I-25, teaching and dancing, when not leading classes in their stu- dio. “It followed the trend of the music, whereas the Lindy Hop stayed with jazz.” Meanwhile, Vinson states that
“the great thing about the Lindy is that it’s an insanely versatile dance.” Oh well, at least it’s a friendly rivalry. McIntyre, as well as others in the
scene, see dancers from their mid- 20s to their 80s out on the floor, in pairs or looking for partners. It’s tricky to pin down just
what is driving folks to the dance halls these days. The first Swing Revival took place in the 1990s, fueled by bands such as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the Squirrel Nut Zippers and the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, as well as the popular 1996 film Swingers. “I don’t know what has caused
this upsurge,” McIntyre says. “Whether it’s Dancing with the Stars on TV, or just the fact that dance makes people happy.” Wine touts the mental as well
as the physical benefits of the trend. “We have a couple of regu- lars, man and wife, who term themselves marriage educators. They recommend dance as a rela- tionship tool—learning how to dance together is a way to keep your marriage light and fun,” she says. Independently, Vinson echoes
their words. “I want to dance every dance that I can,” he says. “I don’t think of it as great exer- cise—I think of it as great fun.” l
Brad Weismann is a writer, editor and social media expert who lives in Boulder. After years as a comedian, he transformed himself into a journalist. Since then, he has written on topics ranging from grand opera to midget wrestling, for magazines and websites in America, England and Australia. You can find out more about his work at
bradweismann.blogspot.com.
T
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is one of the largest natural history museums in the country. Hands-on activities in the Expedition Health exhibit demonstrate how the body functions and changes. Prehistoric Journey contains a working fossil lab as well as exhibits of the sights, sounds and vegetation existing on Earth millions of years ago. Other exhibits feature wildlife dioramas, Egyptian mummies,
American Indian cultures, gems and minerals, and sections devoted to the South Pacific islands, Australia and Africa. Explore galaxies at the Space Odyssey exhibit and take a 3-D look at the stars at Gates Planetarium. Traveling exhibits, such as the current T. Rex Experience (in its final
days), are featured frequently at the three-story museum. The Phipps IMAX Theater and Gates Planetarium present a variety of shows, while Discovery Zone keeps even the youngest visitors entertained with special hands-on exhibits, stories and sing-a-longs, and much more. For more information on the Denver Museum of Nature and
Science visit
www.dmns.org or call 303-370-6000. This is one of the Colorado GEMs listed in the AAA TourBook.
GEMs are Great Experiences for Members—top picks for things to do or see in the state. Get the newly redesigned 2012 AAA TourBooks at any branch office (see page 9 for locations) or online at www.AAA. com/travel. l
EnCompass January/February 2012 13
Colorado GEM:
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
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