The Swing’s the Thing in Playa del Rey

Men and women spin giddily on the dance floor, sometimes throwing in kicks and hops for good measure. On stage, a man in a white tuxedo croons Frank Sinatra songs as a 16-piece band plays the melody. Earlier, they jumped into a rousing rendition of Benny Goodman’s "Sing, Sing, Sing."

It’s not a scene from a World War II-era movie. Rather, it’s the setting once a week at the Elk’s Lodge in Playa del Rey.

“Dancing just lifts the souls of all these people,” said Rusty Frank, who founded Rusty’s Rhythm Club and runs a set of four-week swing dance classes.

The dance takes place every Wednesday night, except for the first week of every month, when it's held on Friday. The $15 admission includes a half-hour dance lesson at 7:30 pm and live music with some of the hottest bands around. The band set to play this Wednesday, The Jive Aces, is from the U.K. and will draw a crowd, Frank promised. Its jump-jive sound will provide a contrast to the smooth big band tones of The Esquires, last week’s band.

The dance brings together people of all occupations and ages, Frank said. Bill Nye The Science Guy is a regular attendee.

“You’ll see a 14-year-old dancing with an 85-year-old, and they’ll each have a huge smile on their face,” Frank said. “They all have one common thread: it’s a really nice crowd, and they love to dance.”

Rusty’s Rhythm Club is the only place on the Westside that offers Lindy Hop and East Coast swing dancing. The closest other locale is Alpine Village in Torrance, which offers swing on Monday nights.

Last Wednesday’s Valentine’s Day theme brought about 50 people, many of them decked out in red dresses and shirts. Depending on the band, each dance can draw anywhere from 50 to 200 people.

Many of the people who attended Wednesday’s dance said they go swing dancing for the social aspect. In many cases, people get into swing after a major life event.

“I know more than one person who said going dancing saved their life,” said Ron Ogren of Redondo Beach.

The 69-year-old started swing dancing eight years ago after his wife passed away. His daughter needed a partner and asked him to go to lessons with her; while she no longer dances, Ogren goes four to five nights a week.

Similarly, a major life event led Manuel Ovila, 68, into swing dancing six years ago.

“The wife left so, hey, I’m gonna go out dancing,” he said with a laugh. Like everyone else, he cites the friendly crowd as one of the reasons he goes.

Ovila, of Long Beach, can count himself part of that friendly crowd. When dancing he happily shares tips with a less experienced dancer.

“Like you’re kicking a golf ball,” he says, explaining the proper way to do a set of kicks.

Frank was a professional tap dancer before she switched to swing dancing. She opened Rusty’s Rhythm Club in 1998 and moved it to the Elk’s Lodge in 2001.

The swing resurgence began in 1996 and ended in 2000, but the number of people who keep coming to dance stabilized. Lindy Hop has become more well-known with the onslaught of popular dance-themed TV shows, such as ABC's Dancing With the Stars.

“Even in the heyday, when people asked me what dance I taught, when I said Lindy Hop they would look at me very confused,” Frank said. “Now it’s in the vernacular. ... When people ask me what I do and I say I’m a Lindy Hop teacher they say, 'Wow, that’s so cool.' I think, 'Wow, they actually know what it is.'”

Sofia Siegel, 23, is part of the new generation of dancers. Growing up, she listened to swing music and danced with her dad, but never really knew the steps. In November, she took Frank’s four-week class and has been going to area swing dances ever since.

“It never occurred to me that this was still a scene,” she said. “This is a very different side of this city. It’s a very kind group. The people who come back to this scene are a very inviting group, especially as you’re learning.”

Frank said swing dancing and Lindy Hop provides people a connection at a time when they’re physically isolated from each other, when sitting in front of computer screens counts as interacting with others.

“I don’t know what I would do without it,” Frank said.

With a laugh she asked a passing friend, “What would we do without it, Rob? What would we do without our swing dancing?”

His reply: “I would be lost.”