KARLA SHIRVANIAN | staff writer
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Karla Shirvanian
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The Rico Suave, Skin the Cat and Dish Towel. These are just some of the dance moves that are being taught and learned at the Swing Club here at Azusa Pacific University.
The club introduced itself to APU’s campus in fall 2008 and has been meeting every Tuesday and Thursday night since then.
Typical meetings begin with a warm-up followed by couples dancing with different moves. After the teaching part is officially over, music is played and people are able to practice what they have learned.
Founded by sophomore music major Jessica Ginski and sophomore business major with an emphasis in marketing Jason Coon, the club branched out of a fundraiser performance that the two did in spring 2008 for Bel Canto.
The club did start out with some hurdles to overcome, including the location to hold the club, but overall it has experienced much excitement and success.
“Finding a place for the swing dance was tough,” Coon said. “At the beginning we did not know where to go. We tried several different locations and we moved to 5th floor patio in Trinity and it is nice.”
Since fall 2008, the club has seen exponential growth. It began with an original seven members and has grown to see over 50 students a night from mid–September to the present.
“To see anything grow that much in its first year is pretty much a huge blessing,” Ginski said.
New people have been attracted to the Swing Club mostly through word of mouth.
“I heard about it through some friends and it sounded like fun,” sophomore English major Emily Brandt said.
Brandt keeps coming back weekly for the same reason that she initially joined.
“[I came back] because of all the fun we had and how we just keep adding on to our knowledge, it is a really fun environment,” Brandt said.
This club has also been a rewarding experience for the founders of it.
“To watch them be able to teach other people is a reminder of how dance is something that keeps on giving,” Ginski said.
Coon has also enjoyed seeing the way that the affectionately called “Swing Kids” have grown in their skill.
“The most rewarding thing is seeing the students get excited about learning and being able to perform the different moves we show them,” Coon said. “Just being able to see them slowly progress and learn the different techniques and aerials and see them perform it together.”
The club also had the opportunity to perform at midnight breakfast in the fall and is planning on performing for the next midnight breakfast this coming spring.
The club is open to the entire APU community and its founders and members would like students to consider this great benefit from joining the dancers.
“It is a good place to get your mind off the worries of life or schoolwork,” Coon said.
The club is also a place to have fun and meet new people. It does not require any background in dancing.
“Swing club is a lot of fun and you do not need experience to join and it is worth your time,” Brandt said.
The Swing Club meets at Trinity patio every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-8 p.m.
