CJ’s isn’t the only place to make memories on a Thursday night. Located above the bar is the Moscow Social Club, where the Swing Devils of the Palouse teach and perform East Coast swing every week.
“Depending what type of student you are, you also might enjoy it because it’s an alcohol and smoke-free zone,” Bonnefin said. “It’s also great exercise. We have lots of people who meet their future partners here.”
The Swing Devils of the Palouse is a non-profit organization that meets Thursdays. The cost to enter is $4.
Experienced dancers teach a lesson at 8 p.m., which is included in the cost of entry. Social dancing begins at 9 p.m. and lasts until midnight.
Claire Martens said she has been attending swing nights regularly for about a year.
“I dance lead and follow,” Martens said. “Dancing lead, which is like the guy’s part, is fun for a challenge. And following — it’s fun to just relax into it. It beats watching a movie.”
Martens said she started dancing after her friends taught her a few basic moves.
“I went to a big formal swing dance, and was like ‘This is really fun, I should be better at it’ so that’s how I started,” Martens said.
Martens said social dancing requires people to get past the fear of looking silly or messing up.
“To dance socially, you have to get over a lot of inhibitions that a lot of people have and don’t want to deal with like being shy, not liking talking to new people,” Martens said. “You have to get rid of your personal space. You get a lot of confidence, which is … always a good thing to have.”
Alex Boughamer, a long-standing member of the Swing Devils, has been a part of the club since shortly after it began in 1998.
“I was always too afraid to dance,” Boughamer said. “I was very self-conscious, and didn’t know how to dance. Being tall, I always wanted to know how to dance. I always had the desire, and I wanted to dance with girlfriends. I needed something to make me happy and decided just to take a lesson, and the rest is history. I had so much fun.”
Boughamer said learning to dance isn’t as hard as many people think it is.
“It’s just learning repetitive muscle movements, like martial arts or shooting a basketball,” Boughamer said. “You learn how to do it and then it becomes second nature.”
Of all the dances he’s tried, Boughamer said swing is the most fun.
“It’s not written down, the dance is always evolving, there’s no set way to do it right. Everyone can have their own style,” Boughamer said.
A $5 fee buys one year of membership in the Swing Devils club.
“A membership gets you discounts at workshops and on live-band nights,” Bonnefin said.
Dance experience or membership are not required to dance and enjoy the atmosphere.
“You really do have the time,” Martens said. “If you didn’t have time, you wouldn’t have Facebook. You have the time to do stuff like this. And I think it’s worthwhile, it’s a fun social skill.”