Bunbury swings into action | The West Australian

JESSICA PORTERBunbury Herald Bunbury is getting in the swing of it with the first weekly swing dance classes starting in the city last week. Markus Leone brought the flavour of the 1920s to

Bunbury earlier this year, but increased demand for swing dance lessons in Bunbury has prompted the owner/principal to trial weekly classes. Last Thursday night saw Bunbury first-timers

tackle lindy hop basics; the Charleston, underarm passes and turns. MrLeone said he was first captivated by swing dancing in 1998 and has been dancing ever since. He described swing dancing

as a very energetic and physical style of social dance. ‘‘It’s open to all ages, it’s a very physical and exciting dance,’’ he said. ‘‘Back in the 20s it was all done to jazz, people were

dancing all the time and swing dancing and lindy hop was the style of dance. ‘‘Then the jazz era died a bit then rock and roll kicked in.’’ However, Mr Leone said there had been a resurgence

in swing dance and more people were amazed by the impressive and entertaining nature of the dance. But it is not just about the dancing, according to Mr Leone. Swing dancing is also about

the social network that brings people together with similar interests. ‘‘We get dressed up when we go to our socials,’’ he said. ‘‘I wear a zoot suit and ladies wear that style of clothing,

we wear the hats and we all get dressed up to the nines.’’ Bunbury dance teacher Naomi Hay runs the weekly classes at the Lyric Theatre in Bunbury and said she started swing dancing for fun

and loved it so much that she was now passing on the technique to others. For more information, visit www.simplyswing.com.au. GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up

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