Feature by Robert Tousley "The Lindy Hop was started back in the 1930s as a high energy dance."

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous Features | Send mail to The Voice Couple Discovers Passion for Swing Dancing Kunnecke and Peacock spend Sunday nights at The Nocturnal beginning at 7 p.m. --Robert Tousley, photo "When swing music comes on, I can't help it. If there was swing music on right now I'd take Abbey and swing her out on the floor," Larry Peacock said. When Peacock isn't tempted to swing Abbey Kunnecke, an MBC sophomore and his girlfriend of 10 months, around any grocery store, gas station, or restaurant, he's actually swinging her on the dance floor, sometimes five nights a week. "Sunday night we go to The Nocturnal. Tuesday we're at Viscount (both located blocks from Burnside street)," Kunnecke said, as she counted off the dance venues they frequent. This night they danced at The Nocturnal. The hardwood floors and abstract art on the walls gave the dance room a casual coffee-shop-like-atmosphere. The music resonated throughout the room, with every visible person twisting and shuffling along with it. The low lights seemed to prevent any kind of distraction except that provided by the disc jockey's turntables. When Peacock and Kunnecke dance, they know exactly where they're going without looking. Peacock effortlessly threw Kunnecke into blind turns, both knowing where their hands would be without actually seeing them. They caught each beat of the music with their bodies as if they had written the song themselves. Their feet never stopped moving, were never out of rhythm, and looked as if they barely touched the ground. "East Coast Swing is the easiest to learn," Peacock said. "East Coast is taught for free before any dance because it's nice if beginners can participate. Next comes Lindy Hop Swing. People who do this are called Hoppers." "East Coast is a six-count dance," Kunnecke said. "Lindy Hop is an eight-count dance, but it's more difficult than East Coast. You can use East Coast moves in Lindy Hop." Kunnucke started learning how to swing dance when her friend and fellow student Krista Lombard took her to The Nocturnal one night last January. The Nocturnal is where Kunnecke met Peacock. Following their first visit, Kunnecke and Lombard began learning as much as possible about swing. Kunnecke has some background in dance. As a 12-year old, she began taking ballet classes in Japan where she lived until her first year at MBC in 2003. Peacock attended Multnomah from 1998 to 2002. Peacock, who lived across the street from MBC, had turned his garage into a dance floor and taught Kunnecke and Lombard more swing dancing there. Lindy Hop quickly became their favorite. Peacock said he can't get enough of Lindy Hop. He teaches hoppers several nights a week at different establishments, including The Nocturnal, and at his own personal venue in Tigard. "Most people don't know that swing dancing is America's first original partner dance," Peacock said. "Ballroom started in Europe, but swing originated here. The Lindy Hop was started back in the 1930s as a high-energy dance." Peacock explained that Frankie Manning was one of the first Lindy Hop dancers. Although he's now 90 years old, Manning still dances in halls around the country. Manning's work has influenced Peacock's own desire to swing dance. Peacock has been associated with swing music for the last 10 years but not always with swing dancing. He attended Portland State University for two years as a music major. While there, he played the piano with musicians who shared his passion for swing music. Many of those musicians are now part of local swing bands around the Portland area such as Pork Pie and Lilly Wild and her Jumping Jubilee Orchestra. While Peacock was at Portland State, he watched the sons of one of the piano players swing tap, a combination of swing dancing and tap dancing. It sparked immediate interest in Peacock. In the summer of 2002, Peacock began to learn about swing. He attended classes that taught East Coast Swing and Lindy Hop and found he was a natural largely because of his experience with playing swing music. "Partner dancing is a lost art," Peacock said. But Peacock and Kunnecke have rediscovered the craft back on the hardwood. Peacock swung Kunnecke in every possible direction, never letting her go. Kunnecke still knew the move Peacock was doing before he started it. They danced East Coast and Lindy Hop. They danced six counts and eight counts. They danced swing like they talked about swing: as if swing wasn't 70 years old, but as if they had just discovered it. Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous Features | Top Of Page Send mail to The Voice| Journalism department website © 2004 The Voice. No part of this publication may be reproduced in written or electronic form without prior written consent from the journalism adviser of Multnomah Bible College. All rights reserved.