Swinging more than both ways

Would you like to swing on a star? You can do that and lots more with Queer Jitterbugs. Lessons and dancing are only part of the story.

Every Monday, you can meet Burnie Gipson, founder and leader of Queer Jitterbugs, for swing and salsa lessons and dancing. We rendezvoused with him and Juan Crovetto, member of the board and standout salsa teacher, at Julie's Supper Club on Folsom near Seventh. Crovetto's name shows international origins: one parent is Spanish, the other Italian, and he grew up in Madrid.

Julie is long gone from the grey-bricked supper club, but her innovative menu touches remain. There are two large rooms: on Mondays, one is reserved for swing, and one for salsa. No partner or experience is required, and it's a great way to meet people. Gipson notes that two guys who met at one of his first events are still together. 7 p.m. lessons are for beginners, and 8 p.m. ones are for intermediates. We talked to Paul Brown, a meditation teacher who's been going for a month, and he tells us he loves it!

Gipson is originally from San Diego. A friend who ran a queer swing dance group called Swing Out, no longer in existence, got him hooked. He took lessons, kept on dancing, and got addicted. About 10 years ago, Queer Jitterbugs was born. They've got an e-mail list of 800 or so, and around 1,500 who keep in touch.

Every third Saturday, they go to Magnet in the Castro. They have swing and salsa lessons, and party after that.

The dances they do are a rich slice of Americana. The Lindy Hop is named after Lucky Lindy, pioneer aviator. The Charleston was born in Harlem and spread from there. The Balboa comes from Balboa Island in the Newport Beach area. The term jitterbug itself used to be a derogatory term for African Americans, but is now more acceptable. Sometimes there are live groups like Stompy Jones and the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, also well known from Art Deco Society events.

Five days a week, you can learn and dance at the Queer Ballroom Studio at 151 Potrero at 15th St. You can get a taste of ballroom dancing, doing the foxtrot, waltz, rumba and even the tango, if you're in that Evita frame of mind. Sometimes there's Western swing, in the tradition of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, or is it Gayboys?

There are festivals, too.  From Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Swing Camp will take place at the Hotel Whitcomb, 8th and Market. The hotel's original ballroom dance floors will host workshops and competitions. It's interesting to note that after the Great Earthquake of 1906, the hotel was still standing and was, for a time, City Hall. The old jail cells still stand in the basement. If you want to stay over for camp, there's a special $79/night rate.

From May 2-4, 2008, swing away at the Same Sex Dance Camp. This will include the North American Same Sex Ballroom Championships, so if you're Fred and Ginger, or more likely Fred and Fred, get on your toes! This will also take place at the Whitcomb.

In the summer, Queer Jitterbugs sometimes co-sponsors events at Union Square. Their most recent one was on Oct. 3, with free lessons and a band. Gipson helped give the lessons.

What Gipson likes the most, he tells us, is how queer swing groups from all over the world converge on the city for Queer Jitterbug-sponsored events. There are plenty of these groups in Britain and Germany, and a few in France. They can interface with at least six Queer Swing groups in the Bay Area. Seeing Queer Jitterbuggers of all ethnic backgrounds mingling with their European counterparts thrills Gipson. "Dance really unites people!"  he exclaims. www.queerjitterbugs.com