"Dancing around the world" by laura4n8

Swing dancing is my speciality -- especially Lindy Hop, Charleston and Balboa. I've taught for more than five years and been performing for nearly 10 years.

This is a shot of me and Tracey-Ann before a dance gig in Boca Raton, Florida for the European Stock Exchange International Convention.

Slap a plywood piece to the ground and we are good to go!

We were in a tapa bar in Madrid -- where we actually the only non-Spaniards. The live musician was a sweetheart and announced to the group that we wanted to dance. A kind old gentleman volunteered and soon we had the whole place dancing!

Milt and Jerry are the founders of the Laura Cotton fan club in South Florida. I feel so special!

Frankie Manning is one of the original swing dancers. He danced in the infamous Whitey's Swing Troupe. Frankie still teached workshops today, even though he is in his 90s. Amazing!

Swing dancers like to mix and mingle and travel. Every big city has a dance event called an exchange. Dancers come into town and local dancers host them at their homes and every dances from noon to 4 a.m. for three days!

The second annual Down South Camp Meetin' happened in Atlanta in February. It was a fabulous time!

Oh yeah ... occasionally I get to judge dance competitions, too.