WDR/Arte

Swing Stories

Swing events are becoming increasingly popular. It is not only music and dancing that are thrilling the scene but it is fashion and life style of the nineteen-twenties, the thirties and forties that are being celebrated as well.

Heilwig Niemsch van de Loecht is well known in her neighbourhood. Her appearance is striking, she is perfectly styled in the fashion of the nineteen-thirties and forties, even her bicycle is of the same period. Her attitude is not merely just dressing up but for Heilwig the swing style is part of her life, whether she goes shopping in the morning or dancing in the evening.
A different aspect can be observed with Inga Jacobsen, known in the swing scene as Miss Else Edelstahl and meanwhile promoter of the nationwide renowned events of the “Bohème Sauvage”. She deliberately assumes a role. And for band leader Andrej Hermlin who fell in love with swing at the early age of four this period has become part of his life. His entire house and all interiors are perfectly styled: from the furniture up to minute details such as the thermostat of the heating. The 14 members of the Swing Dance Orchestra are dressed to equal in style the orchestra of Glenn Miller.

Why do dancing and music of the swing period still fascinate people nowadays? How many exact style details are necessary to be a success in this scene? And why is the fascination of the past so strong that some people will dedicate their whole free time to adapt their dressing and living to a different period?