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The Queer Jitterbugs started in 2001
with a simple request from the community at the San Francisco Castro Street
Fair to join in on the email list the Queer Swing
Alert by Burnie.
Since then he has invited other groups and people to join in his mission
of dancing with other Queer Folk. The Queer Jitterbugs started doing the
monthly swing dance parties as the former group had quit doing the monthly
dances. QSwing was in Oakland, but SF was left in Queer swing hiatus by
the burned out Swing OUT! Queer Jitterbugs then started the first all
Queer by and for Lindy Hop weekly program. Citabria and Inka provided
much needed support in starting classes with Burnie. Queer Jitterbugs
saw it was important to keep Swing OUT! as a contributing member and invited
them to teach with us at the parties.
The enthusiasm for partner dancing grew from there in starting the Queer
Ballroom Party. Juan had been teaching in the Bay Area for years and joined
his Salsa programs with the group. Will came on board for the Swing program.
Two Michael's, Lisa, D. J., Kirk, Sue, Thom, Jesse, and numerous others
joined in to continue the Board and help with growing pains. Since then
as a collective the Queer Jitterbugs and Queer Ballroom opened up their
own dance studio for the community. Most individuals have donated their
time and not even paid for the hard work of teaching, promoting, hitting
the streets to poster and flyer and lots of other hard work!
Dancing is a great way to meet that special someone! In a day and age
where so much dancing in clubs is done without a connection to ones partner
we believe partner dancing can help in our interactions as healthy sexual
people. Connecting and learning to listen to your partner and lead or
follow them into a dance can be used in areas of your life aside from
dancing. Dancing can transform your life; It is great exercise, lots of
fun, builds self-confidence and physical coordination, and provides a
comfortable environment in which to make new friends. Even if you don't
like who you are dancing with; It was only 3 minutes (1 song) of your
life and you got to know them! No partner is necessary when joining our
events! We hope to help you become confident enough to ask anyone to dance!
The Queer Jitterbugs
and Queer Ballroom also are developing community connections to push the
Gay Games in Chicago and Out Games in Montreal 2006 to include Lindy Hop,
East Coast Swing, Balboa and Shag!
The Queer Jitterbugs and Queer Ballroom could not fulfill their mission
without the old timers (Queer in the closet or not), without Jazz and
without the African dance influence we would not have Swing. Likewise,
without the groundwork of other groups and individuals before the Queer
Jitterbugs and Queer Ballroom same sex partner dancing would not be as
it is today in the San Francisco Bay Area!
Queer
Salsa Alert
SF
Queer Tango
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Make
our mission your mission! |
