Text and photos by Dusty Decker

Most think that dancing of any kind is for those with coordination, agility and tapping one's foot to the beat. According to Utah State's swing club president, those things aren't necessary to learn how to dance. He is proof of that. The president, Jeremy S. Weight, is from Springville, Utah. He's a junior majoring in psychology and when his friends invited him to go swingin' at a dance at Brigham Young University he thought they were talking about country dancing. Weight said, "I had absolutely no idea what it was or even how to dance at all."

The jazz music was new to him and he had no idea what to do but he enjoyed watching the dancing and tried it anyway.

"Since then I have continued to learn more moves and steps. That's why big band swing is so fun. There is no limit to how much you can learn," said Weight.

There has been a swing club at USU for two or three years, but this year has been better than ever, according to Weight. It was started by some of his friends. He said, "They became addicted and couldn't go without it so they thought they should start up a club."

This year Weight has some help from his friends Jeremy Gibbons, April Bush, Andrea Swenson, Amy Anderson and others. They don't have specific positions in the club, but they all help. It's all pretty laid back, but they have regular meetings to discuss what needs to be done and then volunteer to do the work.

He's president because club members voted him in -- "Lucky me," he said.

The swing club gives lessons 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Tuesday in HPER 102, and on some Fridays the members have dances. They used to have dances on Tuesday nights but found that most people who went didn't know how to swing, "so lessons every Tuesday night will hopefully provide a chance for every dancer of all levels to learn new moves and most important how to lead and follow," said Weight.

On Tuesdays they divide the group into beginning and intermediate. The main style of dance that the club teaches is Lindyhop, specifically Savoy Style. Weight and Bush have studied this style under swing legends like Frankie Manning, David Dalmo and Josie Say.

Weight has been on the ballroom team before and knows a little about other dances such as ballroom, jive waltz, cha cha, meringue, paso doble, foxtrot, quickstep and tango. As far as swing goes Weight said, "I focus so much on Savoy Style that I practically eat, sleep and breathe it. Just ask my friends they will tell you how crazed I am over Swing."

He said, "my favorite swing music is the good old artists of jazz, like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Benny Berigan, Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Chick Webb, etc."

On Friday nights they have dances with a DJ and lessons before from 6 to 7. The dances usually last from 7 to 9. Weight said they might also have dances other nights. Dance information is announced on Tuesday nights and is advertised.

Right now the club has about 50 or more people that regularly go. Weight would like to see the club get bigger. The cost to join is $12 for the semester. That includes lessons every Tuesdays and a swing club T-shirt. You also get into the Friday night dances free.

Weight's enthusiasm for swing keeps the club rolling.

"It is a full on blast," he said. Most importantly he would like to stress to USU students, "it absolutely does not matter how uncoordinated you are, you can still learn how to dance. . . . I started off without even being able to clap to the beat; I was pathetic!"

He advises anyone to not be intimidated by good Lindyhop if they chance to see any, because everyone can learn. "It just takes some effort and some good teachers, but all things that require effort are the things that are most valuable in life," Weight said.

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