Life & Work with The Kansas City Swingsters

Today we’d like to introduce you to The Kansas City Swingsters.

Hello The Kansas City Swingsters, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Kansas City Swingsters were founded in the year 2000 by Louis Bar and Laura Cantu. The team was created to share the love of swing dancing with Kansas City.

The team performs for many types of galas and events throughout Kansas City and surrounding areas. They perform mostly East Coast Swing and Lindy Hop, along with Charleston and high-flying Airsteps. Most team members also enjoy many other styles of dance.

The team does choreograph routines as well as freestyle dances. As a group, they offer performances, lessons, and monthly swing nights at Redux Society.

They are a close-knit group of local dancers who truly love practicing and performing together. The KC Swingsters have weekly practices and perform several times a year.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The Swingsters have had their fair share of ups and downs as a team. Originally the Swingsters were owned and operated out of the Louis and Co. ballroom. When the studio transferred ownership to Allegro Ballroom, the Swingsters traveled with it. During their time at Allegro, The Swingsters decided to become an independent partnership. Allegro Ballroom would eventually close and the dancers had to find a new home studio.

They were offered a new home by The Create-It Studio and spent a few years there until the Covid 19 pandemic hit, and yet another home was lost. Along with losing many of their dancers, performances, and ability to host events and lessons, the team now had nowhere to go. The team currently consists of 6 dancers but is hosting Auditions in September.

The KC Swingsters searched for a new studio, but being a club that is not centered on making money, could not afford most spaces. They ended up hosting practices at various members’ homes while they searched. They were approached by the owners of Redux Society and this gained a new home location where they have now been for several months.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The Swingsters offer performances in many styles of dance. We currently teach weekly Beginner East Coast Swing classes. We also host a monthly swing night that includes a short beginner lesson before dancing the night away. Several members have taught private lessons as well.

The Swingsters have always tried to bring forth a welcoming environment, where dancers from all levels can feel at home. We have performed for nursing homes, business galas, charity events, casinos, large events, music videos, and even a local film.

We are proud to bring the joy of dancing to Kansas City. We hope to continue sharing swing dancing for many years to come.

Something that sets us apart from other studios is our knowledge of Airsteps (any time the follow leaves the ground with assistance from the lead) in swing dancing. We perform fun stunts while dancing and occasionally teach workshops on them as well.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
The Swingsters started out at Louis and Co. Ballroom. The team grew quickly and fluctuated in numbers from a smaller team to quite a large team of performers.

The team has always placed their interest in performing for others. They also grew to have members who enjoyed teaching classes and hosting swing nights to spread the love of swing dancing.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_kc_swingsters/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/1432557166994242/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/theswingsters
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/swingsterskc

Image Credits
Nation Morin, Studio34 Photography (Charles Miller), and Lexie Casey