Hot club swings through USU
The swing club at Utah State University is a fun and growing group with hot music and sparkling smiles, Will Zollinger, co-president said.
The other co-president is his wife, Angela Zollinger, a junior in business information systems.
Will said the club has been around since approximately 1998. It has continued growing, expanding in many ways. It meets once a week, each Wednesday at 8 p.m. on the second floor of the HPER Building. Every week it divides into three divisions: Beginning, intermediate, and advanced. The instruction lasts from 30 to 45 minutes and then some fun free-dancing takes place.
“I love swing dancing and want to help others love it, too,” said Liz Lyman, swing club treasurer and a senior majoring in English.
Lyman frequently teaches one of the classes. She said the way people learn at the swing club is not only from the teachers but from the other swingers as well. She said it creates a ripple effect of teaching as new people come in.
The club holds various activities throughout each semester. There are workshops at which members learn dance routines.
“Spring semester we’ll have some of the world’s best coming in from all over the place for workshops,” Will said.
Will said there is even a swing team that performs at various events. The team practices on Thursdays. They help the Swing Council on big projects and vote on some general decisions. The team performs but does not usually compete.
“We’re more for just having fun,” Lyman said.
The Swing Council consists of the presidents, public relations, team instructor/choreographer, treasurer and activities leaders. The council meets as needed and works efficiently, Will said.
“I want to create a firm foundation and make the swing club the biggest and best that it can be,” he said.
One of the club’s goals for the year is to get more people involved and retain those people.
“We want all of USU to swing,” Will said.
Lyman said, “We want to show everyone the beat. You can teach people as long as they have the motivation and desire.”
Will said joining the club is simple. Just show up. The cost of attending is $3 per night, $5 per couple or $15 per semester.
If you pay the $15 fee and become a member, you get a swing club T-shirt, weekly instruction and dancing, $1 off swing night at the local club, the Skyline, and admission to all of the club’s activities.
Swing, in itself, is a big part of our American culture, said Jeremy Weight, instructor and choreographer and junior majoring psychology. The dance style evolved from the popularity of jazz in the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s. The formal dance position relaxed and started to break away into swing position. Dancing began to be counted in sets of eight beats, he said.
Weight said swing dancing feels smooth, active and natural. His first experience with swing happened a few years ago down at a BYU dance.
“When I saw it, I was just amazed,” Weight said.
The USU swing club dances in Savoy style of swing, a more relaxed style, Lyman said. She said one of the best things about swing is you fit your dancing to the music and do what the music does – and even make up your own stuff.
“It’s a good way to meet people. It’s very social and good exercise,” Reagon Pearce, a senior in public health, said.
“The biggest thing about swing club is to have fun with other people,” Will said. “It’s lots of fun. I’m so excited. Gosh, I love swing club.”