By Megan Tervo
In the dance halls of 1920s New Orleans or New York City, jazz and swing music filled the air, as dancers practiced social swing styles like the Lindy Hop. A century later, most University of Maryland students might find themselves unfamiliar with these styles.
The University’s Swing Dancing Club is working to change that, giving students a chance to learn these classic dances today.
The Swing Dancing Club meets weekly on Mondays and Thursdays in various rooms at Adele H. Stamp Student Union. The club provides beginner lessons in West Coast Swing and Lindy Hop, as well as an open dance floor following the lessons.
Matthew Gu, a senior computer science major and the club’s president, has been a member since the spring semester of his freshman year and served as the secretary and treasurer before becoming president this fall.
He believes that swing dancing is incredibly welcoming to beginners, something he appreciates about the club and the culture of swing dancing as a whole.
“We get so many people who have never danced before and who are not sure if it’s okay for them to come in. We like to encourage them to come and they usually have a blast,” Gu said.
Many of the club members said they agreed with Gu’s sentiment that swing dancing has helped to improve their confidence and break them out of their shell.
“It’s made me realize I need to have more faith in myself,” said Tiernan Mosher, a junior psychology major.
Mosher said he joined swing dancing because he wanted to try dancing and be able to surprise the people in his life with his skills and confidence.
“You can go out in public and actually have the confidence that you’ll know how to dance,” Mosher said.
Lindy Hop instructor Charlie Wieprecht, who has been dancing since 2009 and teaching swing for the club since before the pandemic, has loved seeing members grow in their dancing skills, body confidence and connection with others.
“It’s a good way to be social in a semi-structured way,” Wieprecht said.
He said one of his favorite aspects of swing dancing is the connection between partners that allows them to improvise and create something on the fly.
“Improvisation is a big part of Lindy Hop and swing jazz. I love it because the music that it’s danced to is highly variable,” Wieprecht said. “It conveys all sorts of different tones depending on the song, so I really like that aspect as well.”
Not only does the club provide a social environment for students, but tangible long-term health benefits as well.
“It’s a good way to be active, and certainly a way to engage with others that does not bump the internet,” Wieprecht said.
Students can gain a variety of physical and mental health benefits from participating in swing dancing. It is a way to move your body and give your brain a break from long days of classes and work.
“I think it’s something anyone should try out if they have the chance,” Gu said.
Featured Image: UMD’s swing dancing club practice held in the Activities Room in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union on Oct. 1. Photo by Charlotte Florin.