By Erin Cunningham
News-Post Staff
FREDERICK – George Matysek and Tina Vanderau drive hours each week from their homes and day jobs to Frederick. When they arrive at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, they turn into Lindy Hop instructors and dance champions.
The pair took over Lindy Hop classes in the city less than a year ago. They now teach a beginner and intermediate group every Wednesday.
They’re hip to hop
Pair teaches, competes in ‘graddaddy of swing’
Mr. Matysek referred to the Lindy Hop – a dance involving horizontal movement, twisting and bouncing named for Charles Lindbergh – as the “graddaddy of swing dance.” It originated in the Harlem section of New York City in the 1920s.
Ms. Vanderau discovered the Lindy Hop five years ago. Since then she has claimed several dance honors. About two years ago, she met Mr. Matysek, who was taking his second Lindy Hop class.
A former polka dance instructor and six-time national polka champion, he was a natural dancer, Ms. Vanderau said. She asked him to be her new dance partner.
Six months later the pair won first place at the 2003 Virginia State Open Lindy Hop competition. They placed in several other competitions.
They now teach the Lindy Hop in Frederick and Baltimore. Mr. Matysek lives in Owings Mills and works as a reporter for The Catholic Review in Baltimore. Ms. Vanderau lives in Greencastle, Pa. and works with the Waynesboro, Pa. school system.
“Doing this is like having another full-time job,” he said.
Wednesday night they were in Frederick from 6 p.m. until about 11 p.m. teaching beginner and intermediate dancers.
She said the Lindy Hop was a way to get a lot of exercise in a clean atmosphere.
He was a natural at dance and learned advanced moves by simply watching other dancers.
“I think he mastered the whole eight-week course in two sessions,” Ms. Vanderau said.
The pair clicked right away.
“I’m the headstrong one,” she said. “And he’s the gentle, calm, rational one.”
They say the Lindy Hop takes energy, commitment and determination. Mostly it takes longevity with the dance. There are always new styles and steps to learn.
In addition to teaching classes, they are available for public performances, private instruction and school appearances.
On March 2, a new beginner class starts in Frederick.
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This article appeared in the Feb. 18, 2005 issue of the Frederick-News Post.
Learn to swing dance with Champion Lindy Hopper George Matysek
