Organization Description and Mission
Boston Swing Central is an organization dedicated to promoting and ensuring the continued existence of the Lindy Hop and related dances through learning and teaching. The Lindy Hop is an American form of swing dancing that originated in the ballrooms of Harlem during the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Supporting the continued existence of this American art form includes supporting a network of teachers, jazz bands, and dancers in the Boston area. It is a volunteer run organization for swing dancers, by swing dancers. It supports a core group of several hundred regular dancers as well as the public at large that is interested in learning this form of dancing.
In order to preserve and forward Lindy Hop, this business provides a combination of both lessons and community dances to practice and reinforce the skills learned in formal lessons. In order to truly learn how to dance, it is important to practice what is learned on a frequent basis by listening and dancing to music .
The demographics of attendees reach across all races and ages that populate Boston and the surrounding communities. Attendees are anywhere from 18 to 85, and it is a true melting pot that brings disparate members of the community together. Attendees have been dancing from one year to 50 years, and many have been dancing three or more years.
Board Members/owners have been dancing from 2 to 13 years, and have experience running several other dances or teaching in the community throughout this time.
Current Operations
For the past two years, Boston Swing Central has been running a Friday night community dance in the basements of churches, community centers such as the YMCA, and Dance Studios in Cambridge and Medford. This dance includes an hour long beginning lesson, followed by 3 hours of dancing with DJ’d or live jazz musicians that are regional to national. During the Friday night dance, coaches (called Angels) are available for 1.5 hours, and teachers remain available for further instruction throughout the evening to provide assistance as requested by attendees. This is run with two board members/owners present who organize a group of 5 to 10 volunteers to run the operations.
Other community events and lessons offered for free by the organization include:
· Lessons that are held regularly several times (4 to 6 times per year) throughout the community by members of the organization at no charge. These are held at community centers or college campuses, and are considered to be community outreach activities. Students receive formal instruction for 1 to 2 hour hours once a week for a 4 week period, followed by a practice session with music.
· Community dances upon request, and has held a swing dance at the Community Boat House for the past two years in the summer, raising over $2,500 towards the youth boating program. Over 300 people participated.
· Free outdoor dances and lessons in the summer at various locations throughout Boston. This is a one hour lesson followed by 2 hours of open dancing. Permits are acquired from the Department of Parks and Recreation.
At no time during its 2 year history have any incidents occurred at any Boston Swing Central event that required intervention by Boston, Cambridge, or Medford police or other emergency service personnel. Nor have there been any incidents requiring intervention from independent security personnel, or venue staff. There is no alcohol served or permitted at any of these events.
Additional Future Operations
The Organization is in the process of acquiring its non-profit status in 2010 and is currently working on submission of its non-profit application.
After two years of operation, Boston Swing Central is also seeking a permanent space within the city of Boston at 24 Roland Street in Charlestown, MA to hold workshops and additional lessons during the week. Specifically, we plan to offer the following in the near future:
· Tuesday night lessons from 7pm-9pm, which include 1 hour of beginning instruction followed by 1 hour of intermediate instruction. Lessons would be followed by a two hour community dance to practice skills learned in the lesson. Teachers will be available for assistance during open dancing.
· Wednesday night dance team practice session and lessons for advanced dancers for 2 hours (7pm to 9pm)
· Use by local and international instructors for private dance instruction on other nights during the week.
· Monthly workshops held on the weekends. These would be intensive sessions lasting from 4 hours to 2 or 3 days, focusing on a series of lessons. These would be lead by Boston Swing Central Instructors, outside local instructors, or international instructors.
