Escape the Everyday – One Jazz Step at a Time

Feeling frazzled? Sometimes the best remedy for a weary mind and body isn’t in a bottle or a book – but on the dance floor, swinging to a toe-tapping jazz tune or kicking up your heels like it’s 1925.

As put by James Brown: “The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.”

The Charleston isn’t just a relic of the past – it can be a powerful pick-me-up for the present. Vintage dance styles are high-energy, full of flair, and brimming with joy. They offer a delightful way to escape the pressures of modern life by jumping headfirst into rhythm and movement. Studies today confirm what the jitterbugs of yesterday already knew: dancing improves sleep, sharpens the mind, and zaps fatigue right out of your system.

Unlike more clinical forms of exercise, vintage jazz dance is playful, spirited, and deliciously unstructured. As the big band swings and the brass section blares, you can dance out your stress, stomp away your tension, and shimmy off the weight of the world. Whether you’re cutting loose with fast-footed Charleston kicks or gliding through a mellow blues step, the music sweeps you up and away. Within that moment, you’re no longer in the grind of the day. You're in a smoky Harlem ballroom, a sunlit Savoy afternoon, or simply lost in the beat of a bygone era.

Dancing this way doesn’t just move your body – it frees your soul. The endorphins do their work, yes, but so does the sheer joy of moving to music that was made to make people feel alive. Your worries fade, your muscles loosen, and suddenly life doesn’t seem quite so heavy.

And the best part? You don’t need to be Fred Astaire or Josephine Baker. Vintage dance is for everyone – young or old, solo or partnered, shy or showy. Whether you’re looking to get fit, find your groove, or just have a blast, stepping into the rhythm of the past might be exactly what the present you needs.

So, dust off those dancing shoes, cue up the jazz, and give yourself permission to let go. Swing out, let loose, and remember: in vintage dance, every step is a chance to feel free!

MyCharleston run weekly adult dance classes specialising in the Charleston, both solo and partnered, and solo jazz. We run classes primarily across the South Coast, as well as across the UK, in Italy and online.

We also post regular dance content on our YouTube channel, as well as on our Instagram and Facebook.