At the U of C, students can find plenty of activities across campus where they can interact in fun, meaningful ways. Swing with U of C is a club that provides such opportunities, giving individuals a space to dance and make connections. Hayden Klukus, one of the club's co-presidents, sat down with the Gauntlet to discuss why students should learn to swing.
Swing dancing refers to a family of related dance styles developed in the United States in the early 20th century. Products of the Harlem Renaissance and evolving alongside early Jazz, these dance styles are often characterized by improvisation and intricate footwork.
Swing with U of C gives students a chance to learn how to swing dance at their bi-weekly meetings at That Empty Space in Mac Hall. Each session consists of a one-hour dance class led by instructors and an hour-long social dance where participants can freely dance and mingle. Klukus describes what students can expect when attending these functions.
“It's a welcoming environment where you come, and you learn to dance, and you meet new people, and you have a blast,” said Klukus. “I know dancing in particular can always seem very daunting to people, but you don't have to be a ‘dancer’ to enjoy yourself in [Swing with UofC].”
Another significant aspect of swing dancing is partnering with other individuals. Individuals can take on one of two roles: the leader, who initiates certain movements and provides cues to their partner and the follower, who interprets and responds to these cues. Traditionally, these positions were dictated by the gender of the individual involved, but at Swing with U of C, each dancer is free to take on whichever role they desire.
“Typically, the men will be the leaders and the women will be the followers, but we don't have any sort of requirement […] they're not strict categories,” said Klukus
During each club meeting, participants will switch partners throughout the lesson portion of the session, giving attendees the opportunity to dance with most of the individuals at the gathering. Klukus describes how this allows for dancers to become familiar with one another.
“The thing that I like about it is that it's exercise and it's socializing,” said Klukus. “We feel like we don't really have to host separate social events because you get to socialize while you're there. That's the best part about it.”
As a fourth-year Political Science and Economics major, Klukus has been involved with Swing with U of C for three years. When not organizing and facilitating activities for the club, he, along with the other executives of the club, often participates in the lessons and the social dances.
“I think in some of the bigger clubs, you end up not really knowing who the execs are, but you're going to be dancing with me if you come and you're going to be dancing with the other execs when you come. So you'll know us on a personal level when you come,” said Klukus.
The club opens its doors to a spectrum of individuals, both students and alumni, from a variety of majors and backgrounds. Klukus describes how this variety allows for individuals to bring their unique perspectives to each session. Most attendees have little to no swing dancing experience before they come to their first session, which Klukus insists provides a chance for all who attend to bond through learning.
Altogether, Swing with U of C is more than just a place where individuals learn to dance. Being a member gives members not only a chance to learn a century-old dance form but also allows students to build social connections with individuals from different walks of life.
