Dancers get in a spin over the Olympics

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Bo Wilson12 April 2012

Hundreds of swing dancers gathered at Spitalfields markets to perform in a bid to be part of the Olympics opening ceremony next year.

Crowds of shoppers at the tail end of the bank holiday gathered to watch as the group of 400 professional dancers, teachers, enthusiasts and beginners took part in a routine.

The performance yesterday was captured by a film crew which, after editing it, will send the footage to Olympics committee.

The group danced a rehearsed routine to a live performance of The White Cliffs of Dover by swing band The Jive Aces after learning it at classes across London and over the London Swing Festival at the weekend.

The bid was devised by Scott Cupit, director of dance troupe Swing Patrol.

He said: "It's a really exciting chance to be part of the Olympics. We are based in east London and I think we can bring our own particular style."

Mr Cupit, originally from Melbourne, Australia, started swing classes in London two and a half years ago. When Swing Patrol began in London there were 26 people learning - there are now 600 in classes all over the capital.

Swing dancing is broad style of dancing from the 1920s to 1950s incorporating mainly Lindy Hop and Charleston.

The Olympic opening ceremony will be staged at the Olympic Stadium on July 27 next year and aims to celebrate Britain's best creative talent.

Overseen by film directors Danny Boyle and Stephen Daldry, the performance aims to outstrip that of the Beijing Games in 2008, which was watched by 1bn people worldwide.

Swing dancing in London used to be an underground activity for a niche group of people with a hankering after the golden age of Hollywood.

But it has now become big business, with hundreds of people learning the lindy hop, Charleston and blues every night of the week, not to mention hordes of dancers from Europe and beyond arriving in the capital for the London Swing Festival and other such events.

I started swing dancing 18 months ago and was immediately hooked. It is not only a joyous expression but a gregarious one; it is all about the connection between partners.

The teachers for Swing Patrol were originally all Australian and there is something very laid-back and open about their classes. It's not about perfection, but having fun and showing it in your dancing.

So from a small group of like-minded people to an Olympic bid is quite a leap. But for Scott Cupit and his fellow teachers it is all part of the same thing: enjoying a style of dance and life-loving attitude and spreading the word.

Being one of 400 people dancing their socks off yesterday to The White Cliffs of Dover - in the rain - was a great gesture of doing just that.

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