There was lots of dancing at my nephew's wedding recently, this is one of the many things he and his bride have in common. They love music and they really love to dance. Maybe I should rephrase that - they really like to swing ...... -dance that is.
If I'd closed my eyes and listened to the music from the band I would have sworn I'd been transported back in time to the 1940's (before I was born!). When I opened my eyes, I would have expected to see young gals and guys dressed conservatively in simple colors like gray, beige or dark blue.
The gals would be in slender shirt-waist dresses with hemlines just below the knee, with collars and shoulder pads, their hair styled in victory rolls or perhaps finger waves, and their lips would be painted fire-engine red. The guys would be in slim-cut cuffless suits with ties tucked in, donning combed back hair or buzz cuts. Instead I saw young gals in bright colored dresses of varying lengths, sleeved and sleeveless, fitted and fluid, with hair styles from long flowing locks to short stylish bobs, wearing limited amounts of make-up and no lipstick at all. The guys were dressed in dark suits or sports coats, light colored button down shirts and ties, and their hair was either styled as it grew or non-existent (there were several shaved heads in this crowd of young men), and a couple sported snappy blacks fedoras. As the evening progressed and the music heated up, ties were loosened, shirt buttons undone, and hats parked on the sidelines.
Here we were in Indiana over 50 years after "swing" originated, the styles were different but the passion for this type of dance has never been more fervent, and boy do these young people know how to swing. They even teach it and there was a lesson for those of us who might be rusty between the wedding and the reception.
I should also note that in the spirit of true tradition, the reception began with a beautiful waltz to which the bride and her father, and the groom and his mother danced.
A fun time was had by one and all, and all accompanied by that big-band sound so familiar to the grand-parents in the crowd. Bet there were lots of smiles in heaven that day!
wonderfully refreshing !
I grew up with that music and still enjoy it.
nice its on sirrus sat channel 6004
Posted by: Robert | Thursday, October 04, 2012 at 03:35 PM
What a happy couple and what a great wedding!
I love the slide show!
Posted by: Frannie | Wednesday, October 03, 2012 at 10:40 PM