Taylor University has a culture of social and active events, which will make the new swing dancing club a fitting addition to campus life.
The club will begin meeting in the Aerobics Room in the Kesler Student Activities Center (KSAC) by late September or early October.
In the beginning, the plan is to teach students basic moves until the content gradually becomes a bit more difficult. This will also give students time to practice the skills they have learned and make sure everyone is familiar with the building blocks.
The club is hoping to put on a dance every month or every other month, possibly with themes like Halloween or Christmas dances.
Margaret Riddell, sophomore nursing student and president of the club, is excited to start the club after the success of a similar swing dance group at her high school.
In high school, Riddell, alongside a friend, taught swing dance lessons to classmates in preparation for their school’s “Swing Fling” dance.
Riddell started her swing dance journey by learning from her sister. Out of her love for the activity she pursued it on her own, which later enabled her to share what she learned with those in her school.
She also made a poll last year for Taylor students to see if people had any interest in a swing dance club, and she received about sixty responses.
The swing dance club hopes to get a good turnout and thinks participants will get a lot out of it.
“I think it will definitely give them some more confidence, because I think dancing, especially with a partner, takes confidence,” Riddell said. “That, and better rhythm to music and finding the beat and enjoying one another’s company, finding friends.”
Freshman Brandon Kruger serves as vice president of the club and attended high school with Riddell. When she found out he would be attending Taylor University this year, she approached him with the suggestion of starting the club.
Kruger said that the club has all the officers it needs now and is meeting all the official club requirements, so practice is expected to start soon.
To help support this club, officers need people to show up when practices begin. Kruger anticipates that the club will start small, but he hopes with time it will grow.
“(Growth could mean) that during certain lessons we’ll have some people learning more advanced stuff (and) some people learning more basic stuff,” Kruger said. “I wouldn't expect it to be super strong to start, because in nature, people might be kind of uncomfortable or might be stepping out of their comfort zone, which is something we're doing it for, but I'm hoping that with time it'll grow.”
Davis Dunlap, treasurer of the club, participated in Riddell’s poll last year where he shared his interest in the club, but he did not get involved until recently.
Dunlap said that he has some experience with swing dance from a summer camp. He hopes that the club will encourage more guys to try dancing and that the club will have a good ratio of men to women.
“I think the idea that we have now is to try and teach people about swing dancing, and there definitely is a social aspect,” Dunlap said. “It’ll be easy to meet new people there, but also good to show people a new form of art.”
Some favorite moves of the club officers include barrel, the pretzel and dips, so those interested can look forward to possibly learning these trickier moves.
The swing dance club is excited to get other students involved and encourages people to come out and learn.
