What is Copper City Swing?

We want Phoenicians to know that Lindy Hop is a social and primarily casual activity.

As adults, many of us find it hard to make friends.

"Doing" Lindy Hop is great for all types of people to make friends in a semi-structured yet satisfyingly improvised context. Lindy Hop is NOT a hobby exclusive to “dancers" either.

We at CCS do not teach Lindy Hop as a hobby only available to those “dancers” in your life. Rather its the people who say "I have two left feet” who try Lindy Hop on and find out they can indeed dance.

Your parents and almost definitely your grandparents and especially your great-grandparents LIKELY went out dancing as a casual activity on weekends and weeknights just for FUN! Not because they were "dancers". And not just to meet new people, or hang out with their friends, but because it's a cheap and fun pastime that ANYONE can do. Even going by yourself is fun and empowering! Many people have heard about Lindy Hop, but few know it still exists and thrives as a worldwide phenomenon to this day.

All of this to say; Doing Lindy Hop does not mean irrelevance. It means progressivism, queerness, openness, and being part of something wonderfully historical and truly unique to this country. Its social by NATURE, it's CASUAL by nature.

CCS is NOT a singles club. AND this is a perfect place to work on your friend making skills. Sometimes you can even find people to date. We are a social club focused on a shared love of a uniquely American tradition: Swing dancing for fun. Akin to the way people gather because they love baseball for its heritage and modern expression. Lindy Hopping means we can take part in a tradition that is older than we are. Which is rare for a lot of Americans. Many of whom do not have clear history and traditions they can identify with.

Lindy Hop is the original “swing” dance; beginning approximately in the late 1920s. “The Lindy Hop community” or “Scene[s]" as it's practitioners affectionately refer to the diverse groups of people who DO Lindy all over the world.

Modern-day Lindy Hopper's execute a complex operation; performing a historic partnered & solo dance socially and improvisation-ally, while simultaneously also constantly updating, clarifying and revising the dance. Essentially, when you "DO LINDY HOP" you are not cosplaying, or reviving a bygone era's hobby. Yes, "Doing Lindy" includes snapshots of the dance as it was originally done in its original time by its creators in the black American communities in NY. And of course elsewhere in the US, but it also includes methods of improving instruction, improving shape, improving communication of partnering values. Combining what was becoming jazz with other African (Nigerian, South African, etc.) traditions, musical motifs, performance ethics, philosophies and dances. The people who built this country also created the one of the best art forms this country has ever seen.

Lindy Hop is NOT clubbing or raving - obviously

Of course, many people still go dancing nowadays. In the form of clubbing, raves, concerts, etc; Clubbing is fun, but not everyone likes clubbing. I'm not sure if Gen Z or younger people will even like clubbing. Just typing the word feels old fashioned.

Just like how not everyone wants to go out Latin dancing or do Ballroom Waltz, or even country dancing or west coast. We think that Lindy Hop is perfect for just the kinds of people who don’t think that “dancing” is for them.

"Hm, what should I do tonight?"

It doesn't matter if you're single, married, divorced, or poly, gay, straight, black white, fat or thin. The Lindy Hop community is likely a good choice. Lindy Hop scenes often form close friendships, marriages, polycules. It helps people find themselves, it helps people open up to possibilities and ways of living they never thought could happen. That's not the focus of course. But, relationships of all kinds happen where there are people with shared values, interests, and pastimes.

This all might seem a bit much for "just a dance" well. The truth is, Lindy Hop is not "just a dance" Anymore than Hip Hop is "just a dance". These are communities of diverse people. Culture happens where people come together over shared space and action.

LGBTQA social activity

You can dance with anyone of any gender and of any orientation. Because all that matters is the music and physical connection with others.

We know dance can be pretty intimidating, especially if you are a size or look or vibe that you don’t think a “dancer” “should” be. Or if you don’t feel like you belong anywhere, if you want to make friends but are having a hard time, and if you want to be part of a community that takes care of its own. A local Lindy Hop scene can be a great place to be.

Lindy Hop school yes, but not that serious

We used to offer progressive 4-week courses. But you don’t have to take classes to learn how to Lindy Hop. Just by going to social dances you can learn how to ask people to dance, how to say no, how to say yes, and how to listen to the music. And how to move while connected to another person. CCS is perfect if you’re thinking about getting into dance for the first time. Or if you just want something interesting to do with your friends or by yourself.

Our goal is to be a place where you get safe, and fun social interaction while making (appropriate) physical contact with others and most importantly connect in a deeper way with yourself, the music, each other, and the community around you.

A short acknowledgment to the people that kept Lindy Hop alive through the years

There was a time when Lindy Hop as a mainstay of community activities fell out of popular culture and prominence. Though, many variations of the dance spawned from natural and unnatural changes in music, legislation, and civic mood many of these backwards sentiments still survive to this day. Sometime in the late 80s I believe. Revivalists had to sift through what I believe were VHS tapes, but mostly fragments of dancing from film reels of documentaries, and the performances of Lindy Hop in some films where Lindy Hop was done. One such revivalist: Ryan Francois had to re-watch the same film repeatedly in a NY theater and take notes in order to figure out what was the technique for the 'Lindy Hop'. (Source: Planet swing -- the real Harlem Globetrotters: Ryan Francois at TEDxAlbertopolis) I share this incredibly helpful and inspiring video with a gigantic disclaimer: **Ryan makes claims that not everyone in the Lindy Hop community agrees with. He seems to be a key part of the revival of Lindy Hop. But, some people have issues with the way some of the info in this video is framed.

Lindy Hop is American history, it is black history

Depending where you start, this story begins with integration. Racial integration. There is an argument that this art was a wholly black art- then coopted like many other art forms in the US by white people and then they took credit. I personally do not see this evidenced by the notable historical characters referenced when you research this activity. Lindy Hop & Authentic Jazz dance is one of the most proudly black artforms I have ever seen. The fact that it came from a time when segregation was still occurring all over this country I think clouds that truth. This is opinion. And does not reflect the views and beliefs of other notable bearers of the art. I believe I can confidently say mostly black and some white people carried this art form through the years.

It can be noted that in all reasonable probability some of the black communities in this country did not want integration. Of course many did for treatment and equality' sake. However, integration while good also meant the encroachment upon spaces where black Americans had carved out beautiful environments full of the evolving culture that the long-hard battle for freedom brought. Of course many white people did not support integration in the 40s-60s. Albeit for VERY different reasons of course. Some people did want integrated spaces, and some were indifferent. Of course. Black nor white communities were monolithic in their desires. The creators of Lindy Hop themselves have claimed on video and in books that they had been dancing Lindy Hop with all races from its inception.

Recognizing the need for personal and cultural safety in a discussion of racial tensions by black Americans at ANYTIME of US history including the 90s, is something we should recognize about the past and our current misgivings about black American's actions and words.

If black people said they had earnest desires to dance with white people in integrated spaces before the nation-wide integration then I think we should take that at face value and seriously. Yes of course it could have been a self-preservationist claim to make. But, who's to say. Who's to know what the 'truth' is now. Preferences for single-race spaces by both white and black communities carry incredibly different weights and implications. It cannot be said that a preference for a black-only space by black people is racist. It CAN be said that preservation of white spaces by white people is racist.

If black people wanted white only spaces and black only spaces it would be understandable and fair thing to desire. Given what has happened throughout US history. Language and definitions change because we learn and grow and those definitions become more clear and concise over time.

Lindy Hop is in a way the history of America - It is the history of black Americans specifically. So, it was the history of the people that built this country. Learning about the history and evolution of the Lindy Hop community is inadvertently learning core parts of why America was the way it was. And learning what these Americans did for fun and fulfillment. Though many know about the Harlem Renaissance and the evolution of jazz as a purely north American art form. Many people don't seem to realize who the community around the evolution of blues, rock, and jazz really was/is, and do not realize that a core part of the culture of the time was the dances that were done alongside the music being played. And how those dances are still being done to this very day.

Why we want to do all of this

For all of us at CCS, we don't want anyone to waste their time learning Lindy Hop inefficiently. Classes, though helpful are not necessary to learn Lindy Hop. We want to offer classes and numerous other learning opportunities, affordable and accessible for anyone who wants to learn. We have before us in the coming post-pandemic world a rare chance to cut out of our lives everything that doesn't serve us. We can be a part of something rare. An authentically and exclusively American tradition that we can be proud of. Scarce as such a notion might be.

For Copper City Swing. And the general Lindy Hop community, Lindy Hop is obviously so much more than 'just a dance.' Dancing is often a key part of many cultures, which means dancing is where people are, and where people are, there are politics.

We at CCS recognize where Lindy Hop came from, and its history.

We respect its original practitioners and the unfathomable hardships in early 1930s and earlier America.

Though I/we may never know what Lindy Hop truly was for the black Americans that created this dance. We can take them at their word, and take the heart of progress with us. And we can still recognize the subsequent whitewashing of Lindy Hop into 'east coast swing', and America's lack of recognition it in its history books, thus softening Lindy Hop's subversive nature. Lindy Hop can NOW for us, be a rejection of authoritarianism, hegemony, of false hierarchy.

Though this notion might sound outlandish for a dance, finding a dependable community through a widespread practice of Lindy Hop in America, may actually one day be our greatest tools against the very threats against black people have been enduring in this country for decades. If we can support our own through means other than the state's tools and devices. The state may never achieve total control.

CCS mission and vision

Though Lindy Hop was forgotten about for a time for mainstream audiences, it was remembered through its mainstream recognition due to its intrinsic enduring nature and community. Lindy Hop is more than just a dance, it is a spontaneously organized group of humans brought together by the love of the music and each other. We come to the floor from all walks of life, from all over the world because we share this passion that transcends borders and brings together the laborers of every nation, the poor, the oppressed, and the outcasts. The vision for CCS is to tell all of Phoenix that Lindy Hop is for the masses, not the elites. The CCS mission is to bring affordable Lindy Hop instruction and live music opportunities to the communities that Lindy Hop was made by and made for.

Closing thoughts

I understand that probably most people won't become obsessed with Lindy Hop the same way we are here at the Copper City. But, I know that some will and I want them to know that others are interested as well. I also want people who are casual about practicing Lindy Hop to know that CCS is a place for them!

I knew that people loved this dance, they loved this community and they loved this music, the movements, and the vintage styling. Whatever it is they love about the Lindy Hop scene, CCS wants to help make it a more accessible reality for those with a community, without a community, with different hobbies, with no hobbies, those with friends, those with no friends, the oppressed, lonely, and the outcasts, the popular and loved.

And while Lindy Hop isn't going to be loved by everyone, anyone can do it and find a loving, generous, and kind group of people to be a part of.

We hope that you will share with us this incredible community and rich American tradition!