.
Just remember to have fun with it.

Well, it turns out she was "mostly just kidding" last night when she asked (which I admit I somewhat suspected). Yet she's still sort-of inviting me to go. So I'm trying to think up a way to accept without it being too obvious that I'm interested in her.

Surely you want it to be obvious? Or at least make her suspect you're interested.

I want it to be subtle at first, so she can get a chance to know me more before I "drop the bomb." Otherwise, there's a good chance I'll get shut down.

Also, I've felt much less nervous today than last night.

How about "Yea sure, I'll go. When is it?"

I already responded with (basically) "I want to go to hear you sing, too." Because she's singing there, also. And playing, I think.
And I hear her sing every week at church. So maybe she'll kinda take that small hint. Maybe not. :p

Zoot Suit Riot is a great song, but the band that made it, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, broke up. Sadly. They liked playing Rock in the first place.

Anyways, that song is a great example of Swing. Remeber, though, some swing is way more slower than that, but carry the same rhythem.

And I'm agreeing heavily with Mikus here heh heh. Take his advice.

EDIT: Don't learn from video's. But, the ever-classic movie, The Mask, has a swing scene in it. At the club.

Sh*t. She's on to me already. And is trying politely to turn me down/deter me from coming... without it seeming that way. Now what?

just show up and have a good time.

It was an amazing day when The Cherry Poppin' Daddies invented swing...

/me actually agrees

sheeeeaaat yeaah, boyyyy...

I went, had fun, back is killing me now.

Now that I think if it, my back probably hurts from helping the band by carrying out the heaviest damn equipment bag I've ever lifted.

It's quite a sensation when those vertebrae rub together like that.