The U.S. TV show "Dancing with the Stars" is popular, but not quite as popular as the UK version -- "Strictly Come Dancing." While the US voted in the recent life-changing elections, people across the UK clambered to their phones to vote for their favorite dancing duo. And as the people of Burma continued to protest for democracy and the women of Afghanistan fought for freedom of speech, Brits complained that their democratic rights had been quashed as one of the fan favorites was forced to quit the show. But, as the show rises in popularity on both sides of the ocean, a more underground, acceptable occurrence is bubbling in the dance world: Swing has recently been entering the social radars of many in Great Britain’s younger generation. Usually heavily attended by 30-50 year olds and playing 1940s swing and bop, these ‘40s ballroom revival nights have grown in numbers and are now substantially frequented by those swing cats in their 20s and 30s.

It may be due to the return to 1940s style, or perhaps to the nation’s re-discovery of Britain’s wartime spirit in the face of the recession -- either way, nights such as Lady Luck Club and The Suzi Q Supper Club are booming, and are just as popular as any neighboring indie or electro bash. As the stars of the screen doll themselves up to the max (including a frightening amount of time spent at tanning beds), and confess to losing weight due to the show, telly addicts young and old are flocking to book Latino and ballroom dancing lessons all over the Western world. What was first a healthy obsession with seeing half-rate celebrities fail at something and Beatles’ ex-wives lose legs, has now disturbingly grown into its own twisted religion. The viewers adore the celebrities who take part, sympathizing with their hard training, and glorifying them for picking up such a difficult sport so quickly. When the celebrities talk about wanting to stay on the show or how sad they are to leave, it’s reminiscent of the charity appeals you see movie and pop stars on -- just minus the death, famine and disease.

While the masses tan up and fall down in dancehalls, another re-birth is popping up in altogether more unusual places. A popular 1920s nightclub named ‘Prohibition,’ in London’s west end, has now moved to a secret location in the east, joining other 1920s nights where the Charleston is the dance of choice, including The Beautiful and the Damned. Prohibition plays on the financial woes of 1920s Depression-era America, where as the poor starved to death, the rich danced in glamorous ballrooms. Today’s Prohibition revelers are just as oblivious to their country’s financial woes, forking out a staggering 15 pounds ($30) to quench their thirst for ‘20s revivalism in a secret warehouse in one of the poorer parts of London’s east end.

Despite the cynical critique, flocking to the ballrooms at times of hardship has been a vital element to keeping up morale in recent history. Whether 1920s depression, World War II or the recession of 2008, there’s nothing that brings a large group of people together better than a big band, a shiny wooden floor, and the chance to get glammed up beyond your financial means and revel in a night of dance and fantasy.

~Kevin Soar