Chris Bailey: I started my Swing dancing experience in September of 1997 when my brother convinced me to join him in taking Lindy-Hop lessons. I soon realized that Lindy was exactly the type of dance that I had been looking for, and within two months of starting lessons I was dancing 3-4 nights a week. I probably would have danced more but at that time those were the only venues opened!

Then one day someone mentioned that they had seen this new commercial with Lindy Hop in it. The infamous Gap Commercial. Overnight the number of venues and dancers exploded. So I did what anyone would do, I started teaching and performing! By the summer of 1998 I had managed to convince the lovely Laura Avery to be my dance partner. We competed in the Virginia State Open - Amateur Classic Division and placed second in our division.

But alas things never stay the same. Love struck and for awhile I faded from the public dance scene.

But, I'm back and ready to Swing.