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Jan 26 2010, 4:06 PM EST DeniseDiaz 264 words deleted
Jan 26 2010, 4:01 PM EST DeniseDiaz 370 words added

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I really appreciate your feelings about the swing dance and what it bings to some of
us that really like to dance. You are so right when you said it is all about THE
DANCE, and that's all. Maybe you could start a KEEP IT REAL column or something once
a month to vent some othe GOOD AND BAD feelings about how the swing dance brings out
in some of the REAL people in the swing world. It could be some type of therapy or
just a venting session. That's just my thoughts. But, anyway Keep Up The Good Work.
See ya on tha dance floor!!! James

l do know what you mean..l to have slow my role due to the different
personallity....Thanks for keeping real..Be Bless. Kristi


You are so right I saw the dance for the first time a little over 3 yrs ago and
loved it and wanted to learn when I started to learn i notice that people would sit
around the dance floor and pick apart a person's style it was like everyone would
try to out dance the other. Tonia


Denise in my opinion
You have acknowledge what I am sure
others are thinking, I agree with you.
HATS OFF TO YOU
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Frankie


Hi Denise!

You're so right. At times I really miss dancing, but it has become such a "clique"
thing. If you're not in the "in crowd" you don't get asked to dance. And because
some of the guys have gotten so good, they know they don't have to ask anybody
because they know the women are going to flock to them. And then with the merge of
the Swingout/WCS dancers, a lot of "our" men act like it's a badge of honor to have
all the white women falling all over them so our Black women sit on the sidelines.
I guess I'll try Salsa. lol Karen



Great commentary Denise! I believe that you hit it on the nail and also there
should not be all of this competitiveness amongst each other when we are all doing
the same thing but everyone may be doing a little something creative to be a little
different but we all have the same goal in mind....spreading the LOVE of dance!
Denise keep it up and return to the dance floor and let's show them that there can
be positive people who really want to spread the love of this dance. Trina


That is definitely why I quit dancing!!!! The good dancers look down their noses at
us!!!!!!!!!! Johnson W.

You are so right, if you are not a perfect dancer they will not dance with you. But we still have to try with someone else. Thank you so much for what you have said. That means a lot to the ones is not as good as some. Patricia


Thank you, Denise you made my day!
you are so right in the statement that you made and Thanks again for making.
Gwen


Denise,
You are so right about what you said. I can remember that we use to
dance ALL NIGHT. We use to dance and help and look out for each other.
Even though there we clicks then, it wasn't as bad as now.
Thanks for sharing and keeping us in the loop for what is going on in
the US. lol.. Hope to see you around soon.
Take care and God Bless
Lafayette


Denise,
I agree with you totally. I stopped dancing 4 years ago. Never went back.
I noticed that if you aren't a excellent dancer, guys won't give you the
time of day. I really miss it. When I took classes, I went alone and
didn't know a lot of people. I knew the steps, but didn't get a lot of
exposure. I was just thinking the other day about starting over. What do
you suggest is a good place to start, where guys don't mind helping you out.
Thanks Karen


Hello Denise, my name is Tony and my wife is Bridget. Your comments are
very refreshing as well as the comments from last month. I agree with you and in
our opinion this is the main reason young dancers quit and that is they get hurt.
And if a woman or man is respectful of himself or herself, then they won't allow
being disrespected so they depart never to come back in some cases. My wife and I
have been dancing for a year and we love the dance,and we got our bumps and bruises
and all of it was unnecessary. We think that in a class room, instructor's should
monitor their advanced dancers as well as instructor's under them to ensure proper
etiquette is being taught along with those basic steps we all desperately long to
learn. You have a great Philosophy for the dance that should be shared with every
dance teacher. Thanks for being you. Tony


Denise, this is James a person new to swingout. I wanted to learn because I
saw what you saw, great people having fun and acting right because it was all about
the dance. And unfortunately you are right there are people who have been blessed to
have more talent than the next person but who use the talent to say "you don't
deserve to be on the same floor at the same time that I am here" which is the ugly
attitude you are referring to. But I would never quit the dance but I would seek to
avoid those people who are trying to be-little me because I am not at there level.
That is why I love what you do and your messages are inspiring to me. Please don't
you give up and please don't you stop speaking up for people who just want to learn
the dance and have a great time swing dancing. Love James.


This is so true! It is the attitudes of others and they do believe that they are
better than the other person. I started out learning in Arlington and because of
the attitudes of the people there I stop going. I also tried other classes in the
Dallas area and they are even worst. You can't enjoy learning when the person that
teaching you is ego tripping and the others that have been dancing for a while act
like you are beneath them. I want even go to Black Clubs anymore.
I'm treated better elsewhere!
Daphne


Hi Denise.

I am glad that you shared your thoughts on why dancers stop dancing. I really do
appreciate all you do to keep us informed and to just promote the dance. Don't lose
heart!
I also took a break from dancing because of many reasons, one of which was feeling
inadequate and a bit ignored if I did not know the latest move. I also began
dancing because I LOVE to dance! I also love to watch others dance and enjoy
themselves. My prayer is that we will keep the fun and the spirit of unity in dance
and that we will show younger generations that we can dance together respectfully
and beautifully.
All this to say...Thank you my sister for your work and your patience with all of us
and please keep reminding us to do the right thing!
Gail


I think you are correct. people are quick to judge others based on what "they" believe a person should be, act, and say. Gail A.


Hi Denise!
You're so right. At times I really miss dancing, but it has become such a "clique"
thing. If you're not in the "in crowd" you don't get asked to dance. And because
some of the guys have gotten so good, they know they don't have to ask anybody
because they know the women are going to flock to them. And then with the merge of
the Swingout/WCS dancers, a lot of "our" men act like it's a badge of honor to have
all the white women falling all over them so our Black women sit on the sidelines.
I guess I'll try Salsa. lol



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Hi Denise, it's Al "Happy Feet" Dillard. First, you can post my reply! I stand behind everything I say about Swing Dancing. This includes Swing-Out, Houston Two Step Swing-Out, Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing and Chicago Steppin. You heartfelt post will not reach those who feel like they are all that, we can be real about this! However it may reach those who are being taught right now by the so call "I am all that". Lets be clear, not all teacher have a class. Most of them are on the dance floor when the damage is being done. Male and Female! Here is the biggest problem right now with this dance. No one teach our (African American) history about this dance. How many dancers know Frankie Manning or Shorty George? How many dancers know the mother of all Swing Dancing is Lindy Hop? How many people know African Americans created it in the early 1800’s and it fully matured by 1940. Why am I saying this truth? The true value of why we get on that dance floor lies in our history. If you don’t know the History you don’t really know why you are dancing, teaching or promoting. It really is that simple. P.S, the true value is the Dance not who share it with you. There is nothing knew about any pattern or move. It all has been done before by someone! There are only a different beginning, middle or end.