swing clubBy Barbara Young —

Let’s swing into action this year and introduce Stoutonia’s first featured student organization: The Swing Club.

Swing Club is an organization that teaches swing and other ballroom dances to the students of UW–Stout for free. Each weekly “meeting” is set up as a dance lesson and rehearsal time. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., six student instructors and the occasional guest instructor, will teach students the moves of East Coast Swing.

“You don’t need to know anything about dance to come,” said Meghan Olson, Swing Club President.

After an hour to an hour-and-half of learning the floor is open to free dance, when students are welcome to practice dance moves for themselves.

The evening is very casual and welcoming. Swing pairs up all kinds of people, so students will always have a partner. Dance-appropriate dress clothes are optional, but being comfortable and cool is always a good choice.

According to Olson there are only 3 rules for the night.

“The first rule of swing is smell good, the second rule is smell good, and the third is never drop the follow [your partner],” said Olson.

As the weeks go on, the swing club plans to introduce various types of dance such as ballroom, Latin, the Lindy Hop, and West Coast Swing. They also have several balls planned throughout the year for those in search of a fun, formal event at UW–Stout.

The club has begun to see expansion within the last few years.

“When I was a freshman there were an average of 50 to 80 people [each night]” said Olson. “But for the first month of last year we had about 150 people.”

Swing Club meets every Wednesday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in the Upstairs Ballrooms of the MSC. Swing by for a night of dancing and fun!

 

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