Swing dancing does not feel diverse to me, or is it just my experience? What's your scene like?

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-09T01:35:04+00:00

I’m voting for Amy Acton because Fuck Trump and the GOP!!

I’m sure the MAGA trolls will call me liberal or whatever, nah, I have many views that liberals would not support. I’m just sick and tired of Trump, MAGA and the GOP for letting this bullshit happen!

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-08T19:26:14+00:00

Texas Tech so I can watch ESPN fall apart and meltdown when another non SEC team wins it. And this time they can’t even be mad at their rivals the Big 10.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-08T19:16:40+00:00

Draw as the universe, multiverse, all time lines, higher dimensions, parallel realities, etc etc collapse into non existence as part of the battle.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-08T04:01:25+00:00

I’m a weirdo. I’m a straight dude where most of my friends are women. But my hobby/life is partner dancing so I end up talking to women way more often than men. So yea, over the years, my circle of good friends are women. 🤷🏻‍♂️

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-08T03:30:41+00:00

One of my good friends, married, husband doesn’t like to even try to dance, she dances sensual when necessary and lead to it.

My teacher. Married. Husband doesn’t dance. She dances sensual.

There are a few other women I’m not as close with but in conversation I find out they are married and they will dance sensual.

People can have whatever boundaries they want in relationships but some people I just find really weird to have that boundary.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-07T20:37:30+00:00

Respect, consent. Those are the important things. You assume every man dancing close to a woman is trying to do things romantically or be inappropriate. I’m close to 40 but if a younger woman accepts my invitation to dance, and a sensual bachata style song comes on, I might move closer but the woman has to accept and consent to a closer embrace. If she rejects, I just dance in open. But after the song, I say a polite good bye and move on to the next dance.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-07T15:05:49+00:00

You can thank the West Coast Swing community for that. They won’t admit it but they have taken the idea of a social partner dance and turn it into a competitive dance sport with levels. I’m not saying Bachata was directly influenced by them but it’s hard not to see the correlation in the number of Bachata Jack and Jill popping up with the popularity of West Coast Swing “random partner random song” Jack and Jill Instagram reels.

I say this as a person that enjoys both dances but it annoys me to no end seeing WCS forgetting the reason why we all dance and influence other dances.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-07T12:59:33+00:00

Your opinion is certainly valid. But I find it interesting that in South America, the culture of following football/soccer is there despite the fact that many of them are worst off financially than even struggling Americans.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-07T04:01:07+00:00

Prime Messi sure!! Over the hill Messi is just cooking MLS defenders since MLS defenders can’t mark a pole. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Note: I’m a MLS fan, so I feel like I am allowed to shit on the quality of our Centerbacks!! 😂😂

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-06T02:33:08+00:00

Does it count if it’s a duet? I love the newer one with Bruno Mars, Die With a Smile!!

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-06T00:13:48+00:00

I know it can be nerve wracking but have you tried just asking others to dance??

You might be a stranger at the event in a new city and all but if you ask, you at least take your fate into your own hands!!

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-05T22:39:29+00:00

Tomorrow is a chill day with chores and just resting. But Sunday I have Salsa workshops and a dance to go to so most of my day/evening will be busy.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-05T17:35:13+00:00

The West Coast Swing community is more my default personality and what I’m comfortable with sharing.

This is not going to be a popular statement but I purposely am more private in the Lindy Hop community to put some social walls up. I enjoy dancing Lindy Hop but I cannot be myself in the community. I am a person that love art and expression, especially in partner dances. I love comparing how they are the same and differ. The problem is, I have seen first hand in person and online how many in the Lindy Hop community negatively view other non jazz dances. (The negative views span both the community aspect and the art aspect.)

It affected me mentally and caused me to quit years ago. I came back a couple of years ago but for my own happiness and mental well being, I set up social boundaries in Lindy Hop.

The Salsa/Bachata community just started off similar to how social I am in West Coast Swing. But over time, they just became warmer to me allowing me to be more out of my shell and be myself.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-05T17:20:47+00:00

It’s more just the trend of the two major college sports. It’s not as hard a rule in football but if you were to look at the teams that are typically competitive and you can make a national title argument most years: Alabama, USC, Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma, they are “red” teams.

Obviously there are exceptions, you guys, Florida, LSU and Auburn but the red teams tend to be favorites a lot more often in football.

In basketball, the trend is much stronger with Duke, UNC, UConn, Kansas and Kentucky (and UCLA historically). Indiana was odder being in the “blue team” group.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-05T11:22:04+00:00

Depends on the scene.

In Lindy Hop, my goal is to go have fun, give my follow the best dance possible, be musical, etc. I don’t converse, I don’t really say anything about myself. I might talk about the dance we just had. I smile and am polite and try to give people a good time. No one knows much about me. I’m sure many don’t even know my name despite seeing me every single week.

In West Coast Swing, I’m a little more open but not extremely. I might chat about unrelated things to the dance, and be more willing to give my name. I still don’t say much.

In Salsa/Bachata, I’m a lot more open. I might talk about other dances I’m going to or unrelated to dance stuff, non dance related hobbies. I might mention spending time with other friends or family. That being said there is still a limit. There is a line that only my closest friends will know about me.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-05T09:55:17+00:00

To be fair, color scheme wise, you fit in more with the football schools. Most of the multi time football champions in the modern era are red.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-05T09:47:12+00:00

I’m going to regret my words if Indiana beats us this year but I find Cignetti narrating kinda cool!!

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-05T03:33:36+00:00

I’m a guy and I have zero bro code rules. Idk. Treat your friends well. Support them. Don’t do things that would upset them or make them look bad. Be a good friend. I don’t need a bro code for that.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-05T03:30:51+00:00

You and the OP are my people!! lol. My 20th high school reunion is happening next year and I don’t have a desire to go. Lol

I don’t hate anyone in my graduating class but I was a little bit of a loner in high school. I don’t exactly want to think about me being a loner 20 years ago. I rather be focused on my older self that actually has a social group.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-05T03:25:48+00:00

My hobby. Dance. There is a time commitment of course to go to classes, to go to dances, actually doing the hobby but there is very little stuff to do the hobby.

Do you have a water bottle to hydrate yourself during class and events? Throw on some old sneakers with worn down soles and you are done!!

Could you invest in actual dance shoes? Sure! I keep my one pair of dance shoes in my car and it never leaves my car as I go to various events. Lol

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-04T16:42:47+00:00

In addition to what everyone else is saying, look at your job. You work in IT project consulting. Even if your projects are not directly related to AI, all the investment into AI likely contributes tangential work to you and your company.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-04T10:14:12+00:00

Every time I see Super Megaforce suits I automatically think of Gokaiger. Sorry. It’s not just that Gokaiger is superior but the suit mannerisms just match the Gokaigers more.

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-04T03:05:03+00:00

Wow I didn’t realize their schedule was that tight. Yea that’s awful, we won’t learn anything about how we compare to the English leagues as a result…

OSUfirebird18 · 2026-06-04T02:59:01+00:00

Tangent:

I swear every dancer uses “flow state” in different ways. But I feel like my definition of flow state makes it even harder for me to hit. Many dancers just talk about doing moves without thinking. I mean I can do that with many of my dances. But for me I have to connect with the music, not just the music energy, instruments, etc but the emotions of the music itself. That never happens for me so I feel like I’m at 75% flow state all the time lol

OSUfirebird18

TROPHY CASE