Swing teacher leaves legacy among students
A desperate man, broken arm, star, Superman, flamingo and lasso all have one thing in common: They are western swing dancing moves.
Clark Knapp has been involved with the Country Swing Club and has taught the Western swing courses offered at USU since spring 2009.
“The club started with 100 members,” Knapp said. “It has really exploded, especially the past three or four years, it’s just really boomed. When I first came here, I think we had 400 members, and this last year we have over 900.”
Knapp’s older brother, Clint Knapp, began the Country Swing Club in 2003. Country dancing nights used to be held at Club NVO. However, because of diminishing space due to the growing popularity, Clint said he went to the Cache Valley Fun Park with his business proposition to move country dancing to its venue.
“My motivation was to hook everyone up in the club and get them in for free,” Clint said. “I also wanted to help out the Fun Park at the same time and build the community.”
Clint said Fun Park operators gave him a month to see if the endeavor would be successful. Eventually, he said people transferred their dancing to the Fun Park and consequently put Club NVO out of business.
Clark Knapp came to USU in fall 2008 and graduated last December with a marketing degree.
He said he currently works for a family business, Coupon Calendars. With almost four years of instruction under his belt, he said this may be one of his last semesters teaching at USU.
“I’m ready to move on from the scene,” Clark Knapp said. “But I’m never done teaching … I think with every job you get a little complacent.”
By Clark Knapp’s recommendation, student Tyson Johnson will likely take over the position in the fall. Though Clark said he may return in the spring to teach one final semester.
Shelby Mall, a freshman majoring in early childhood education, took Knapp’s beginning Western swing class this semester.
“He’s just a goofy guy,” Mall said. “He tells really funny stories, and he’s laid back.The great thing about country dancing is anyone can do it. I stink at dancing, and I’m not graceful at all, and I don’t have any rhythm, but even I can do it.”
“Clark eases the tension,” said Nathan Sargeant, a junior majoring in computer science. “He’s very clear and knows how to explain moves really well. I try to teach people what Clark has taught me, and it’s never the same. It’s always so much more simple with Clark.”
Sargeant, who is currently in Clark Knapp’s intermediate course, never considered himself as a country dancer, but said he’s come to enjoy it.
“I hated country music before I started going country dancing – still don’t like it that much,” Sargeant said. “However, country dancing is not hard to learn. It’s simple, fun and easy. It is fun to go meet cute girls.”
The Western swing class covers country swing, line dances, the box waltz, two step, cowboy cha-cha and a variety of lifts. Everything has a Western flavor to it, Knapp said.
“If somebody dances, it will boost their own confidence and help them in all aspects of their life, I believe,” Knapp said.
Teddy Royer, a sophomore majoring in agriculture communications from Blanding, said he took a beginning Western swing class in spring 2009, and this semester he is in the intermediate course.
“I look for things that make me happy and dancing is one of them,” Royer said. “It’s just fun – the company, the exercise, the music – what’s not to like?”
Royer said he’s a regular at the Cache Valley Fun Park on Monday and Wednesday nights for country dancing. Dancing goes from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The first 75 club members get in free, and subsequent members pay $2. Nonmembers pay $4.
“Everyone has their territory at the Fun Park,” Knapp said. “It’s been that way for quite awhile. You’ve got cowboy corner, where all the rugged cowboys wear their hats. Sometimes they’ll show up drunk, and they always smell like smoke when they come in. Then you’ve got the other people who just sit by the wall and don’t move. I don’t even know why they’re there, because they don’t dance. You have the other ones who sit by the stools, and you’ve got the bandana-boy club.”
Sargeant said country dancing is a social event that can present dating opportunities.
“That’s my one place I go to get dates,” he said. “It makes it easy to talk to a girl and get her number, impress her with some dance moves and sweep her off her feet – literally.”
Clark Knapp said seven now-married couples initially met in his dance class and later tied the knot.
“It’s always fun to see their relationships develop,” Clark said. “When I ask them to switch partners, they’ll be in the corner trying to hide, and they won’t switch anymore. I’ve seen them get the number after class. Then, all of the sudden, they’ll hold hands when they walk in and walk out together. The next thing you know, they’ve got a ring.”
He said newcomers should know to dance without any preconceived ideas of what will happen.
“Honestly those are some of the funniest nights I’ve had dancing,” Clark said. “When I go out to dance just to dance, and I don’t care who with, because you don’t have any expectations. So when you go dancing with expectations and those aren’t met, then that’s when you leave disappointed.”
Above all, Knapp said, the key to a fun dance is wearing a smile.
“There’s another big thing, and I will tell you this goes along as just a principle of life,” Clark said. “Nobody wants to dance with someone who looks like they’re dead or if they are unhappy. So whether or not the girl has been asked (to dance) throughout the night, she has to look upbeat and happy to be there.”
– kristi.j.lambert@aggiemail.usu.edu
STUDENTS LEARN TO SWING DANCE in Clark Knapp’s class. Dance partners gather every Tuesday and Thursday to learn moves like the starfish, flamingo and lasso. DELAYNE LOCKE photo