Swing Dance Jacksonville: Balboa the "dancers" dance!

Dance marathons took place here at the Balboa Pavilion on Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach during the Great Depression.

NEWPORT HARBOR NAUTICAL MUSEUM

"Come, and trip it, as you go, On the light fantastic toe." - John Milton, L'Allegro

In just over two years the Volstead Swing Dance Sundays has become an icon in the Jacksonville Swing Dance scene. And what we love about it is the eclectic feel, the unusual prohibition inspired drinks, and the dancing! But as anyone who has ever been to the Volstead on a busy live show night can attest: you hope to find just the right spot to show off your moves. You dance and all the while a song blares that you love, and you've danced to before, but by golly, you are just exhausted after flying through beats that are up to 300bpm. In the end using all the floor-craft you possess, you find that sweet spot where a kick or a spin wouldn't bump someone in the chaotic flux of fun. If you've ever felt this way on a dance floor, Balboa is the dance of your dreams!

The origins of this dance are shrouded in history, some say, it originated in Southern California near Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. In the 1920s and 1930s dancers only knew of this dance as Swing, but Balboa evolved to have its own unique look. Balboa came of the necessity to find an alternative to the Break-away, a dance that was banned in many halls due to the large crowds and massive popularity of swing dance (see video below). Just as swing dance branched mostly from the Charleston so did Balboa.

Over the years the original dancers aged and continued with their passion. Sylvia Sykes and Jonathan Bixby in the early 1980's persuaded some of the old timers to teach them the dance to preserve it into the future. Maxie Dorf one of these original dancers was widely acclaimed as the 'King of Balboa'. Maxie danced and taught Balboa during the Swing Dance Revival into the late 90's before finally passing away in 2000.

There are two terms usually used when describing Balboa, Pure Bal, and Bal-Swing. Pure Bal is danced primarily in closed position, and is led with a full body connection. The art of Balboa is in the subtle movements or the pulse between the lead and follow, including weight shifts, which most viewers cannot see. Just a few of the steps involved are the Maxie Basic, paddles, scoots and pivots. Bal-Swing is a more open dance switching between the torso to torso lead to the lead in the handholds, this allow for more spins, variation in footwork and improvisation.

Come learn Pure Bal and Bal-Swing with us on Thursday nights 8:30-9:30 this month at Club Savoy and take your moves to Swing Dance Sundays at the Volstead. During those fast paced songs you'll be the only dancer gliding over the dance floor without breaking a sweat.

-Jen