Last night I, along with over two hundred other swing dancers, shared my last dance with the first person I danced with at The Handlebar. It was a bittersweet moment, knowing that this is the last time I will ever dance on that floor. As I walked in, I felt the familiar rush of butterflies in my stomach, the same feeling I've felt every day I have danced since the first day I set foot in The Handlebar three years ago. This time, another feeling washed over me, nostalgia. I looked around seeing all of the people I have come to know
Before I started dancing at The Handlebar, I was going through a very very rough time that I don't like to talk about. I had lost a lot of people and I felt very alone and heart broken. I had been betrayed by people I thought loved me, who I thought were my friends. So when I heard a group of some old friends discussing swing dancing three years ago, I was immediately interested. They invited me to come along and I went every Tuesday that I possibly could, even when they stopped going. I have always been a very shy and quiet, introverted person, but I have also always had a love and passion for dance. Swing dancing allowed me to get the nerve up to come out of my shell and make new friends. In the past, I would have never been able to accomplish all that I have without swing! It gave me courage, happiness, and a sense of belonging that I had never felt before.
Before long I had learned the basic steps and dips and spins and I wanted to learn more! I wanted to get thrown around and flipped and lifted into the air like I had seen the dancers in old movies do. I met more and more talented aspiring dancers that I ended up rounding up into a group of friends who all shared our passion and love of learning and dancing together. Not only did we dance on Tuesdays, but we started dancing wherever we went! Downtown, in coffee shops, even in Waffle House! I don't know if he knows it, but Paul had given us all something that we could take with us wherever we went. Something that we could share with others and teach and learn from! He also taught us that we don't have to be amazing dancers, we don't have to be perfect, and we don't have to compete, we just have to have fun and spread that joy to others. He gave us a place we could all fit in and belong and create friendships and long lasting relationships and bonds.
All of this has inspired me to get together and dance for fun, for photos, for videos, to make friends, meet new people, get people together, teach and learn and so much more! Since I have been going to The Handlebar for Upstate Swing I have had several of my own smaller dance events, whether it was for someone's birthday, a photography or video project, for a holiday, or just for fun! One of my favorites was a HUGE swing flash mob that was so successful and amazing that I will never ever forget it! Check out this video, if you haven't seen it already!
Singer: Wanda Johnson
Swing dancing at The Handlebar changed my life, and the lives of many others. It's sad to see it go, but we all know that swing is not dead, it never was, and it never will be! Upstate swing on Tuesday nights is not over, because they have moved to a new venue and will still continue hosting dances on Tuesday nights in Greenville! The memories at The Handlebar will stay with us all. And Paul, I hope you are reading this, even though my story is small. I want to thank you, and the entire Upstate Swing team for all that you have done for me, and for all of us, and all that you continue to do. It has been an honor to dance with you, and to work alongside you, and I hope there will be many more years to do so!
Also, be sure to check out Paul and Greg on this interview with Carolina Now: http://www.carolinascw.com/story/25250707/upstate-swing-celebrates-15-year-run-at-the-handlebar-with-final-event
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