It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

CWRU's Swing Club to host weekend-long workshop; one reporter finds her footing

I can't honestly say why I was so surprised to have as much fun as I did learning how to swing dance this weekend. Was it that I was expecting a tired bunch of older, drowsy aficionados stuck in the 1920s? Was I fear-stricken by my oafish tendencies and reluctance to be touched and spun around by strangers?

Despite my premonitions, in less than 24 hours I was addicted; I had become indoctrinated into a tight-knit world of passionate, friendly, and warm-hearted people. Instantly I learned of a somewhat secret society - a dedicated community of people, young and old, who get together for the love of music, dance, and each other's company.

I first sat down to talk to Emily Sparks, junior music and history major, about her involvement in the Case swing club and its upcoming event, Sparx. She got involved with the swing club freshman year, and by her second semester was a member of the board. She currently works on the PR committee and attends weekly Case events as well as larger monthly community events. Living in the Village would seemingly slacken anybody's attendance at weekly lessons all the way at Carlton, yet she has stuck with it for almost three years.

"It's so much fun; I've met some of my best friends here. A lot of the people in the club met their current boyfriends and girlfriends here. We're all really supportive of each other and welcoming of others," said Sparks.

The club has upwards of 20 regular members, a number that waxes and wanes with exam schedules. Watching them interact, I noticed a quirky intimacy, a comfortable energy, and a spirit of spontaneity. Swing dancing is unchoreographed; dancers must improvise with "moves" they've accumulated through lessons and constantly communicate with their partners through an invisible system of nudges, pushes, pulls, weight shifts, and energy transfers. The leaders, typically the men, are responsible for the split-second step design and directing their followers, typically women, by pushing their hands, holding their backs, twirling them, and leading their flight across the floor. Trust becomes necessary for successful execution.

Source: http://www.cwruobserver.com