Photo By Cameron Knight

Tom Tumbusch and Kristin Adams are regulars at the weekly gatherings at SwinGallery.

So you thought the Swing dance craze was over after that Gap ad, right? Think again. The local scene is alive and kicking.

Since late 1998, local ambassadors to swing Terry and Kandy Thompson-Cannon have been seeing to that. Along with the volunteer help of co-managers Jesse Fatherree and Greta Rhoten, the couple has played a vital role in keeping all kinds of people strutting their stuff to timeless music in Cincinnati and beyond.

They host the SwinGallery, a hoppin' weekly dance held every Thursday night at Step-n-Out Studios in Covington. Each week, there's a lesson at 8 p.m. followed by social dancing from 9 p.m.-midnight. They'll dance to anything from Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald to the Stray Cats and Elvis -- even an occasional Beastie Boys tune is thrown in for good measure.

Each year in April and early December, they host special weekend dance workshops, usually bringing in well-known national champion instructors. They organize seasonal monthly Saturday night dances at various venues, occasionally featuring live Swing or jump Blues music. The pair also find time to teach and perform, sometimes in conjunction with other Swing dance regulars.

Terry claims he never danced before this. Kandy had always danced and even taught ballroom dance at Arthur Murray. She went out to try Swing dancing one night with some friends and loved it. She convinced Terry to take some lessons soon after.

Back then, they were working opposite shifts and found their time together limited. Kandy says, "This really gave us something to do together ... because then we started going out more together, having fun together."

"For the first time ever in our marriage!" Terry interjects (jokingly, of course).

So they highly recommend it to couples. And, naturally, to singles as well. Although more people tend to be single than not at the dances, it's not really a "pick-up" kind of environment. As longtime dancer Tom Tumbusch says, "It's a great place for people who aren't interested in the bar scene."

People of mixed ages and dance experience levels come simply to interact and enjoying dancing together. Many find it as much fun to watch as it is to do. Newcomers need not fear, as everyone started as a beginner once.

According to Terry, after one lesson most people can learn enough to get through a song. That is, he adds, provided they're not too inhibited to try.

No partner is required, as the folks are friendly and come from all walks of life. On average, 50-70 people attend each week. Plus, it's cheap ($5 for the lesson and dance) and it's fantastic exercise to boot. Folks drive in regularly from Lexington and Dayton for the evening. There have been people from all over -- Nashville, Montreal and even Alaska -- in attendance at SwinGallery events. Many find them online before arriving in town.

Terry credits the Internet with being an essential part of keeping the Lindy Hop cult happening, even on a national scale. Set against a backdrop of fun retro pin-up images, Terry and Kandy's comprehensive Web site (cincyswing.com) features a wealth of information, from links for where to buy the perfect dance threads and shoes to calendars of events.

The varied dances you'll see at SwinGallery fall under the general category of Swing, but the one that keeps people coming back for more is the lively Lindy Hop. According to Depression-era legend, it was spontaneously named after Charles Lindbergh's solo flight or "hop" across the Atlantic by pioneering Harlem dancer "Shorty" George Snowden. When done smoothly at a certain upbeat tempo, the dance does feel a bit like flying.

"It's like you're just floating on air," Kandy says.

A dance like no other, the Lindy Hop strikes the perfect balance between freedom and structure. Quintessential elements include the improvised "breaks" that reflect the rhythmic moments in the music, and the heart-stopping, high-flying aerials or air steps.

Photo By Cameron Knight

"You can do whatever you want on the five, six, seven eight," says Terry Thompson-Cannon, "as long as you're back at one."

Don't try these at home -- or especially not on the social floor. Typically, they're reserved for jam circles or competitions. A fair amount of dance experience is recommended before learning how to execute acrobatic moves.

Individual styling is encouraged, as is a certain playfulness rarely seen in ballroom styles. The dancers' stance is bent-kneed with a slight lean forward; you can "give in to gravity" here. Another unique characteristic is its possibility for endless variations.

"Lindy Hop is an expressive dance that has time built in, unlike other dances, where you just play," Terry explains. "So you can do whatever you want on the five, six, seven, eight -- as long as you're back on one."

The best experience for Terry and Kandy is seeing a great turnout at an event they put together where everyone's having a good time. Fads come and go, but the Lindy lives on. ©