North Beach Now-Best of the Bay

Best Place to Learn Swing/Jitterbug

Want to know to know how to look like a pro when you're putting on the dog at the Hi Ball? The best teacher for learning the ins and outs of this hottest dance revival is Diana (pronounced Dee-Ah'-na) Castillo, a swing master with over 20 years of experience, who teaches Wednesday nights at Fort Mason.

Not to worry if you have two left feet and don't know a Sweetheart from a St. Charles. Unlike a lot of those half hour lessons you get at the clubs, where the instructors often seem more intent on strutting their stuff than teaching, Diana breaks everything down into manageable steps. Each move you learn builds on what came before.

Don't have a regular partner? Don't fret, Diana makes sure everyone rotates, which also makes the classes a lot more sociable. Plus, whether you are male or female, under this system you'll eventually end up being Diana's partner, and dancing with her automatically guarantees you'll look better!

The emphasis in Diana's classes is on building steps into smooth combinations, having fun, and last, but not least, learning the etiquette of partner dancing, something I haven't seen taught elsewhere but should. You may not end looking as slick as one of those pomaded hipsters at the Hi Ball, but you'll definitely have the right stuff.

Joan Dahlgren annual survey of the Beach's best

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