Our showcase environment is Swing City, created by 2LDance.org designer Lesly Rotaru. Swing City is a literal step back in time, to the 1940’s-era when Swing dancing was at the height of its popularity. Step across the bordering canal bridge, and the sound of a 1940’s radio station welcomes you to another place and time. Lesly’s vision for Swing City includes a variety of period shops and businesses, surrounding the featured Swing City dance hall, CP Swing. The city is richly landscaped by our Garden's Park designer, Barbie Alchemi. CP Swing was envisioned as a themed dance venue offering a rich array of Swing dance animations along with our own SwingStream music inside the hall. CP Swing looks and feels like a real dance hall from the 1940’s, from the authentic etiquette experienced on the dance floor to the signature marquee outside. Lesly has a bandstand, booths, tables and chairs for rest in-between dances, a second floor alcove to escape from the bustle of the dance floor, and a bar at which to imbibe and release your dancing Muse. A 2LDance.org Dance 101 classroom is integrated off to the side of the dance hall, illustrating how other dance venue owners in Second Life might incorporate Dance 101 into their venue’s operation.
From Lesly Rotaru, creator of Swing City and CP Swing: Second Life is place where people can grow and learn in so many ways. I am honored to be a part of a project that seeks to use this platform to enrich people's lives through the arts. Swing City is a joint effort that celebrates the heyday of swing dancing, the 1930's and 40's. There's so much to see, but the heart of the area is the CP Swing Ballroom, which is inspired by several swing clubs of the era, including the home of the Lindy Hop, the Savoy. I hope those who visit take a look around and soak up the era in the city before they jitterbug their hearts out in the club!