Swing With Zing

These days, if you tell people you go country dancing, chances are you can almost read that pop-up thought bubble that screams, “Not too much of a swinger, are you?”

But, in fact, there’s every version of the swing--and lots more--happening on the country dance floor. It’s not all just line dancing and two-stepping, and it’s attracting a younger crowd.

By 1994, country dancers in this area had rediscovered “country swing” (a.k.a. jitterbug, East Coast swing) and it’s R&B; companion, West Coast swing.

This was long before Brian Setzer or the Gap’s TV ads made swing a household word. And there are as many opportunities in most country dance spots to learn forms of swing, the cha-cha, new hustle, and even “retro-swing”--the Lindy hop, Balboa, and shag--from your grandparents’ era.

School’s out for the holidays. So teenagers should check out the Borderline in Thousand Oaks on Sunday night. Rick Borja teaches various dances at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. And the $5 cover charge includes a buffet and all the deejay music you can handle.

When I stopped by this Thousand Oaks club at 8 p.m. Sunday night, the preteen family night patrons were gone.

The large dance floor was encircled by 38 young couples engrossed in Borja’s lesson. He was teaching the partner dance called renegade. And the wannabe Freds and Gingers didn’t resemble kids at a 4-H hoedown.

Only three gents wore cowboy hats. Judging from the attire, the rest could have been from any tame teen watering hole in town. And they were all having a great time--dancing to country music.

The Borderline, at 99 Rolling Oaks Drive, admits youths under 21 accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 4 p.m. Sunday for family night. The over-21 crowd can take advantage of West Coast swing and two-step lessons at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Salsa steps are a bonus on Mondays.

The best-kept secret in town is Tuesday East Coast Swing night with Jaime and Gail Arias. These instructors have won several world championships in swing dance. Beginners start at 7 p.m. and intermediates at 8. For details, call 446-4435.

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If you want to test-drive your dance skills to live country music, Ventura County’s popular band, Caught Red Handed, plays at 9 tonight and Saturday at the Galleon Room, 5925 Calle Real in Goleta. This band, fronted by lead singer Troy Robison, has been a fixture on the local circuit for 10 years. Because it has an emphasis on couples dancing and an intimate atmosphere, the Galleon room has been attracting regular dance fans for a number of years. For information, call 967-0128.

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Closer to home, The Chad Watson band, which plays in rotation at the Cowboy Palace, Chatsworth’s landmark honky-tonk cowboy bar, performs at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Mixer’s. The club, at 2381 Tapo St. in Simi Valley, offers dance lessons at 7 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 520-7787.