Fun with Swing is an easy mixer described by Alma Heaton in his 1959 book Fun Dances.
The version described below is an adaptation by Nick and Melissa Enge that combines the best elements of several of Heaton's mixers in that book.
In dance communities that rely on buzz-step swinging, it's a great way to practice this essential step, and to identify new partners you might want to dance with.
Side by side, facing LOD, holding inside hands.
Part I - Promenade and Rollaway (4 bars): Walk four steps along LOD (1, 2, 3, 4), then rollaway from each other in four steps, the Follows progressing along and the Leads against LOD to a new partner (5, 6, 7, 8).
Part II - Swing (4 bars): Swing (buzz-step) new partner for eight counts, opening out to original position at the end (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).
Repeat from the beginning.
The recommended music is "any good square dance calling record."
In the video above, we used "Youngblood" by 5 Seconds of Summer.
© 2019 Nick Enge
For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.
For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.
For help crafting a life you love, visit: Project Quartz.
Home About Dances Manuals Search