You can feel the energy when you first walk in to the small, dim-lit room. The music is fast-paced and you’ll feel like you went back to another time. Dresses are twirling and feet are shuffling all around you. Don’t be intimated, everyone is welcome, this is swing.
The Lindy Hop, Jitterbug and Jive: These popular types of swing dance first made popular in the twenties are making a comeback in Arizona. The swing dance community is thriving in Arizona with lessons and events happening nearly every night.
I went swing dancing for my first time at Kat’s Korner in Mesa, where people of all ages and experience meet to dance every Saturday night. I was surprised by how quickly you can learn the moves and pick up new moves from more experienced dancers.
The cover charge was only $6 for students and included a lesson before starting at 7:15 p.m. This lesson was on East Coast Swing, which is a bit slower than the Lindy Hop where most of the basic moves involve triple steps and turns.
Kat’s Korner was started by Dabney Hopkins in 2000, and has been a weekly swing destination ever since. Karen and Dabney Hopkins are the primary instructors at Kat’s and they both participate in swing competitions and events around the world.
“We teach throughout the week and we also run a Monday night dance at the Women’s Club of Mesa called Hepkats. It has the same format except it’s a Lindy Hop lesson beforehand,” Dabney says.
The demographic at Kat’s is primarily high school and college students, but all ages and types come to Kat’s.
“I think my favorite thing is that in this day and age it’s really hard to find something where people can connect with a stranger, somebody they just met, on an intimate level without it being weird or creepy in some way,” Dabney says. “Without any barriers, you’ll have an 80-year-old dancing with a 13-year-old.”
Members of ASU’s swing dance club, Swing Devils, can frequently be seen at Kat’s Korner and other swing dancing places around Phoenix. The Duce, in downtown Phoenix offers free swing lessons every Tuesday night.
“The alternative these days is to go clubbing. There are just so many other things that are not quite as awesome as coming out and swing dance, so I just love seeing people catch on and get into it,” Dabney says. “Once you really get into it and you feel a love for it then you want to spread that love with other people and bring them out dancing too”
“It’s like the gospel of swing dancing,” Karen Hopkins added. “Phoenix has one of the most welcoming and friendly swing dance scenes that I’ve ever experienced.”
Anya Hernandez, a junior at ASU, is studying theater and dance and has been going to Kat’s Korner for over seven years.
“I think so many college students enjoy swing because it's a fun, low-risk way to engage with each other and have a good time,” Hernandez says. “The environment is always very inviting and the swing community is so genuine and supportive of each other.”
I haven’t taken dance lessons since I was a kid, but I definitely never felt any pressure or intimidation while learning to swing dance.
“My favorite part about swing dancing is the ability to get to know someone by their movement. Partner dancing really is a dialogue of movement, meaning there is a lot of physical listening involved,” Hernandez says. “There's constant communication between the lead and follow, and it's an incredible feeling when you find that connection.”
I think many students, including myself, appreciate something fun to do that doesn’t involve drinking.
“It's honestly very refreshing in comparison to the university party culture. If I had the option of going clubbing out on Mill Avenue and going swing dancing, I'd choose swing every time.” Hernandez says.
Nicholas Tran has been a member of ASU’s Swing Devils for two years and says that swing taught him not only dance skills, but also a new way to communicate.
“My favorite thing about swing dancing is that dancing is fundamentally a language that I can use to communicate to people. There have been times when I've been in a different country, not knowing the native language, but I can dance just as well with the people there,” Tran says.
My first time swing dancing was exciting and my feet did hurt after and my muscles were sore, but I’d definitely go again.
If you would like to experience swing for yourself or just take a lesson, then check out all the great opportunities on Kat’s website.
