Merchandise

Swing Des Moines Membership
Swing Des Moines Gift Certificates
Swing Des Moines Stuff
Other Stuff

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Swing Des Moines Membership

Swing Des Moines Gift Certificates

Here at Swing Des Moines, we've been making gift-giving easy for nearly ten years! Swing Des Moines gift certificates are great for birthdays, weddings, engagements, Christmas, graduations, or any gift-giving occasion. They may be used by the recipient towards the purchase of Swing Des Moines classes, merchandise, Jive Junction passes, or any other Swing Des Moines activity. There are a few exceptions, such as special workshops, fundraisers, etc., which will be clearly marked on our website as they are scheduled.

To purchase, simply enter the recipient's name and email address below, enter the amount of the certificate, and click "Buy Now." If you like, you may also enter a short message to the recipient. We'll send the recipient a gift certificate code via email.

If your recipient doesn't have email, or you don't know their email address, please enter "none" in the email address field below, and enter their mailing address in the "ship to" section when you check out. We'll mail them a paper certificate. Thanks!

Swing Des Moines Stuff

These styles and more available at our CafePress store! Got your own design for a T-shirt? We can help you with that, too.

We currently have the items below available for purchase at all Swing Des Moines events if you can't wait!

All clothing items (including shoe bags) are returnable within 30 days if in unworn, unwashed, brand new condition. Sales tax is included in the price.

Super Cool Green Logo T-Shirt

The Super Cool Green Logo T-Shirt comes in both men's styles and women's styles. The T-Shirt has a nice cut to it, and looks flattering on many body types. Green is the new pink!

Cool as a Cool Cat Gray T-Shirt

This Gray T-Shirt gives understated elegance to your casual wear. Available in both men's and women's cuts.

It's Swingin' Baby Baseball Style T-Shirt

Go for the casual look with our Baseball Style T-Shirt. Available in both men's and women's cuts, the T-Shirt is soft with 3/4 length sleeves.

Totally Awesome Shoe Bag

Tote those shoes in style. Don't use old grocery bags or tote bags, bring your dance shoes with you in your Swing Des Moines shoe bag. $15 BUY NOW!

Other Stuff

Almost every activity comes with a host of items you can buy to enhance your experience, and swing dancing is no different!

Music

Hepcat Records is your best bet for anything obscure.

Local stores like Best Buy, Borders, Barnes and Noble, etc., will also have a small selection of good music. Big Band music is typically located in the Jazz section, vocalists like Frank Sinatra and the Andrews Sisters are usually in Easy Listening, and neoswing will be in the Rock section. 

Also, check out the cheapo compilation CD sections at Best Buy and Target - as long as it's original artists, it'll be good, and you can't beat 3 CDs for $9.99.

Suggested musicians: Of course, it's hard to go wrong with any of the well-known bandleaders from back in the day. Cab Calloway, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, etc. all produced great music. George Gee and Bill Elliott are two modern bandleaders putting out some completely awesome music. Each person has their personal favorites, and if you ask any five Swing Des Moines members, you'll get five different recommendations for good music buys.

We would not presume to be able to suggest the ideal music for you to try if you're looking to expand (or start) a swing collection. But if you want some advice, we suggest talking to the DJ at Jive Junction - he's full of it! Advice, that is.

Clothing

Local:

Dorthea's Closet, located at 1733 Grand Ave, near Meredith & Central Campus. Owned by Angi, who's been involved in the swing scene for years. 

Atomic Garage, 128 5th Street in Valley Junction.

Online:

Swing Kitten: reproduction vintage clothes for chicks

DanceStore.com: men's and women's

Patterns from Past to Present: vintage patterns

Jan's Jewels: vintage patterns, clothes, and jewelry

Vintage Vixen: a good selection of vintage clothes

Vintage Blues: vintage denim and clothes

BallyHoo Vintage: 30s-70s men's & women's by decade

Glad Rags: pricey, high quality men's and women's vintage

Siegel's Zoot Suit Store: men's clothes

ElPachuco: men's clothes, fairly pricey

Rusty Zipper

Google Search of "Vintage Clothing"

Videos
We do not encourage students to learn exclusively from videos. Likewise, we never think it's a good idea to begin learning a new dance from a video if it can be helped at all. A video doesn't give feedback, it doesn't tell you if you're doing it right, and it isn't able to suggest ways to improve, or to give you tips. Once you're familiar and comfortable with the basics of a dance, a video is a good way to add new moves or ideas to your repertoire. Videos also provide students with a way to learn from nationally-known instructors without having to fly or drive to a workshop.

Savoy Style: swing videos, clothes, and other stuff

TC Swingin' Hepcats: a somewhat local distributor

Step Into Swing video series by Steve and Suzie Girman from Milwaukee

Also check the websites of your favorite instructors for their videos.