Swing Dancing For Fremont's Artistic Teens

Anyone who has lived in Fremont for a substantial amount of time and who has attended the various local theatrical productions, art galleries, and holiday themed attractions knows that Fremont is rich in creative talent and personalities, local residents who excel in acting, dancing, and performing. These are our local residents who love to express themselves creatively through various artistic endeavors.

Among these local artists and creative expressionists is a sizeable population of young people, teenagers and twenty-somethings who are always looking for a local outlet for their artistic bent.

Vintage/retro swing dancing offers such an outlet.

Local dance instructor Michael Quebec runs Fremont Adult and Education’s Swing Dance Program with that need in mind.

He observed, “I noticed that the young people who come to us, the high schoolers, are usually also involved in the local theater or are musicians. They are attracted to our program because the dance style is creative and when we go out or hold our own dances, they get to dress up in vintage ‘40's or ‘50's clothing. It gives them another outlet for their creativity. And since young folks aren't intimidated by hard work or flashy moves, but are in fact, attracted to it, we realized that there is a market for teens who want to swing dance.”

Swing dancing, also known as “jitterbug” or “lindy hop”, was that style of twirling and turning partnered dancing that became very popular during the Big Band Era of the late 1930s to mid-1940’s and was later brought back during the Rock n’ Roll Era of the mid-1950s. After it declined during the “Twist" fad of the early 1960’s, it was revived with a “retro" take during the late 1990’s during the ‘90's Swing Revival.” It also has its contemporary modern form, in the style known as “West Coast Swing", but interestingly, it is it’s 1940’s and 1950’s incarnations that attract the young people, and the artistic and creative ones, at that.

Los Angeles native Alexandra Hickey, who attends Redondo Union High School in Los Angeles stated by messenger, “I get happiness, and really every other positive feeling, out of it (swing dancing) like no other thing. It's the reason why I get up in the morning. It has old-time class but also so much fun. It combines so many different types of people, and no-one has ever been judgmental to me. And it's not just an activity or hobby, it's a lifestyle.”

San Jose State student and Fremont native Amanda Clemmons states, “For me, swing is a fun way to get some exercise and socialize at the same time. I have always loved watching swing...and all the amazing moves they do.”

Cole Berggren, recent graduate from Mission San Jose High School and now at Ohlone College writes, "Swing dancing is a great way for my sister and I to spend time together doing something we both love. We've both had an appreciation for big band swing music and 50's rock for years. We also grew up horse playing and flipping each other over, so in that sense, swing was really a natural and perfect progression for us. The community we've experienced in our time swing dancing has been incredibly kind and supportive and that's a huge reason that we've kept involved after our initial attraction."

All ages are welcome at Fremont Adult and Continuing Education’s Swing Dance Program, as are all levels. Quebec states, “Really we get singles, couples, retirees, Baby Boomers, Generation X folks, everyone. But it's the young people who seem to want to go out and try out what they learned outside of class. But it's also those same younger vintage swing and rockabilly dancers who often get shut out of the popular venues, which to me, should be catering to them, especially when one remembers that this dance style was for young people when it first was developed.”

Quebec is referring to the trend of many vintage venues that are only open to patrons 21 years of age and above.

“They (the people who run these venues) often feel that they have to serve alcohol, and that their profit is based on that. I've been involved in both the swing and rockabilly scenes and I know most of the rockabilly venues are 21 and above because of the serving of alcohol and many of the swing dance venues locally are 21 and above. A local nightclub here in Fremont, a perfectly fine nightclub, had a swing dance night that I was a part of two years ago, but because it was 21 and above, half of the folks who wanted to get in couldn't and the club had to eventually replace their vintage swing dance nights with country.”

Because of this, in addition to the regular dance classes at Fremont Adult School, Mike Quebec is working closely with the Fremont Main Library to host a “Free All Ages Swing Dance Party and Record Hop” on July 16th called “Boppin’ At The Bookshelves.”

“It’s really a way let our Fremont locals know about our vintage swing dance program, as well as to let the folks who have access to spaces where dance parties could be held here, know that there is an interest in this activity.”

And he has let the young people in the area know about the event.

“I contacted the head of Irvington High School’s Drama/Theater Arts Department, Matt Vallen, and he let me make an announcement to his students. Once I mentioned that we were doing a swing dance at the Fremont Main Library over the summer, some of the students got up and started twirling each other! They certainly were familiar with what I was talking about and were obviously enthusiastic.”

Fremont Adult and Continuing Education’s regular swing dance sessions have classes for beginners with no previous experience on Mondays and Wednesdays in The Multi Purpose Room and Tuesdays and Thursdays in The Noll Building. All Beginner's Classes are at 8:00 p.m. For Intermediate and Advanced swing dancers, the school has their classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays in The Noll Building at 7:00 p.m.

Fremont Adult and Continuing Education is located at:

4700 Calaveras Avenue
Fremont, CA 94538
Tel. (510) 793-6465

For updates on Fremont Adult and Continuing Education's Swing Dance Class schedule, go to:

http://www.rockinswing.com

“Boppin’ At The Bookshelves” at The Fremont Main Library is happening on Saturday, July 16, 2016, with a Free Beginners East Coast Swing Lesson at 1:00 p.m. followed by Open Dancing from 2:00 p.m to 4:30 p.m.

The Fremont Main Library is located at:

2400 Stevenson Blvd
Fremont, California 94538

Tel. (510)-745-1432

The event is free, however space is limited. If interested, join the Facebook event page at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1392988054142698

For any questions, contact Mike Quebec directly at (510)-240-2732 or at esperescano@gmail.com.