Comments on: The KC Swing Scene

By: Monica

Monica — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:17:37 +0000

I got into swing dancing in high school around 1998 and was glad to be part of the swing scene when it started to gain more popularity in the early 2000s. I really enjoyed going to Sunday nights at 11th and Mass and Tuesday nights at the ECM when I could fit it in. Slowly, the scene started to change, and before long, nobody ever seemed to want to ask me to dance. Yes, I asked guys to dance, but it seemed they did it because they felt they had to. A lot of times I’d go and just sit there, watching, for several hours. I might have danced a song or two, and it was rare that anyone talked to me. Finally, I gave up on going because of this. It seems like the scene has had this downfall coming for a long time. I don’t know what to do to fix it, and I’m in no position to do so (as I currently live on the other side of the state). I wish all of you the best of luck in trying to revive this situation.

By: Allison

Allison — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:54:39 +0000

A few weekes ago I was thinking about the old scene when I started dancing. I started dancing in 2002 in Lawrence where it was mostly east coast swing at the time. The Sunday night dances were well attended until it started to turn into mostly Lindy Hop. This was was hard for those of us who didn’t know how to do lindy. It was as if “we” who had been dancing there (as 11th and Mass and the ECM) were being pushed out. Ed and Jenny were good about teaching classes before the dances on Tues night but I and others could not attend those classes. So dancing was not much fun. Then that summer Kenny started his swing bombs which had free lessons. Different people taught the lessons. That is where I learned to dance.(I think I’m just rambling now). So after all of this…when the scene was an east coast swing dance scene there wasn’t near as much arguing because the focus was to dance and have fun. It was not to become a great dancer.

By: Virginia

Virginia — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:50:41 +0000

Unification of forces is the only way to keep anything living. If we continue down this road of destruction the swing scene will be completely demolished. Seasoned KC dancers are moving to get away from it and I believe that if we mend some broken bridges we can bring the KC swing scene almost back to its glory years. Some one said “good fences make good neighbors” however I believe that sometimes tearing down those fences is the only way to create a community.

By: Oscar

Oscar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:44:23 +0000

So how do we unify?

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:49:46 +0000

I know the feeling. It feels like the scene has been shrinking since I joined in 2000. I realize that there are times when things pick up a bit, and I have seen a little bit of an upswing (no pun intended) lately, but overall, the scene needs a *lot* of help.

By: Alix

Alix — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:44:49 +0000

You know the sad thing about all this is that even since I “joined” the swing scene at the end of 2004 it has shrunk considerably. I will not attribute it to certain individuals but I do think that the drama in general (as there is drama in all of the groups of swing dancers) has affected this scene terribly. I think perhaps that that is why we have so many groups at this point. One person, or a couple, get upset with someone(s) in their group for one reason or another and they split off. That’s why at one time there were about 6 swing nights a week happening in KC. We by no means have enough people for that many nights but people’s emotions run so high in this hobby. I have to say, though I’m sure you know this, that in any activity like this, where you personally express yourself and your emotions every time you do even one dance, there are bound to be conflicts. It is stupid and I wish we could all get past this stuff (I agree that I am guilty of it but I try to make it to most nights at least once in a while) and at least not hold grudges that impact an entire event. Anyway, I really should quit now before I go on all day… but those are my 2 cents.