Swing Dance Essay
On April 2nd, The University Swingers participated in a team competition at the Heartland Swing Festival in Iowa, where they took second place out of ten. Team members spoke about what makes them unique, and the preparation done for the competition. Shannon Barton, senior and choreographer for the team, said The University Swingers are always looking to learn more about swing dancing, so that they can teach it to others and spread their core central love of this dance. They do so by attending workshops and having weekly practices.
Though swing dance has historical roots, the swingers find ways to make it modern. For example, in their performance there were traditional 1930’s steps, but also Beyonce moves, which made it “quick and rapid …show more content…
Outside of practice, though, many partners will practice together and also exercise and or maintain a healthy diet. Christina Cirquera, senior and vice president of the swingers, spoke of what this win means to her. C has been apart of the team for three years and so has seen and competed against some of the same teams before; teams that had previously beat Truman placed below the swingers at the Heartland festival. C also said that second place was a huge success because first place is a team of “budding professionals,” and third place had “hired professional choreographers.” For these reasons, C was excited to see the swingers do so well and sees them on a “constant incline to get better,” she said. Allison Kelly, junior and secretary of the swingers, was also a choreographer for the competition. Three choreographers were elected at the beginning of the semester who designed the team dance, taught it, and then worked with the team to make it clean before leaving for spring break, Kelly said. For the competition, Kelly said there were “no stops in their way,” as the team is cohesive and dedicated to dance. At this point in the semester, Kelly said, academics can wear on you, and so she “likes that Heartland gives us that new life.” Getting to Heartland is the goal, and so working towards is “exhausting, but in a good and exciting way,” Kelly
Though swing dance has historical roots, the swingers find ways to make it modern. For example, in their performance there were traditional 1930’s steps, but also Beyonce moves, which made it “quick and rapid …show more content…
Outside of practice, though, many partners will practice together and also exercise and or maintain a healthy diet. Christina Cirquera, senior and vice president of the swingers, spoke of what this win means to her. C has been apart of the team for three years and so has seen and competed against some of the same teams before; teams that had previously beat Truman placed below the swingers at the Heartland festival. C also said that second place was a huge success because first place is a team of “budding professionals,” and third place had “hired professional choreographers.” For these reasons, C was excited to see the swingers do so well and sees them on a “constant incline to get better,” she said. Allison Kelly, junior and secretary of the swingers, was also a choreographer for the competition. Three choreographers were elected at the beginning of the semester who designed the team dance, taught it, and then worked with the team to make it clean before leaving for spring break, Kelly said. For the competition, Kelly said there were “no stops in their way,” as the team is cohesive and dedicated to dance. At this point in the semester, Kelly said, academics can wear on you, and so she “likes that Heartland gives us that new life.” Getting to Heartland is the goal, and so working towards is “exhausting, but in a good and exciting way,” Kelly