Weekend brings swing dance workshops
The USU Big Band Swing Club will host the biggest lindy hop competition in Utah, Harlem Nights, in honor of Black History Month this weekend.
Lindy hop is a form of swing dancing that dates back to the 1930s and the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, where the dance got its start. Dancer Shorty George Snowden coined the phrase in honor of Charles Lindbergh “hopping” across the Atlantic.
Every year for five years, the club has brought top-notch dance instructors to Logan for a weekend of workshops, dances and competitions, club President Ben Sundberg said.
“It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be swing heaven,” he said.
This year, Skye Humphries and Frida Segerdahl from Sweden are coming to teach a variety of swing dancing workshops on Friday and Saturday. Humphries and Segerdahl are considered to be two of the world’s top swing dancers, said Jill Sundberg, Swing Club publicity chair. As professional swing dancers, Humphries and Segerdahl travel all over the world to teach, such as Australia, where they’ve been this past week, Jill Sundberg said.
“There are opportunities that pass us by every day, and this is one of those opportunities that if you let pass by, you may never get the chance again,” Jill Sundberg said. “How often do you get to receive instruction from a dancer that’s considered one of the world’s top dancers? And we have two of them coming.”
Swing dancers from as far as Portland, Denver and even Canada will be coming to Logan to dance at the Dansante Building, historic Elite Hall in Hyrum and the American West Heritage Center.
Harlem Nights also features the Hellzapoppin’ dance competition, named after the 1954 movie “Hellzapoppin’,” featuring the popular lindy hop group Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. The competition includes partner dancing, endurance competitions and a Charleston competition.
Frankie Manning, who choreographed and danced for “Hellzapoppin’,” “Malcolm X” and other movies, came to Logan last year as part of Harlem Nights. At 93, Manning is still dancing and teaching workshops across the country.
Swing dancer Stephanie Ashby said anyone can enjoy the event, whether they dance or not.
“People come because they want to listen to the live music, watch the performances and competitions, and just dance,” she said.
Spectator tickets for the dances are sold at half price and can be bought at the door.
“This is one of those events you just don’t miss,” Jill Sundberg said. “It’s a chance to dress up, get formal, go out and just dance the way people used to dance.”
More information about Harlem Nights and the USU Big Band Swing Club can be found at www.usu.edu/swing.
-kate.r@aggiemail.usu.edu