How it started
My first festival, I went alone. Everyone around me had such cool moves that I felt intimidated. As a guy, I was expected to lead, no question, and that expectation alone was crushing.
A friend texted: "You dance both roles. Why not try following? It'll take the pressure off."
And so I did. I asked a few guys waiting on the sidelines if they'd lead me. Most of them looked at me like I'd said something wrong, weirded out, some outright disgusted. A flat no, like the answer should've been obvious. Only one or two said yes.
Next festival, I showed up wearing my own shirt instead of asking. No more guessing, no more fear of rejection. People approached me. We switched. For the first time, I felt safe on that floor. Chosen, not questioned. And I felt proud, wearing exactly who I am instead of feeling wrong for it.
That shirt is why Switch It Up! exists: so nobody has to dance small to keep other people comfortable.
Why I started Switch It Up!
To give people a way to be themselves without having to brace for society's old stereotypes. The shirt says what you're up for, so anyone interested knows.
I learned lindy hop at Swing Philosophy in Amsterdam, a swing school with a strict rule: everyone leads and everyone follows (ELEF). They work at being inclusive and try to make the floor safe for everyone. So I learned both roles from day one, and that fit something I already cared about: being free of the stereotypes society puts on us. The point is to enjoy dancing (and life) as a person, whatever you were born with.
A community you can recognise by the shirts (maybe other merch later), whether or not you switch roles, that cares about the same things I do.
Community first, money second.
Selling shirts isn't the point. Spreading the message is. If the community wears them, that's a gift. Switch It Up! is somewhere to find each other, or just a reason to start talking.
Who the shirts are for
Anyone who agrees with what this stands for, or sees themselves in it.
Our commitments
- Printed on demand, no overstock
- Garments from a Fair Wear member
- Designed in Europe
Our designs
Human made.
Questions about switching
What does switching mean in lindy hop?
Dancing both roles, lead and follow. Sometimes you swap within the same song and pass the lead back and forth.
Do I have to switch to wear one?
No. Lead, follow, or both. If you agree with what this stands for, it's yours. Agreeing is enough.
How do I ask someone to switch?
Ask before the song starts: "Lead, follow, or switch?" Mid-dance, only switch if you've both said yes. If your partner doesn't take the lead, let it go.
Should I learn to lead or follow first?
Either. I learned both from day one at Swing Philosophy, where everyone leads and everyone follows. If you can't find a class like that, start with the role you're curious about and try the other one later.
What does the shirt actually do?
Some festivals hand out role buttons. This is the same idea, just one you pick yourself. The back says Switch?, so anyone who wants to switch knows they can ask you.
Is it only for lindy hop?
It started in the lindy hop scene. But it works anywhere people lead and follow: balboa, blues, west coast swing, salsa. Or no dance at all.
