Swing dance soiree teaches lindy hop

The number one rule of swing dancing, and for some the most difficult, is following your partner.\nThe Bloomington Swing Dance Committee provided an opportunity Saturday night for students to learn all about a form of swing dancing called the lindy hop as part of a series of dance workshops.\nThe classes take place the first Saturday of every month at the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut Street. Members of the Bloomington Swing Dance Committee, Val and Tom Ball, Nancy Lennert and David Jenkins, have been holding the Saturday soirees for the Bloomington community since 2001.\nEach week a different guest instructor comes to the Waldron Arts Center and exposes its audience to a new type of dance, such as tango and ballroom dancing.\n"The turnout ranges from 40 to 100 people," committee member Val said. "We have people of all age ranges and experience levels."\nOften times people choose to dress up for the dance theme of the night. Members of the IU Swing and Ballroom Dance Clubs also attend the lessons.\nThis week, the dance theme was the lindy hop. This eight-count dance originated from the Charleston, a dance made popular in the late 1930s. The instructors for this week's session were professional lindy hoppers Chris and Shana Bowling. This husband and wife team recently relocated to Louisville from San Diego. "We chose to learn swing because it's more laid back," Shana said. Husband and wife Cheryl and Terry Baumgart don the outfits of genuine 1930s lindy hoppers. \n"Terry dragged me into Arthur Murray dance studio and we started from there," Cheryl said.The couple, married for 29 years, agrees: "You must remember that it is fun. You can't fight with your partner"