The new swing time
A girl shrieks as she spirals through the air heading toward the cement floor below.
Two hands grab her, flipping her to her feet seconds before the impact. A disco ball slowly rotates overhead while surrounding couples continue to dance on the empty roller skating rink. Shania Twain’s voice echoes out of the nearby speakers.
It’s Wednesday, another night of country dancing at the Cache Valley Fun Park.
“I wanted to start up a country swing club. I wanted something original,” said Clint Knapp, president of the Country Swing Club. “I saw that the Fun Park was only getting an average of 15 people per week. I knew that if I could get a core of people word would get out and more people would come.”
Knapp talked to the Fun Park, telling them if they would let members of his club in for free he would make sure he got more people there to dance.
“They were skeptical at first, but I told them they’d make plenty of money. They gave me two weeks to prove it,” Knapp said.
By the look of things now, he’s proven it.
“How many people come now? That’s like asking can you count all your blessings. There’s a lot,” Knapp said, when asked how many people typically attend.
On Wednesday nights the Fun Park converts its roller skating rink into a dance floor. Although the floor is made out of concrete, there haven’t been any serious accidents.
“The Fun Park has a lot more room. People can do moves and actually two-step. Everywhere else you go you hit people. I think that’s why people are coming here more,” Dave Dahlgren, a graduate student majoring in wildlife biology, said.
An evening at the Fun Park means doing the “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” as well as the “Electric Slide.” People of all dance levels are invited to come and cowboy get-up isn’t required although you will see the occasional hat and belt buckle.
“I come to meet hot girls, just kidding. I come to have fun,” said Chris Forsy, a visitor from Salt Lake City.
“It’s fun, it’s cheap. Good people, good music,” Mallorie Nawyn, a sophomore majoring in nursing, said.
Country swing lessons are also taught on campus for those wishing to be impressive on the dance floor. Classes cover the basics as well as lifts and tricks.
“Country dancing is an art form, if you will,” Whitney Larsen, a freshmen majoring in dairy science, said.
The Cache Valley Fun Park is located at 255 E. 1770 North. Country Swing occurs every Wednesday with lessons taught from 9 to 10 p.m. and the dancing goes from 10 p.m. to midnight. Costs are $2 for USU students with ID, free for members of the Swing Club and $3 for anyone else wishing to practice their dance moves.
-amcconkie@cc.usu.edu
Bruce Johnson lifts Tawna Ward into an over-the-head-kick-splitz at the Fun Park swing night. (Photo by Jessica Alexander)
Students start off with some basic jumps before beginning the more complex dance moves at the Fun Park of country swing night last Wednesday. (Photo by Jessica Alexander)