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Printer-Friendly ModeSwingin’ the night away
December 14, 2009 —
A new club on campus is reviving a dance from more than 70 years ago and adding a present-day twist.
The club is called Music ‘n’ Motion, and the style is West Coast Swing. It’s described as a sophisticated, sexy swing dance — different from the kind done in the 1940s. In addition to the throws they’ve added, dancers now perform to contemporary songs, including “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga and “Low” by Flo Rida.
Students created the club this semester after three students took the swing dancing class offered on campus and decided to get more people their own age interested in swing dancing.
No experience is required to join. The club’s purpose is to teach the style to the point that members can dance socially.
Andrea Winne, a tenderfoot to the group, had never swing-danced before. She said that the style wasn’t difficult to pick up because the club leaders are good teachers. She plans to take a class in it next semester.
The class is not a requirement for the club members, although many recommend it because the teachers, AnnMarie and Jason Marker, are professional dancers. The class will meet Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. during the winter semester.
Graphic design major Nicole Zwerlein, a member of the club who has taken the course, says, “It’s a really good way to end the week . . . it’s a major stress reliever.”
Dancing will take them places. This month, they will travel to Wisconsin for the Spotlight Dance Challenge, where the club will attend workshops and top members will compete. They also will travel to Chicago in March.
A variety of people are in Music ‘n’ Motion, men and women of many different ages. The group has about 15 members, and they’re looking for more to join. They meet at 9 p.m. Tuesdays in the Ryder Center’s dance studio.
One of the presidents, communications and Spanish senior Holly Plewa, said, “We’d be thrilled to have more members . . . the more the merrier.”