On Friday, Sept. 13, more than 20 people gathered at the Living Learning Community (LLC) Courtyard for a swing dancing event. The event ran from 8:30 to 10 p.m., welcoming students of all experience levels to dance and learn moves like dips and aerials. Groups of friends stood together, one reason a student enjoys these gatherings.
Welter, 19, a second-year University of Idaho student studying wildlife, has attended swing dancing events about 10 times, in places like Pullman, the Moose Lodge in Moscow and the UI Country Swing Club, which meets weekly. “My friends like swing dancing, and it’s an easy way to hang out with them,” said Zach Welter. “It gets me out, gets me moving.” When asked about his favorite move, Welter said, “There are a lot of crazy ones. I think it’s the gravedigger, where you stick it through, wrap around, and do a bunch of crazy spins in and out. It’s a wild one.”
While most participants were familiar with UI, some new students were also present, including Irelyn Spelt, a transfer student from Canada. “It had my program, so I decided to transfer over,” said Spelt, 20, who is in her third year of school and studying landscape architecture. When asked how she was enjoying UI so far, Spelt said, “I really like it. The overall community is really awesome.” Her favorite move? “The octopus, that’s one of my favorites,” she said. “It’s where you come in, go over your head and your partner’s head, do some spins and then dip.”
Other students were returning participants from previous semesters. Elliana Overstreet, 19, a second-year computer science student and a member of the UI Country Swing Club, was one of them. “I’ve been coming the last couple of weeks just to take a break from studying and be able to dance around a little,” Overstreet said. “I learned a few things last semester, so this semester I’m getting into more complex stuff.”
When asked how she enjoyed the LLC event, Overstreet said, “I like it. It’s smaller than the club and Moose, but it’s nice to be able to teach people and do all the stuff… I just learned a dip called the gravedigger, and it’s been really fun. I just like being able to get out and do all the fun stuff, you know?”
The swing dancing event at the LLC Courtyard provided students with a fun, energetic break from their routines, allowing them to connect with friends and learn new moves. With the mix of experienced dancers and newcomers, the event fostered a welcoming atmosphere, ensuring a memorable evening for all who attended. For more information on the Country Swing Dance club and their events, visit here.
Hannah Hale can be reached at [email protected]