The Wake

Remember when swing dancing was all of sudden hip and trendy due to a commercial? We were all blessed with the music of Cherry Poppin Daddies, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Brian Setzer. I know we’ve all moved on from those days, discarding our dancing aspirations like the slap bracelets of our youth. Although some of those bands bastardized the swing music genre, swing dancing is alive and well, thriving off the original hits. U-Swing is a student group on campus that still is jumpin’, jivin’ and wailin’ away to swing music.

“It’s something different, open to everyone and something you can do for the rest of your life,” said vice president Sammy Hilby.

U-Swing is open to anyone interested in learning to dance. Partners aren’t necessary and guest teachers often stop by to help the students with different moves. Only about eight to 10 people actively participate, but in the past the numbers were around 20-30 members.

The group meets in Coffman on Wednesdays, and on Thursdays some members dance at the Tapestry Folk dance center, a place owned and operated by dancers in South Minneapolis.

Because there is not an abundance of venues for swing dancing many people end up seeing each other on a constant basis, which forms a sense of community within the world of swing dancing.

“The Midwest is one of the best bases for swing dancing because it is open to new dancers and very welcoming. After college a lot of people get disconnected, but with swing dancing people may leave for some time, but the community remains the same,” said president Sergey Berg.

Berg became interested in swing dancing through the Concordia Language Village. He has been dancing ever since and participates in salsa, waltz and Russian folk dance as well.

For Hilby, her interest in swing music started with jazz music. Jazz music was popular in her high school and as she learned more about the music, she began to learn more about the dancing.

Together they say they are the addicts of swing dancing. Berg recently went on a binge of dancing a couple of weeks ago, dancing 11 out 14 days from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. with few breaks.

Swing dancing got its start in the early 20th century behind the music of jazz, blues and other variations of jazz. The dance itself evolved from numerous pre-existing forms. African Americans played an integral role in developing the dance. The Lindy Hop, the most essential part of swing dancing, got its name from the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. “Shorty George” Snowden was asked by a reporter what kind of dance was being performed on the floor. Snowden glanced around, happened to find a newspaper with the headline “Lindy Hops over the Atlantic” and decided to call the dance the Lindy Hop.

Swing dancing stemmed from many influences of style as well. The style came as a conglomeration of European forms of dance such as the waltz, and African Americans integrated more traditional dance moves into swing dancing.

The dance resembles the happenings of America at the time because of the giant wave of immigration creating a melting pot of ideas and traditions. The influx of immigrants caused racial strife, which boiled over in California with the Zoot Suit Riots of 1942. Mexican American youths frequented dance halls and wore oversized suits. A group of navy sailors were allegedly attacked by a group of “Zoot Suits,” and the other sailors retaliated. For four days, the sailors went into East Los Angeles and attacked any “Zoot Suiter.” Many Mexican Americans suffered injuries and police made over 600 arrests of Mexican Americans. The sailors encountered little, if any, punishment for their actions.

The dance creates a sense of community for many people and continues to do so today as U-Swing is preparing for the Hawkeye Swing Festival on April 13-15. The festival features lessons, competition and a time to reconnect with other college student dancers.

“It’s not so much a competition. It’s more of a congregation of enthusiasts in a relaxed atmosphere,” Berg said.