Swing Your Sweetheart Dance

Swing Your Sweetheart Dance

By: Brittany Schaefer

On, Friday February 15, 2013, the UNH Hep Cats Swing Dancing Club invites all to their Swing Your Sweetheart dance. This upbeat social event will be held in the Strafford room of the MUB from 7– 11 p.m.

“This event is going to be something new for everyone to try, you can come in as couples or friends or to meet someone on the floor,” said Hep Cats president, Kaitlyn LaCourse. “It’s a challenge that forces you out of your comfort zone, but also it’s fun to be in a new environment.”

“Anyone looking to expand their cultural values, learn something new, or just a fun night with friends should stop by,” said LaCourse. A beginner lesson will be offered from 7-8 p.m., followed by three more hours of social dancing. No previous experience of dancing required. Semi- casual attire is acceptable. This event will be free for Undergrads with an ID present, and 7$ for anyone else that wants to swing dance for a night.

The Strafford room will decorated in red and white in honors of Valentine’s Day. There will be flowers, heart and even free food and refreshments. This will be a unique experience that is also offered in a much lower key atmosphere every Wednesday at 6p.m. in the Wildcat Den located in the MUB.

With the Hep Cats, one learns to appreciate the past by visiting a new era. The “swing era” was from 1920’s till the ‘50s. The best-known swing dance is the Lindy Hop; a popular partner dance that is done by the UNH Hep Cats today. “Basically picture the prom scene from the movie Grease,” said President, Kaitlyn LaCourse.

Those of who are interested can also join the Hep Cats e-mail list to get updates on practices or events the Hep Cats plan to take. Anyone can join at anytime, for beginners, before or after the hour dance lesson, a member can help with any moves that seem difficult. “We will keep everyone up to date, even with zero experience,” said Kaitlyn LaCourse. Even UNH staff and people from different schools attend their Wednesday night meetings.

The Hep Cats often take trips to clubs like The Crosby Whistle Stop in Boston, MA by carpool to have a fun night away from campus and to be surrounded by more people that are into the unique style of lindy hop dancing.

The Hep Cats has been around UNH since the early 2000’s. It’s a group that is open to all, men, women, experienced, or brand new to dance, and all are accepted.  “I’m a huge klutz and here it doesn’t matter,” said freshman, Isabelle Molle. “The people are nice and the music is fun!”

“Any dance is a lot of fun, but with swing you don’t have to pay attention to form or match the count. It’s a loose dance that makes me more creative,” said grad student, Ian Marshall. “You work your mistakes into your style and that makes it fun.”

This event is sure to be not easily forgotten. Learning a new distinctive dance in this atmosphere doesn’t come around often. The Hep Cats only put on two dances throughout the year and the next one won’t be until May 2013. So make sure to stop by the Strafford room from 7- 11 p.m. Friday the 15.