It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing

From the outside, Oct. 22 seemed like any other quiet Saturday night within the walls of Ohio University’s Baker Center. Students rode the elevators up and down the four levels, chatting quietly about their evening plans or upcoming exams.    
 
But just a short walk down the second-floor conference hallway proved that everything but ordinary was occurring. OU’s Jitterbug Club had managed to transform the plain walls and light hardwood floor of room 240 into a 1940s-era dance club with a live band, good friends and smooth moves. And decorations weren’t even needed.
 
“Swing Into Fall” was the theme of this quarter’s annual dance that welcomed students from not only OU, but also Ohio State University and other surrounding schools. The attendance didn’t stop with students however, as several older couples were present to enjoy a night of their favorite pastime as well.

 
Before the dance, dancers were given the option of attending a four-hour workshop focusing on the style of dance called Lindy for a small fee, and then could choose to attend the dance a short time later. Some participants did, and others didn’t, but either way the turnout for the evening was above and beyond with just under 70 attendees at one or both of the events.
 
Participants ranged from first-timers to veterans, all of whom were welcomed with warm smiles and basic instructions to ensure that everyone could join in on the fun.
 
Girls in flowing, knee-length dresses and boys in ties and fedoras littered the dance floor, smiling and laughing as they spun one another to the live sounds of SEO Swing Thing, a small band with big sound. The party remained in full “swing” (please pardon the bad pun) until 11 p.m. when the party was moved to a location off campus for Late Night, where another few hours of Blues-style dancing occurred.