Anticipation glimmers in the small glances shared between the yet-to-be companions. As the beat from the drums begins, she leads, and they follow. Turning, two sharp steps out, one slow step to the side. The closeness of breath, the heat from sweat and the spark of connection that electrifies at skin-to-skin, palm-to-palm. The music intensifies, and the unregulated pattern of steps quickens. United in their bliss ignorance, they believe they’ll spin around forever. The Passion, and sexual tension, build as each colourful spotlight dances through the crowd. They yearn never letting the gripping of their clothing falter. But as the music withers and the last notes from the Cello are sung, no sooner does one’s partner become a stranger again, for with another they are to repeat a different dance, to a new tune.
The art of Blues Dancing greatly differs from the fox trot or cha-cha-cha. Its technique holds no barriers, relying on the improvisation of dancing partners whose only task is to mutually reflect the personality of the song in their moves. Evolving from African Rhythms of the Blues music scene of the 1930s, historically the blues dance genre was never viewed as a ‘serious’ performative dance. Often considered to
be too sensual, too erotic, and too intimate. However, the reflection of these emotions in movement is what makes this masque so hypnotic. This photographic series captures a blues and jazz night hosted by Swing Patrol, a dance organisation that is dedicated to bringing back alive Swing dancing through lessons and dance nights like this one
at the Blue Ritzy in Brixton, London. Visually this photoshoot, not only captured a storyline of the relationships that were formed and then broken throughout the duration of the single song. It highlighted a culture that is longing for human intimacy and connection.
