Although Friday the 13th is considered the worst day of the year, the cats and kittens of the Moorpark College Swing Dance Club cut a rug during their Valentines Day dance in the Performing Arts Center, and despite the superstition, the joint was jumping.
Free swing lessons were offered an hour before the dance was to begin for those new to swing dancing.
This seemed perfect for Jonathan Jerome, 18, Mechanical Engineering major, who did not know where to begin when it came to swing dancing.
“I really enjoyed being able to learn a few moves of swing dance,” said Jerome. “I’ve always wanted to learn and this was my opportunity. I’m definitely coming back.”
Swing Dance Club Activities Coordinator Sarah Stembridge, 23, Liberal Studies major, was pleased with the dance’s positive atmosphere as well as the attendance level of about 100 people.
“I was so excited for this dance because it’s our first dance of the year and it’s also my first dance as Activities Coordinator,” said Stembridge. “I was really, really hoping that it would be a good turn out and I’m really, really happy. I couldn’t be happier.”
There was never a lack of partners to dance with when the strategically timed swing dance activities took place. The hosts offered people opportunities to meet others. While Freeze Dance is a favorite at any party, Snowball is not a well-known activity, but it is definitely fun.
The dance starts with a handful of couples dancing and when the music stops, everyone must grab a new partner who was not dancing before. The result is twice as many couples dancing on the dance floor. The game keeps going and the amount of dance partners keeps growing like a snowball going downhill until everyone is dancing.
DJ Paul Almazan of the swing club “Memories in Whittier” provided music for the Valentine’s Day dance. Almazan is well known in the swing world and he graciously donated his time to play tunes for the Moorpark College Swing Club. He respected the club for reaching out to new dancers.
“Just seeing new dancers is important to me because it’s kind of like a torch,” said Almazan. “I think as a dancer, I’ve been dancing for 6 years, it’s something I want to pass on to the next generation.”
The Moorpark College Swing Dance Club is planning more dances and workshops for swingers of all levels, but no specific dates have been set. For more information about the Moorpark College Swing Club, visit www.myspace.com/swingheads. For more information about Memories, visit www.memoriesdancing.com.
