Swing music emerged in the United States in the late 1920s, and gained significant popularity during the 1930s and 1940s.
It’s jazz characterized by energetic rhythms.
It’s catchy melodies and a strong emphasis on dancing. Swing music became the soundtrack for a vibrant social dance scene, with the Lindy Hop being one of the most popular dances of the time.
We still celebrate Swing today.
Swing festivals are events that celebrate swing music, dance, and the associated culture.
These festivals often feature live performances by swing bands, dance workshops, social dancing, competitions, and various related activities.
Swing festivals provide opportunities for dancers and music enthusiasts to come together, learn new moves, showcase their skills, and enjoy the music and dance in a festive atmosphere.
Probably one of the most known (if not the most) festivals is the Rock That Swing Festival
According to their website, “For more than a decade the festival celebrates the diversity of the dances and music of the Swing and Rock’n’Roll era from the 20s to the 50s. Over a span of 5 days, fantastic dance nights, hot live music, shows, competitions, numerous workshops, dance masters from the 30s, and passionate dancers from all over the world create an inspiring and unforgettable atmosphere.”
This year, the 16th International Rock That Swing Festival was held in Munich from Feb 16th to 20th.
And one of the participants in said event was none other than the swing dance champions.
Nils and Bianca.
Bianca and Nils are professional swing dance teachers, performers, and choreographers specializing in Lindy Hop and Boogie Woogie.
They are members of the Swedish national team and have won multiple competitions, including the Swedish championships and international titles such as the International Lindy Hop Championship and European Swing Dance Championship.
The champions like to keep things fresh.
They love swing dancing for its ability to bring people together, spread joy, and its profound meaning and history.
Their goal is to help students become exceptional dancers and appreciate the values of these dances while entertaining and moving audiences during their performances.
They’re dancing to Otis Redding’s ‘My Girl’.
With the song’s sweet and slow rhythm, the powerhouse duo looked like they were gliding like a hot knife over melting butter.
The dance was incredibly intimate.
With every twist and turn, Nils and Bianca were in full control of the dance floor. It almost looked like the music was dancing with them, not the other way around.
Their movement was simple but extraordinary.
It simply shows how well they know each other when it comes to performing, even in front of such a huge crowd.
Even their viewers online were astounded, one viewer wrote a comment on their video, “Pure perfection but still natural and fluid with feeling. Im obsessed with their dancing skills and playful moves… What a treat!”
They were slow-walking some show-stoppers.
And just when everybody thought Nils and Bianca wouldn’t be doing their usual stunts, the two quickly pulled some sassy exhibitions off their sleeves.
What really brings the dance to life is the way they were smiling at each other throughout the performance.
You can just imagine the laughter that went on while they were practicing these moves in their kitchen.
One online viewer noticed it too, “Bianca and Nils are having as much fun dancing as I have watching them. Bianca always has a fun-filled smile on her face.”
See these Swing dance champions spice up the floor with their world-class performance below!
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