Buffalo Rising Online

Oct 11th 2008, 9:39am By Thomas Tarapacki

It’s a little strange at first--when you walk into a yoga studio on the Elmwood strip on a Monday evening you expect to see a group of people practicing a savasana or a tadasana. Instead, you see people flying around the room, swing dancing.

Back in January BuffaloRising.com reported on a series of lindy style dances that were being launched at Shakti Yoga at 220 Lexington Avenue. Well, “Lindy Fix” on Monday night is going strong, and you’re invited to grab your dancing shoes and stop down. It starts off with a lesson at 8:00 PM, followed by an hour-and-half of dancing.

The group is led by Rob Leach, who came here from Santa Fe, NM back in July ‘07, where he performed with Moving People Dance Theatre and New Mexico Swing Fix. Rob travels to many national level workshops and has been honing his skills since 1998.

Lindy Hop is a form of swing dancing that developed in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It experienced a revival in the 1990s, and is going strong all over the world.

I stopped at Shakti on Monday evening for Lindy Fix at 8 PM, just as the lessons got underway. Robert led the dancers through their steps, first as a group and then individually.

At 8:30 PM the music came on and the joint got hoppin’, as they say. The energy level in the room was amazing as the joy of dance was clearly evident. Some of the dancers were very skilled, while others were --- well, beginners. They all seemed to have a great time and the joy was infectious.

Rob points out that you don’t need a partner to participate. “Everyone dances with everyone, but it’s not a dating atmosphere.” It was certainly a very friendly atmosphere, with many of the participants urging me to return to take a lesson or two (not knowing, of course, what damage I could do to their toes!)

Shakti Yoga is a good venue, and the studio’s wooden floors are ideal for the sliding that is an essential part of swing dancing.

Rob explained that he was drawn to swing first by the music. “I love the music,” he said. At the Swing Buffalo web site you can check out the kinds of music you'll hear at Lindy Fix. They include a variety of classic and contemporary swing music, like: "Return to Sender" by Elvis Presley, "Green Onions" by Booker T and the MGs, "Trickle Trickle" by Manhattan Transfer, "Paper Moon" by Ella Fitzgerald and "Musicology" by Prince.

As the website says: “Swing is a lifestyle based on the pure joy of dance: focused on fun. So bring your spirits and prepare to smile! Beginners are not only wanted, they are required!” Oh yes-- also bring light shoes with leather soles (clean ones, please) for sliding along the floor. There’s a $4 fee to cover the rental cost. On Monday, October 13th the lesson will focus on Solo Charleston moves.

It seems like a great way to get fit and have fun. Check out the Web Site for more information about the Lindy Fix and other swing dance activities going on in the area,

swingbuffalo.com