Last I heard, over 100 couples from the Baltimore/DC area have been married who met through swing dancing in the last few years. I'm a believer, as I met my wife several years ago at a swing dance event. Where else could a geeky 29 year old doctor meet a beautiful 23 year old grad student? For me, swing dancing was the ideal escape from hanging out night after night in bars or with people from work.

Don't misunderstand - swing dancing is NOT a meat market. It's NOT organized to help you find a significant other, or a date, or a one-night stand. It's a casual, laid-back, easy-going atmosphere where you're allowed to dance and jump around and have fun with someone of the opposite sex and nothing is implied or expected. No pressure ever. Maybe THAT's why so many people meet this way!!

"It's a fantastic way to meet people socially outside of the bar scene, where I'm much less comfy. The people I meet are real, too - not just out trying to pick up a girl or get plastered... It's so much easier to meet people dancing than at a bar or club because you HAVE to interact with them." Andi

"I'm inspired by the entire package really - the live music, the energy, the social scene, yeah ok ...and the boys! I love it because you don't need to bring a "partner". You can go solo and just dance with whoever is out that night. Mixing it up is more fun anyways." Kristin

"I had a friend who started swing dancing. I was intrigued because he didn't seem the type to be attracted to dance. I ended up going to my first dance while on vacation. I hadn't really danced before then, but by the end of the night, I had fallen in love. The music, the way the dancers moved together.... I like chillin' with all the friends I've made through swing dancing..." Sarah

"It's something different and really unexpected in my field so I always enjoy seeing people's reactions when they hear I dance. More than that, it's a great social activity and I've made friends across the country. I've also met 3 or 4 guys through dancing who I've dated for a while." Maria

"Swing is the only scene I feel comforable going out on my own without having people assume I am there to pick someone up or get picked up.. and I feel comfortable letting my spouse go out alone as well. People don't assume dancing with them means I want to go home with them... I just wanted to dance...I think a lot of guys don't go to club scenes because they get tired of the assumption that they were out to get laid every time they apporoached a woman." Kevin

"I enjoy the sense of calm and serenity I get when dancing... We do try our best to be nice to open, receptive people, both on and off the dance floor." Dave

"I just found out that one of my friends runs his own movie company, and has directed two award winning short films - one of which I've heard of. How often do you meet people like that at a bar?" Diane

"I wanted to meet interesting women. That is basically why everyone begins dancing (and if they tell you otherwise, they are lying). I took some classes, made a group of friends and it expanded from being a local group of friends to an international group of friends... Both romantic relationships and some of my closest friends (of both sexes) have come through swing dancing... I like that it is athletic, creative, social and you get to listen to great music. The people you meet through swing dancing are quality people who are very interesting... " Ben

"I started dancing about a year after I moved to the area. I didn't know many people then. Dancing instantly gave me a place I could go, by myself if necessary, where I knew I'd see friendly and familiar faces. Now I can honestly say that I've met almost every one of my friends in the area through dancing..." Angela

"Things I enjoy about swing dancing... Meeting new people. Playing around and being silly. Great excuse to travel." Jeff

"I started dancing because of overwhelming life transitions. Had just graduated from college, started a new job, broke up with a long-term boyfriend, moved in with a new roommate, and generally started my trek into adulthood. Swing dancing was a break from my life stresses; dancing really got me through a hard year... It is very social, but no pressure to get hooked up, date, etc. That is what I really like about the swing dance scene. Most people are just there is celebrate the exhilaration of swing..." Nikki

"Significant others? One relationship lasted about a year. And I met some not-so-significant others :) I've met a lot of other awesome people that I wouldn't have met otherwise." Laura

"I love that as I get better, I appreciate the music more and that pushes me. I hear more varied and interesting things in the music and I want to be able to express those things in my dancing with different partners... I typically find those who love swing dancing to be quality people. Its a great culture to be a part of." Tom

"I love the music. I love how the music makes me feel. I love being close to all the adorable guys who like the music and dance as much as I do. Dancing makes me feel sexy and alive. I feel energized after I dance, and it's easier to get up in the morning and do my work knowing I'll be dancing that night. I have also made many awesome friends through dancing, and sometimes dancing gets me on the road to places I've never been before..." Susan

"A friend of mine suggested it as a fun thing to do - there were three of us gals that wanted to do it, so I called a guy friend of mine and talked him into it. He couldn't pass up the chance to hang out with three single lovely ladies once a week, so he came along... Now, I go to dances primarily to see my friends. Sometimes it's a physical release of energy that I crave. Sometimes it's the music - I can't stay home if the band or the DJ is good. I also just love being a dancer - Feeling the music, all that. Having a partner that I have a good connection with, dancing to an amazing song, feeling the dance pour out of you with incredible energy..." Diane

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