Gone are the goofy days of Lindy Hop in smoky underground clubs—the new swing is younger, more athletic, and in the media spotlight.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, this brother and sister duo claimed their fame, taking first place in the Young American division during the 21st annual U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships held in San Jose.

Although a year of practice and sacrifice was at stake, 9-year-old Chevy and 11-year-old Rome didn't flinch at the competition. After all, it runs in the family.

Their parents, Abra and Mark, have been competitively swing dancing for the past 18 years, placing as high as third in the U.S. Open cabaret and showcase divisions.

Two years ago, the children approached their mother and asked to take dance lessons. Abra turned to her coaches, Buddy and Laurie Schwimmer of 5678 Dance Studio in Redlands, to guide Chevy and Rome.

"As we got older, we saw our parents do it, so we wanted to do it, too," Chevy says. "It's really fun."

Both children immediately took to the dance style, and after only a year and a half of study, began competing. Soon their hobby turned into a full-time lifestyle, requiring special diets, intense hours of practice, and a focus few students of that age are capable of. In addition to swing dance, both children take Latin dance lessons, tap, jazz, and hip-hop. Chevy also studies gymnastics, while Rome practices martial arts. Both compete in those areas as well.

In order to accommodate their rigorous schedules, the children are schooled through the Loma Prieta independent study program. Twice a week they attend class at the elementary school, while the rest of the time lessons are taught and completed at their Saratoga home.

"It's really an awesome program," Abra says. "This way we can check in with the teacher and get help, but do most of the work here."

Without the program, Abra says, the kids could not compete, seeing that they get home as late as 9:30 p.m. from various lessons and have classes in the middle of the day.

Although Rome and Chevy mildly bicker as brother and sister, it's obvious that their differences are put aside in order to dance.

"Dance is not always about smiling," Abra says. "It's blood, sweat, and tears. But anything you want to do well in, you have to put in the time."

That time paid off at the U.S. Open as they danced to the song "Witch Doctor." Decked in rhinestone-embossed, leopard-print outfits, Chevy and Rome shone brightly as they performed flips and spins with tight control. The only trouble now is topping such a performance.

"Other couples are going to work twice as hard to beat us, so that means we have to work three times as hard to win," Rome says. "Every time you win, you get more added work."

Rome is aware of what he and his sister need to improve on—making their footwork sharper and cleaner, and working on their timing.

"Their improvement from last year to this year was 90 percent, so they've got to improve that much again to win," Abra says.

Barely a month after the competition, plans are already in the works for the next U.S. Open. The Schwimmers are choreographing the routine for Rome and Chevy. The entire family is working on a group performance, and Abra and Mark will also compete after a short hiatus from the dance world.

"It's hard to sit on the bench," Abra says. "It's a fun thing to do, and I love to perform and get an audience. Winning is great, too—they're lucky to have won so soon."

However, Abra stresses that it's more than just having an audience or winning medals. It's about family.

"Our lifestyles are so frantic, we spend our enjoyment time together," she says. "What better way to do that than dancing?"