Hector Garcia
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When Did you Start dancing?
Around July 2018
How did you start dancing?
I started listening to a ton of electro swing at work one day and I thought the little I knew about swing dancing seemed really cool. Though at the time I was "too busy" to go take classes.
Several months later a friend of mine visits town and convinces me to give it a shot. Next time she sees me I'm going to classes at a local ballroom dance studio 4 days a week...
I recall her saying "I thought you said you were too busy to take classes!"
I had been taking classes at the studio for a couple of months, having a blast learning a little bit of everything, but, it was not nearly as much swing as I wanted to learn.
One day, a friend I made at the studio told me about a different spot in town where they did swing dancing in Vegas and encouraged me to go with her. Funnily enough, after the day she brought me to the Mint, I never saw her there again - AND she moved away shortly after.
Maybe this is a bit dramatic, but it feels like she came into my life for the sole purpose of bringing me to the swing dance scene. ...and I've been in love with swing dancing and the swing dance community ever since.
Several months later a friend of mine visits town and convinces me to give it a shot. Next time she sees me I'm going to classes at a local ballroom dance studio 4 days a week...
I recall her saying "I thought you said you were too busy to take classes!"
I had been taking classes at the studio for a couple of months, having a blast learning a little bit of everything, but, it was not nearly as much swing as I wanted to learn.
One day, a friend I made at the studio told me about a different spot in town where they did swing dancing in Vegas and encouraged me to go with her. Funnily enough, after the day she brought me to the Mint, I never saw her there again - AND she moved away shortly after.
Maybe this is a bit dramatic, but it feels like she came into my life for the sole purpose of bringing me to the swing dance scene. ...and I've been in love with swing dancing and the swing dance community ever since.
What vintage or modern Swing dancer should everyone watch?
Frankie Manning.
He passed before my time as a dancer, but by all accounts he was an amazing ambassador, spreading joy and his love of the dance for many, many years.
He passed before my time as a dancer, but by all accounts he was an amazing ambassador, spreading joy and his love of the dance for many, many years.
What swing artist do you recommend new dancers check out?
What is one swing album every dancer should listen to?
Presenting Jimmie Lunceford - Jimmie Lunceford
HOw about one song every one needs to dance to at least once?
"Rhythm is Our Business" by Jimmie Lunceford
The dance clip that all new dancers need to see is...:
One of my favorite Lindy hop clips: the teacher improv with Remi and Tatiana from Seoul Lindyfest 2018. I saw this when I was a brand new dancer and still go back to it occasionally to this day.
Words of Wisdom
I know it's intimidating to interact with experienced dancers, but I assure you everything gets so much less stressful when you realize no matter how much experience someone has or how many competitions they've won, they're still just people at the end of the day. It's easier said than done, but it's a lot easier to connect with people you view as any other person rather than some sort of celebrity.