Bob Tomaszewski
Staff Writer
North Central Swing Dance Society is more than just a club, it truly is a society. A group of people who value swing dancing enough take time every week to learn four to five moves that flow together into an elaborate display of motion. One of the first moves taught during a swing dancing society is the rock step referred to as a “quick quick slow slow.” It’s a complex way of stepping in place and captures the basic rhythm of the dance. However, do not underestimate how complex stepping in place can be.
The meetings then go on to detail a more complicated move like a double barrel roll. This is where both partners spin facing outward. Observing one of the meetings, people became more and more comfortable at bumbling around with footwork but with help from instructor Noel Hipina they were assured they were making progress. Making comments like “don’t land on your heel” and “you guys can do it” gave students an extra confidence boost.
The society started out during winter term with eight people last year; the maximum number of participants has gone as high as 22. The NCC Swing Dance Society teaches the east coast style of swing dancing although basic moves like the rock step carry across sub categories of swing dance.
Chelsea Lorenz, the president of the society, calls swing dancing “a learning process” and says that most people struggle with the rhythm of the rockstep pattern. Chelsea notes that as a Music Education major she struggles with doing “a three four dance to a four four song.” Rhythm in swing dancing is like doing the waltz to a rock song.
One of Chelsea’s favorites songs is a song called “Swing, Swing, Swing.” She revealed that her favorite move is the lindy hop, which is more of a sub category of east coast swing involving a great deal of turning as you dance and swivel your feet. Many are improvisations are acrobatic.
Once people became more comfortable in the class they began chatting and conversing with their dance partners, only glancing down periodically to correct footwork.
Most of the dancers will return next week to learn the next steps. It is usually only after several minutes and rotating of partners that Mr. Hipona puts these dances to music.
After the meeting there is always 45 minutes of open dance so people are able to practice what they just learned, something they learned in the past, or simply dance for fun. Eventually, students go from move to move continuously throughout an entire song without having to readjust or try a move over.
Surprisingly, the gender ratios were mostly even. In swing dancing there are leads and follows. Often ladies will have to take up the lead position for a dance or two to compensate for the gender discrepancy. The main difference between leads and follows is that follows will start the dance with their right foot and leads with their left. Leads also ‘lead’ most of the moves in the dance which is the primary reason for the terminology.
You can meet people easily at the swing society. Every two to three minutes follows are rotated throughout the lesson. It is easy to see that after only three lessons one might become friends with the entire group.
The society does not just dance on campus but also takes trips to various ballrooms in the area. Most recently it was the Willowbrook ballroom, which has 6,000 square feet of space; much more expansive than Heinneger, upper WAC, or Meiley-Swallow where the group has classes on campus. The group tries to stay in Heinneger Auditorium in Larrence Academic Center, but lately, because of different events on campus, the society has had to change its meeting location.
The club uses their Facebook page as a primary method of communication with its members as far as where their weekly meetings take place. These meetings take place on Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m. with the only variable being location. Chelsea invites people to join calling the society stress relieving.
