EAST COAST SWING/JITTERBUG
   - Marla Archer

AT A GLANCE:

DATES:  4 Mondays, April 28,  May 05, 12, 19

TIME: 7 PM to 8:30 PM

COST: $30 per person, a one-time charge for the four March classes.

WHERE: Chapelwood Methodist Church 

QUESTIONS: sharonshaw48@yahoo.com

Of all the various social dances, Swing can be used for the widest number of possibilities.  Of course fans of Salsa and Twostep have a right to protest, so let me make my point.  You can Swing dance to Western music, but you can't Western dance to Swing music.  You can Swing dance to Salsa music, but you can't Salsa to Swing music.  Swing and its counterpart Jitterbug is a very useful dance to learn.

East Coast Swing works to a wider variety of Dance Music than any other style of social dance. Western dancing works to western music, Latin dancing works to latin music, Tango works to tango music, etc. East Coast Swing works to just about anything... Pop, Rock, R&B, Western-style Rockabilly, Oldies, Disco, Motown, and Big Band music. If you want one dance fits all, Swing is your answer.

Wherever there is music, Swing Dancing can be used.  Weddings, cruise trips, high school reunions, dance halls, you name it.  Swing is valuable because it can be used to virtually any kind of music… Oldies, C&W, Rockabilly, R&B, Beach Boys, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Disco, Big Band and so on.  Famous Swing songs include Rock Around the Clock, At the Hop, In the Mood, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Mambo#5, Tequila, Born to Boogie, I Want to Hold Your Hand, Brown Eyed Girl, Jailhouse Rock, Johnny B. Goode. 

Swing Dancing was created here in America back in the Roaring Twenties Jazz Era.  Swing got its start with the Charleston, transformed into the Lindy Hop, then became known as 'Swing' during the Big Band Era of the Thirties.

The official name for Swing is 'East Coast Swing'.  This can be a little confusing because there is also a dance known as West Coast Swing (Rock music, Disco music, R&B) and a dance known as Western Swing (Country-Western).  Adding to the confusion, there are two forms of East Coast Swing.  One is called 'Swing' while the other is called 'Jitterbug'.

Swing is easier to learn because you only need to keep track of 4 steps to 6 beats of music.  Jitterbug is trickier because you need to keep track of 8 steps to 6 beats of music.  Why are there two of them?  It depends on the speed of the music.  Swing is used to faster music, Jitterbug is used to slower music. 

Basically, if there is one dance to learn that covers all dance occasions, Swing is the dance to learn. 

So what is Jitterbug?  Jitterbug is a form of Swing with somewhat trickier footwork.  You should learn both styles because you can dance to a wider range of music this way.  As I said, Swing is used to faster tempo music, Jitterbug works better to slower tempos.  For further information, you are invited to read Rick Archer's History of Swing, https://www.ssqq.com/stories/swnghist.htm

Sharon's class will be held four Mondays in April (April 02, 08, 15, 22).  If there is enough interest, she will continue in May with an Intermediate class, then make a decision about June when the time comes.  To participate, just show up.  Classes will be held in Chapelwood Room YB 100.  The cost will be $30 per person

For questions, contact Sharon at sharonshaw48@yahoo.com

We have a Chapelwood website complete with maps.  https://ssqq.com/travel/chapelwood.htm

MAP OF CHAPELWOOD INTERIOR

use at a later date.  You are welcome to read it if you wish.

DANCE WRITE-UPS FROM 2023

SWEETHEARTS OF THE RODEO
   - Rick Archer

Rick Archer’s Note:

Our final month of Sweetheart patterns begins at 7 pm on Monday, June 3.  The June course will cost $30 for 4 weeks of Monday classes (June 03, 10, 17, 24).  Following a weeklong break for July 4^th, we will begin a four-month program in West Coast Swing. 

This coming Monday, June 3, I will teach my all-time favorite Country-Western pattern, ‘The Book of Love’.

 In Western dancing, there are three looks:

1.  Closed Position in each other's arms

2.  Open Position for Western Swing double turns

3.  Sweetheart position where partners start side by side, lady on the right.

 The lady is the Sweetheart, the man is the one lucky enough to be dancing with her.  Please reflect your pleasure at being next to one another by smiling.  The Sweetheart position in Western dancing is very popular because the girls face forward and rarely find themselves dancing backwards.  It is a nice feature for the ladies to avoid being forced to dance backwards all the time. 

The June Sweetheart of the Rodeos class will feature all sorts of fancy turns and clever moves such as Crossovers, Harriet the Lariat, Dishrag and the infamous Wild West Shuffle.  However, my favorite pattern is a popular combination known as "Book of Love".  This is a fancy series of moves best described as Triple Sweetheart.  The Book of Love combines Sweetheart, Cuddles, and Skaters back to back to back.  For those serious about romance, we have an incredible ending to this complicated pattern known as the Look of Love.  Women have been known to faint. 

 

Rick Archer’s Note:  Our class averages 60 students per week w a close boy-girl ratio.  Newcomers are welcome, but please be aware that this is an advanced Western class that must be taught as such.  If you would take the class, but are unsure, come early at 615 this coming Monday and I will show you what we will be covering in the 7 pm class.  In this way, you will know if this is class you wish to take.
 

Rick Archer's Note: "Sweethearts of the Rodeo" is by far my favorite Country-Western dance pattern.  Although many of the moves can be used to Polka, it works best to Twostep music.

This is a course in Country-Western dancing.  It is not a Beginner course nor is an Advanced course.  I suppose that leaves Intermediate, but a Beginner can take it IF YOU KNOW HOW TO TWOSTEP AHEAD OF TIME.  Although I am willing to meet people early on the first night of class for a quick tutorial, I cannot slow the class down to accommodate anyone.  I expect a class of 60 people who are continuing on from my April Chapelwood class.  They deserve to move at a pace they are comfortable with.

The name refers to the Sweetheart dance position.  Note to ladies: Yes, you get to go forward all night long!  No more of this stupid 'Girls dance backwards' nonsense.  This simple factor is one of the reasons the Sweetheart patterns are so popular.  The patterns are clever, they are fairly easy to learn, they have lots of easy turns for the ladies to enjoy, and, best of all, women enjoy dancing with men who know how to lead these patterns.  This class is a sure recipe for that wonderful rare combination of fun to learn, something of a challenge, but not too tough at the same time.   

I last offered this class two years ago.  I am fairly certain no one remembers a thing.  All they remember is that they had fun.  In Western dancing, there are three looks:

1. Closed Position in each other's arms

2. Open Position for Western Swing

3. Sweetheart position

In Sweetheart position, partners start side by side, lady on the right.  The lady is the Sweetheart, the man is the lucky guy dancing beside her.  The Sweetheart position in Western dancing is very popular because the girls face forward and rarely find themselves dancing backwards.  As I said previously, it is a nice feature for the ladies to avoid being forced to dance backwards all the time.

Sweetheart position includes all sorts of fancy turns and clever moves such as Crossovers, Harriet the Lariat, and the infamous Wild West Shuffle.  The hit of the class will be a popular combination known as 'Book of Love' which combines three positions known as Sweetheart, Cuddles, and Skaters.  Most people do not think of Twostep in Romantic terms.  They save those feelings for Waltz.  However, tor those serious about dance and romance, we have an incredible ending to the Book of Love known as the Scintillating Slither.  Women have been known to faint.

Anyone with a smattering knowledge of Twostep and some Polka will do just fine in this class.  That said, I have heard there are a few people from California who have not yet learned how to dance Texas-style.  When in Rome, dance as the Texans do, the sooner the better.  For these people (and other states are welcome as well), we will have an emergency beginner Twostep class from 6-7 pm.  There will be no charge, just show up.  If you survive the emergency tutorial, hopefully you will have learned enough stick around for the main event, Sweethearts of the Rodeo.

 

 

PRICE: This is tricky, so read carefully. 

OPTION ONE:  $30 per person, a one-time charge for the month of May. 

OPTION TWO:  $80 per person, a one-time charge for four months of classes, May through August. 
(Option Two is only offered three times a year, January, May, September).

Rick Archer's Note:  From where I stand, taking a two-hour group dance class with lots of nice people for $20 a month is a rare treat.  We have a wonderful facility (Chapelwood), we have lots of fun and I am one of the most experienced teachers in the city.  I charge this low amount because two years ago a retired student asked me not to raise the price to $30.  Realizing she was sincere when she said raising the price was tough for her, I compromised with this $80/4 months plan.  Register one time and get it over with for four months.

Just so everyone understands, I do not teach for money, I teach for the satisfaction teaching brings me.  In order to enhance my satisfaction, I greatly prefer not to argue about money.  I understand that no one will make every class for 4 straight months.  So you miss a class, $5 down the drain, boo hoo.  For most of you, $20 per month is a drop in the bucket, so no complaining, no refunds, no asking for credit if you get a hurt toe.

If you wish to complain, you are welcome to pay the $30 fee which you will be pleased to know includes up to 5 minutes of sympathy per month. 

Upcoming 4-month Schedule:

May: Sweethearts of the Rodeo
June: Adv Western Swing patterns acting as continuation to the May class
July: Beginning West Coast Swing
August: Intermediate West Coast Swing

 

Looking ahead, our Fall schedule:

September: Advanced West Coast Swing
October:  Super-Advanced West Coast Swing
November: Beginning-level Sinatra Foxtrot…  The Fine Art of Formal dancing for Holiday parties.
December: Intermediate Sinatra Foxtrot

Rick and Marla met on a dance cruise in August 2001.  They were married three years later in September 2004.  are best friends who teach in separate rooms.    Marla teaches in Room YB 100.  Rick teaches in Fellowship Hall.  Chapelwood is a vast church, so click Map to see where these rooms are located.

Rick Archer:  rick@ssqq.com
Marla Archer: marla@ssqq.com

Classes are held in Chapelwood's YB 100 and Fellowship Hall... great wooden floor, complete privacy  (see map below).

Chapelwood is located in the Memorial area at 11140 Green Bay, 77024.   (Please see street map below.)

Stationary Waltz and Traveling Waltz

Rick Archer's Note:  In my recent Newsletter, I announced our "Waltz into Christmas" Dance, Monday, Dec 18. 

All proceeds from our "Waltz into Christmas" party will go to a Chapelwood program designed to give aid to struggling families at Christmas time.  Please see the website for more details.

In addition, I will be playing six Waltzes that evening to reward Sharon Shaw's Western Waltz class for their hard work this past Fall.  Each of the songs will be famous Waltz-tempo Christmas carols such as The First Noel, What Child is This, It came upon a Midnight Clear, Silver Bells, We Three Kings, and Carol of the Bells.

Waltz patterns can either travel around the floor or be danced in a limited area.  In other words, Small Floor versus Large Floor.

A couple is getting married and they choose a classic song such Anne Murray's "Could I have this dance?"  If their venue includes a large dance floor, I would recommend the Traveling Style of Waltz, also known as "Western Waltz". If their venue offers a postage-stamp dance floor, Stationary Waltz patterns are an excellent alternative.

Let's say you are on a cruise ship and the band plays a Waltz. As a rule, cruise ships do not have large dance floors, so Small Floor Waltz includes patterns such as the well-known Box Step that enable a couple to dance in one particular spot on the floor.

Traveling Waltz, better known as "Western Waltz" works best on large dance floors such as Houston's Whiskey River among others.   Since Western artists typically record one Waltz for every album, it is common to hear about three to four Waltzes whenever someone goes dancing at a C&W club. 

Stationary Waltz is designed for small dance floors.  Using the well-known Box Step pattern as a starting point, there are many very attractive Waltz moves that work just fine in a limited area.  In particular, Stationary Waltz is perfect for the First Dance at weddings because the floors that are available are often too small for much traveling. 

Rick and Michelle (pictured) danced a Waltz to Moon River.  Click here if you would like to read their story.

What about the people who know very little Waltz, but would like to learn enough to enjoy dancing to these songs at our upcoming Christmas party in December?  Sharon's class is too far along for beginners to join in progress, so Marla and I decided to teach a 7-week class in Stationary Waltz ("Small Floor Waltz" if you prefer).  This will be a Beginner-level dance class, no prior dance experience necessary.  Please note Stationary Waltz will be taught in a separate room.  The purpose of this class is to give people with little dance experience a way to participate in our Waltz into Christmas party. 

So this raises a question.  What exactly does "Stationary Waltz" look like?  How about a video?  Marla and I posted a short 1-minute Stationary Waltz video on the Internet.  As you watch, you will see how Marla and I dance an attractive Waltz in one specific area of the floor.  Every move you see will be included in our seven-week class which starts this coming Monday.

Marla and I were married on a cruise ship.  We danced a Waltz to "A Time for Us".  Our dance floor was about 15 feet by 15 feet.  This is a common size for many dance floors.  Hotels have temporary floors this size they can put down for special events.  Wedding venues and bars with limited space also have floors this size.  People who enjoy taking cruise trips are familiar with small dance on the ships.  Since small dance floors do not lend themselves to traveling in a circle unlike the large dance floors Country-Western clubs, the alternative is to learn a form of Waltz that will work in a limited space. 

So which form of Waltz, "Stationary Waltz" as opposed to "Traveling Waltz", is more practical to learn?  It depends on two things.  

1.  What kind of music do you like to dance to?
2.  How big is your dance floor?

Since this is Texas and country music rules, over the years our students have shown a preference for the Traveling-style.  They take our Western Waltz classes in preparation to dance at a Country-Western dance club (of which Houston has plenty). 

Is there a good reason to learn Stationary Waltz?  Yes, I can think of several.  What happens when you have the right music, but the floor is too small?   Or perhaps your floor is so crowded that you have no choice but to dance in one spot.  This is when a knowledge of Stationary Waltz becomes important.

 The patterns in Stationary Waltz are elegant and will work just fine on a small floor.  I know this for a fact because I have taught dozens of Wedding couples how to Waltz for their first dance.  You don't believe me?  Maybe some more pictures would help.  Click "Cinderella Wedding".  As you will see in the pictures, Aubrey and Billye's dance floor was about 15 by 15. 

Incidentally, perhaps you know a couple who will be getting married in the near future.  This class will be perfect as an inexpensive way to prepare for a First Dance at a wedding, so send them over.  I would love to work with them. 

There are other uses for Stationary Waltz.  Do you like to take cruise trips?  At the moment, I know of five different couples who are taking Fall river cruises.  Have you ever seen the size of the dance floor on a Viking river cruise ship?  15 by 15.  Oddly enough, the dance floors on Viking ocean cruise ships are at best slightly larger.  If you like to take cruise trips and you like to dance, Stationary Waltz is perfect for the small floors you will find. 

By the way, the Waltz patterns you will learn in my class are perfect for Sinatra Foxtrot music as well (I will show you how).  I have heard lots of Sinatra music played on cruise trips.  Ironically, Marla and I are usually the only ones who are out there on the floor.  And why is that?  Because we are the only people who seem to know how to dance Stationary Waltz and Foxtrot. 

I can think of a third use for Stationary Waltz.  You can use my 7-week class as a way to prepare for our "Waltz into Christmas" dance party.  By the magic of Geometry, Traveling Waltz and Stationary Waltz can be used on the same dance floor in Fellowship Hall.  I estimate the dance floor in Fellowship Hall is large enough for anywhere from 50-100 people to Waltz at the same time. 

How is this possible?   Visualize a racetrack.  The Traveling Waltz dancers will use the perimeter while the Stationary Waltz dancers will use the center of the racetrack.  Works like a charm.  So there you have it.  If you would like to learn to Waltz and dance at our Christmas Party, Marla and I would love to have you take our class.  For further details, please visit our Chapelwood website. 

RICK'S INTERMEDIATE EAST COAST SWING CLASS IN OCTOBER
(AND MAYBE OCTOBER)

Rick Archer's Note:  If you would like to join the October Intermediate East Coast Swing class, please be aware you will need to know the fundamentals of East Coast Swing dancing in advance. 

The major problem of most dance classes is an uneven mix of experience. You will see hot shots rubbing elbows with rookies. The best way to handle the problem is to offer Intermediate patterns in the first half of the class, take a break, then cover something more difficult, i.e. Advanced, in the second half. If students make use of the pre-class tutorials 6:40-7:00 pm, this should help less experienced dancers catch up. There is no charge for this service; just show up early, find one of the assistants and ask for help.

November-December is up for grabs. I am open to whatever my October students want. Keep in mind that starting in January I will be teaching four straight months of Country-Western classes.

So what exactly will we cover in our October class? That's a good question. For certain we will cover intricate East Coast Swing patterns. However, I also intend to get creative and explain how different forms of East Coast Swing work such as regular Jitterbug, Aggie Jitterbug, and Latin Hustle.

Here is the good news and the bad news: East Coast Swing works to a wider variety of Dance Music than any other style of social dance. Western dancing works to western music, Latin dancing works to latin music, Tango works to tango music, etc. East Coast Swing works to just about anything... Pop, Rock, R&B, Western-style Rockabilly, Oldies, Disco, Motown, Big Band, and Outer Space music (don't worry, I just made that up). If you want one dance fits all, Swing is your answer.

Only one problem: As the speed of the music changes, then you need to change your footwork to adapt. The most common adaptation involves Jitterbug which works to slower tempo music. Another adaptation is Aggie Jitterbug which ignores the beat of the music entirely. Another adaption is Hustle which fits Disco music. Another adaption is 4-count Swing which is an easy alternative to Jitterbug. It sounds confusing, but don't worry, I know how to explain how it works and why each variation has its strong points.

For questions about Rick's class, please email rick@ssqq.com

BEGINNING COUNTRY-WESTERN POLKA
   - Rick Archer

AT A GLANCE:

DATES:  Tuesday, April 2,  Monday 08, 15, 22

TIME: 7 PM to 8:45 PM (10 minute break in between)

COST: $30 per person, a one-time charge for the February classes.

COST: $60 3-MONTH OPTION: Rick will offer Western Dancing throughout February, March and April.  Anyone who wishes to take the entire series can sign up for $60. This is a one-time option, no refunds.

WHERE: Chapelwood Methodist Church 

QUESTIONS: rick@ssqq.com

Country-Western dancing revolves around the Texas Twostep, the Polka, and Western Waltz.  Although there seems to be a general preference for Twostep because it is easier to learn, it behooves everyone to learn Polka as well.  Depending on the DJ, there will be nights when Polka music is played more often than Twostep. 

There is one thing all men need to know about Polka: Women get tired of going backwards for the entire song.  With that in mind, the April class will teach men useful alternatives to the traditional attitude of make the poor girl go backwards.

Although this is indeed a Beginner class (which means previous knowledge of Polka footwork is not necessary), please be forewarned that an unusual number of experienced Country-Western dancers will be taking this class.  That is because this is the fourth month of a six-month C&W program.  The first three months were dedicated to Twostep and now it is Polka's turn.  What does this mean?  It means the pace of the class will be aimed to satisfy the ongoing students as opposed to newcomers.  Does this mean that newcomers are not welcome?  Of course Newcomers are welcome.  Just be forewarned that the pace may be swifter than you expected.

Rick's class will be held four Mondays in April (April 02, 08, 15, 22).  To participate, just show up.  Classes will be held in Chapelwood Fellowship Hall.  The cost will be $30 per person.

BEG WESTERN SWING
   - Rick Archer

AT A GLANCE:

DATES:  Monday, February 04, 11, 18, 25

TIME: 7 PM to 8:45 PM (10 minute break in between)

COST: $30 per person, a one-time charge for the February classes.

COST: $60 3-MONTH OPTION: Rick will offer Western Dancing throughout February, March and April.  Anyone who wishes to take the entire series can sign up for $60. This is a one-time option, no refunds.

WHERE: Chapelwood Methodist Church 

QUESTIONS: rick@ssqq.com

Rick Archer's Note:  Western Swing is often referred to as "Twostep with Turns".  And yes, it can also be called "Polka with Turns".  Most people look at Western Swing Double Turns as an advanced form of Twostep and Polka.

Here is how I look at it.  TWOSTEP and POLKA are danced in CLOSED POSITION with the man's arm around the woman. 

WESTERN SWING is Twostep and Polka danced in OPEN POSITION with the man's left hand holding the lady's right hand. This Open Position allows the man to create Single and Double Underarm Turns.

TWOSTEP AND WESTERN SWING VIDEO: 

On New Year's Eve, Rick and Marla made a brief 30-second Twostep video to show the difference between Twostep Closed Position and Western Swing Open Position.   Click Rick and Marla's Twostep Video at " https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fp3AxFZK0t4 "

PART ONE: The start of the video shows TRANSITION TWOSTEP.  Rick starts by going forward, passes the Marla, goes backwards for a while, then passes Marla to go forward again.  The idea is for the man and the woman to take turns going forward and backwards.  This series was danced in CLOSED POSITION.

PART TWO: This was a CIRCLE TURN.  A Circle Turn allows the man to rotate 360 degrees around the woman.  This pattern was also danced in CLOSED POSITION.

PART THREE: CIRCLE TURN TO CLOCKWISE REVERSE DOUBLE TURN.  This pattern began in Closed Position with a CIRCLE TURN, then finished in Open Position with a Clockwise WESTERN SWING Double Turn.

PART FOUR: WESTERN SWING continued with a pattern known as CROSS THE LINE TO DOUBLE TURN, then continued with a complicated Western Swing pattern known as "Hey Baby".  "Hey Baby" concluded when Marla ended up back in CLOSED POSITION in Rick's arms. 

Most people who love Western Dancing prefer to alternate between Closed Position and Open Position.  Rick's January BEG WESTERN SWING class will show how this works. 

QUESTION: What exactly is Western Swing? 

BEFORE JOHN

Rick Archer's Note: 

Western Swing is the merger of Disco and Country-Western partner dancing that took place during the summer of 1980.  Since I was the first person to teach Western Swing in Houston (November 1980), I can explain what happened. 

Prior to Urban Cowboy, Western Dancing barely had a pulse in Houston.  It was unbelievably lame.  There was no variety of patterns and no turns.  Everything was danced in Closed Position, i.e. the woman was enveloped by the man's right arm.  Women were expected to dance BACKWARDS to Twostep and Polka music for the entire song.  Why?  Because that's the way they had always done it dating back 100 years.  For some reason, no one questioned this. 

Furthermore, there almost no interest in Western Dancing.  Disco dominated Houston throughout the Seventies while C&W was danced in the boonies. 

STAGE ONE OF THE TRANSFORMATION

Stage One was downright weird.  I call it "The Death of Disco in Houston" period.  It started in 1979 with the filming of Urban Cowboy here in Houston and Pasadena.  Although the movie would not debut until June 1980, the fact that the movie was filmed locally made Country "Cool" for the first time in Houston history.  For reasons I do not understand even today, DURING 1979 EVERY SINGLE DISCO IN THE CITY CLOSED AND REOPENED AS WESTERN CLUBS.  This change took place one year before the movie was due to be released.   

Read that again and let it sink in:  Disco died a miserable premature death one year early in Houston (1979) all because some mysterious person decided Western needed to take over.  Meanwhile Disco continued uninterrupted throughout the rest of the USA until 1981.

Why did the premature Death of Disco take place only in Houston?  Everyone expected Travolta would make Country Dancing popular in Houston.  That part made sense.  What did not make sense was making these changes ONE YEAR IN ADVANCE.  It is expensive to completely change the decor of a dance club.  Why not wait to see what effect the movie's debut had?  Nope, not this time.  The "Effect" took place before the "Cause".  Crazy as it sounds, every club in Houston put the cart in front of the horse.  Disco was dead in Space City long before the movie was released.

Who made this decision?  Beats me.  I can see a few clubs making the 1979 switch, but why did all the Disco clubs have to die?  And why did they have to die one year before the movie even came out??  Now I can understand jumping on the bandwagon.  But in 1979 Disco was burning hot here in Houston until someone pulled the plug.  Considering the clubs were packed with Disco Inferno dancers, why should the leopard take the risk of changing his spots for an unknown product?  Okay, maybe the less profitable Discos might want to try a new format, but the major dance clubs made the switch as well.  I am absolutely serious.  Although Urban Cowboy was not scheduled to debut till June 1980, most of Houston's Discos switched one year in advance while the movie was being filmed at Gilley's.  The remaining few quit later that Fall.

STAGE TWO:  Wait and See Attitude

These closures were a nightmare for people who loved Disco Dancing.  With no place left to dance Disco, their two choices were to quit dancing or wait and see what Western Dancing was like.  Do you want to know something funny?  None of my Disco friends had a clue what a Twostep looked like.  Furthermore they were so angry at the Dancing Cowboy for taking their fun away, almost to a man they refused to go anywhere near a Western club until the movie came out.  Most of my Disco friends simply took a six-month vacation from dancing. 

Stage Two was weird in its own way.  It was an Interim period of sorts.  Very few people realize this, but Partner Dancing did not exist prior to Saturday Night Fever.  Before John T came along, it was all Freestyle and Line Dancing.  I am completely serious.  No complicated patterns, no double turns, no acrobatics

Travolta's fabulous partner dancing changed the face of Disco overnight.  Now everyone in America wanted to learn how to partner dance.

So when people heard Travolta was making a kicker movie, they automatically assumed he would also transform the face of C&W Dancing.

So what was their reaction when the ex-Disco dancers saw the movie? 

Outrage.  There was nothing to it!  The few people who knew what Western dancing looked like before the movie were stunned to discover Travolta had nothing new to offer.  In fact, Travolta made Debra Winger dance backwards in every dance scene.  Unbelievable. 

Compared to swift-paced Disco partner dancing, Western Dancing was like exchanging a race car for a putt-putt golf car.  Plus the women said this long-time girls-dance-backwards tradition was for the birds. 

Guess what happened next?  REBELLION!  The women of Disco were unhappy.  They demanded changes be made because Twostep in its current form was unacceptable.  Angry over having Disco taken away and resentful of having this boring form of dancing forced upon them, the women of Disco got their revenge by insisting their male partners find a way to upgrade the current state of Western dancing. 

As they say, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  The old joke is that men are a lab experiment run by women.  The sudden transformation of Western dancing was living proof.  Feeling urgent pressure to improve the dancing from the ladies, the men of Disco tinkered with Twostep to find ways to make the dancing more interesting.  It only took one month after the movie's debut for dramatic changes to appear. 

Practically overnight a new feature was added: Dancing Apart.  For the very first time, patterns were developed with men and women only connected by one hand or two.  First came Single Underarm Turns.  Then came the flashy Double Turns.  Then came the complicated Double Turn patterns.  With all patterns danced in Open Position, "Western Swing" was a brand new style that had never been seen before Urban Cowboy. 

The irony, of course, is that while Travolta failed to revolutionize Western dancing himself, the expectation that Western dancing needed to be improved became a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Western Swing consisted of Disco patterns that were adapted to the movement of Twostep.  Thanks to a myriad of disgruntled Disco Dancers unwilling to accept the status quo, the nature of Western Dancing in Houston underwent a rapid and quite impressive transformation.  In short order the disenfranchised ex-Disco dancers managed to flip the world of C&W dancing upside down.

Was everybody happy?  Not even slightly.  The old-timers were supremely irritated at the thought that men were expected to dance backwards once in while just like the women would.  Oh, really?  Over my dead body!

Sure, there were plenty of objections from the "I was Country B4 Country was Cool" Die Hards, especially the men.  But they never had a chance.  Why was that?  Although the veteran men despised the changes, the veteran women were curious.  And who could blame them?  Once the veteran women saw that the new girls in town refused to dance backwards all night long, that seemed fair to them.  Hmm, those fancy Double Turns looked like fun, especially on girls with great legs and short skirts. 

I won't say all the veteran women liked the changes, but the majority definitely did.  They developed a curiosity to investigate these changes.  To heck with dancing backwards all night long!  To heck with having a man's smelly arm wrapped around their neck!  Once the veteran Country girls saw how much fun the new style was, their men were given ultimatums.  Either adapt to the new style or watch their women ask those Western Swing boys for a dance. 

As a note to men, every development in the history of dance has been related to women.  Women love to dance more than men.  It must be a scientific fact, I'm sure.  The changes in Western dancing came because the ex-Disco dancers had the sense to find ways to make their women happy on the dance floor.  Their motives were known as "Enlightened Self-Interest", another way of saying "Feelin' Kinda Lucky".

Any man with a brain knows that men and women are not wired the same.  Sometimes a guy has to do things they aren't keen about.  So over time a system of trade-offs develop.  That's how the game is played.  The smart ones learn to dance to balance the scales for all the marvelous things women do for men. 

"You wanna watch Football all day Sunday?  Sure, help yourself to happiness.  But don't forget to take me dancing Saturday night."

It is my theory that Western Swing emerged from that sentiment.  The moment men realized Houston women missed Disco dancing and those fancy Double Turns, they used their knowledge of Disco patterns to incorporate them into Twostep.  Western Dancing in Houston has never been the same since. 

I wish more men understood this principle.  Speaking for myself, the moment I learned how lead Disco Partner Dancing back in 1978, I had more women asking me to dance than I ever dreamed of.  At that time, I was pretty sure I would never be lonely again.  Here we are nearly 50 years later and I can safely report my 1978 conclusion has been proven correct time after time.  In fact, I had a recent chance to test my theory again. 

Why do you suppose I learned Square Dance last year?  M-A-R-L-A.  Smartest thing I ever did.  You have no idea the smile on my wife's face every night as we drive home from a night of Square Dance.  She loves Square Dancing.  The same goes for Social Dancing.  Like many women, Marla loves all kinds of dancing.  And I love to make her happy. 

By the way, on New Year's Eve 2023 I took Marla Western Dancing at the Chandelier Ballroom, SPJST.  The following evening I told Marla I wanted to skip our usual night of Netflix shows and watch football instead.

"Why is that?" Marla asked.

"There are two championship football games on TV plus the Rockets."

Marla's reply?  "Have fun, dear.  I'll go in the bedroom and watch a Bette Davis movie.  By the way, I enjoyed dancing with you last night."

Just remember the Key Word: COMPROMISE.  It works.

SHARON'S BEGINNING WESTERN WALTZ CLASS IN OCTOBER
 

From: Carmen
Sent: Thursday, September 7, 2023 2:46 PM
To: Rick Archer
Subject: Re: SSQQ Newsletter: Sharon Shaw Beg Western Waltz, Rick Archer Int-Adv East Coast Swing begins TUESDAY, Sept 5, at Chapelwood

 Hello Rick,

I had to tell you what an excellent class Sharon and her super team (Bill, Karen and Dennis) gave us on Tuesday. Sharon just commands the room with her straight up, no nonsense teaching style. It gives any dancer at any level the confidence and certainty that they're getting the best instruction for that particular dance available in Houston.  What amazes me is although I'm not a novice dancer, I always learn new things or rather I relearn things I'd forgotten or become a slacker about such as correct offsetting position, placement of hands, good resistance and posture. All the fundamentals that distinguish a good dancer from a not so good dancer. And isn't that what we're all striving to be at the end of the social dancing day?

 At the risk of jam packing the room ( it was already pretty full) I hope more of my "experienced" dancer friends come out to Chapelwood on Monday nights to be a part of something very special: Waltz Class with Sharon.  (Like Cher or Madonna or Beyoncé no last name required :) 

 Carmen 

So what exactly is Western Waltz? Waltz patterns can either travel around the floor or be danced in a limited area.  In other words, Small Floor versus Large Floor.

A couple is getting married and they choose a classic song such Anne Murray's "Could I have this dance (for the rest of my life)". If their venue includes a large dance floor, I would recommend the Traveling Style of Waltz. If their venue only offers a postage-stamp dance floor, then the Stationary Waltz patterns are an excellent alternative.

Let's say you are on a cruise ship and the band plays a Waltz. As a rule, cruise ships do not have large dance floors, so Small Floor Waltz includes patterns such as the well-known Box Step that enables a couple to dance in one particular spot on the floor.

On the other hand, Western dance floors in Houston typically offer much more space which allows couples to travel Twostep and Polka patterns counter-clockwise around the floor.  Western Waltz does the same using Waltz patterns that travel.  So now for a statement that might strike some as blasphemy… the same moves can be used to any Waltz music. We could just as easily call Sharon's class "Traveling Waltz". However for marketing reasons, "Western Waltz" has a much better ring to it.  All the music in Sharon's class will be Western.

Sharon's Beginner class will cover the Traveling Basic, Traveling Twinkles, and most likely the popular Sweetheart pattern. Previous dance experience is not necessary. Nor do you need a partner to sign up. The cost will be $30 which includes all 4 classes for October.

WESTERN SWING
 

Texas Honky Tonk Music

Excerpted from James Rice's book, 1985

On the frontier real professional musicians were hard to come by. There was considerably more call for people who could punch cattle or farm or make things or fix them up after they had broken, but there were places and times that the demand was high for entertainment of any kind. If a body could make music or run a game or bring in liquor his future was made.

Or if it was a woman she didn't need any particular skills at all. She could entertain just by being herself.

The main places were Texan by population and spirit even if they were sometimes outside the borders - the big crossroads trading posts, the shipping centers at the railheads, and active mining towns. The times were when a job ended at the end of a cattle drive or a strike was made or whenever there was a slack time that one had change in the pocket.

The rough range workers went one place for entertainment - the saloon. There they could drink, gamble, listen to music, and usually meet a woman without formal introduction. The saloon girls ranged from downright homely to kind of pretty - depending on the number of drinks that preceded the meeting, the amount of light, or the time spent on the trail before reaching town or how close it was to closing time. A woman could help separate a cowboy from a big part of a season's earnings in a few hours and just leave him with something to dream about on his next rail drive as the only return on his money.

Two'Steppin' Texas Memories Written by Jerry Flemmons,  Travel Editor of the Fort Worth Star'Telegram, Looking back it seems that in Texas, 18 was considered the proper age at which to dance in public, meaning at a beer joint. Perhaps that was simply the ritual's legal threshold and custom really had nothing to do with it, but regardless, I remember well my first turn on a dance floor. I was 18, finally, and the beer joint was Saturday night, full and boisterous. My partner was much older, perhaps 25, someone's sweetheart or wife who had agreed to dance with me while he - a largish, dour man - leaned against the bar and watched. The music, doubtless a country and western dirge of woe, came from two unamplified guitars and a scarred upright bass. And - because this was Texas - we, of course, danced the Twostep. A rigid etiquette governed this coming of age ceremony, and while dancing in public with someone else's woman, I made certain to observe it. I held my left hand cupped as a rest, not a grip, for her right hand. I held my free right arm around her, but kept the hand well above any notion of impropriety, allowing only my thumb to lie against her back. Our bodies almost ' but not quite ' touched. We spoke little because he was watching, and familiarity at such establishments always seemed to breed fistfights. We danced only once and I returned her to him and found other women, all with hims of some relation, either blood or choice. But when the night was all over, I felt, well, manly.  I had danced before at school things and in friends' living rooms, but this was a manhood event for me, this publictwo'step dancing. (We pronounced it "daincing" in the nasal prairie patois that passed for English in West Texas.)  Two'stepping had been the common shared experience of Texan men for a century or more, the unifying occasion of socialization for state rich in space and distance but poor in available proper women. In early times, there were few unmarried women and no place to meet them except public dances. Then, in my time, nice girls didn't go alone to beer joints; they came with their families - and so was born that familiar ritual of watchfulness. It's useless to explain the foot movements of two'step dancing. You kind of slide'shuffle, and either you can do it or you can't. Maybe it's in the genes, but I don't remember not being able to two'step. This peculiarly Texas dance developed, my theory goes, because it fit fiddle and guitar music played in simple two'four time (one'two, one'two, slide'shuffle). And, I surmise, because a dance it required little space. Done traditionally, couples do a lot of stationary turning. "The Texans," observed an English visitor, Mary Jaques, in 1893, "cannot be described as graceful dancers, although they have some power of expressing the poetry of motion; their figures are supple, and they swing and sway a great deal."

Miss Jaques made her observations at a Central Texas ranch dance, where she was properly courted and two'stepped by the cowboys, as all single women were. Back then that was the socially correct two'step venue'ranch and farmhouses to which cowboys would come from everywhere just to dance. ("Rode 20 miles, danced all night, rode 20 miles back," reads an 1881 diary entry of one cowboy who met his future wife at just such a dance.) 

Dances moved from house to house and took place about every three months. Families would come in wagons and buggies, men by horseback. Fiddles and guitars would strike up in a corner and dancing commenced, usually not ending until dawn, while babies slept clustered on one big bed and young children played together on the front porch.

Ranch dances brought two noticeable things to the two'step. First, that economy of movement. You danced where you stood because there was no space in small rooms for long'distance dancing. Second of all, hatless cowboys. After all, it was considered poor taste to wear your hat inside somebody's house.

The dances ended, I suppose, when public drinking finally was allowed in Texas. Beer joints became the places where young men and women could go to meet one another. By my time, however, the mechanics of the two'step had long since become stamped onto the collective psyche; Texas feet just knew, instinctively, what to do. And the traditional rite of passage, that firmly held introduction to manhood, adapted itself to a new social scene: 18, in Texas, you danced in public. 

Change, though, I've found is no respecter of convention. Real beer joints are about gone, I believe, replaced by bars I find less convivial. The music, I'm happy to say, remains country and western and danceable, however loudly electrified. Young men, no longer in someone's home, do dance with their hats on, and I doubt they feel a need for any kind of formal passage into manhood. The two'step, well, it's still done, but loosed from its claustrophobic limits of cramped rooms, it covers a full dance floor. 

One more thing I've noticed: Couples hold each other closer because there is no he watching by the bar. Now, that appeals to me. I was always in favor of closer dancing. 
 

Trip to Bahamas organized by Sharon in 1988

After a twelve year absence, Sharon returned to my life in 2022.  Recently Sharon and her husband Bill had become members of the Hey Lollies Square Dance organization.  Practically overnight Sharon assumed a leadership position.  Was it her dance ability?  No.  It was her integrity.  She is one of the most responsible human beings on earth, the kind of person you trust immediately.  They made her Treasurer.  No surprise there.  Sharon was good at it. 

Unfortunately, the Hey Lollies membership was decimated by Covid.  Once the panic passed and the coast was clear, Sharon and Bill invited Marla and me to consider joining and help the rebuild process.  Over the past year Marla and I have fallen in love with Square Dancing.  One of the best parts of my adventure has been renewing my friendship with Sharon and Bill.  Bill likes having me around.  This time he's the better dancer.  Thanks a lot, Bill.