With women adorning layers of pearl necklaces and feather boas and men sporting derby hats and suspenders, the French House on Saturday night was transformed into a speakeasy, complete with swing dancers and jazzy tunes.
While the rich, soulful voice of Ella Fitzgerald blared from the speakers, members of Tigers Swing Out, the University swing dancing organization, twirled, lifted and stepped to the rhythm of the 1920s jazz singer. TSO held their second dance this year with a “Roaring 20s” theme and some enthusiastic dancing to show.
Experienced dancers and newcomers alike participated, while Lenore Saltz, a mathematics junior and TSO founder, and Michael Norris, member of NOLA Swing, taught a few basic steps of 1920s swing.
“This club is about promoting swing dancing,” Saltz said. “I was living in Baton Rouge for two years with nowhere to dance and hated it. My friends and I started this club with $20 and have watched it just build up from there.”
While some members stood on the sidelines during the swing lesson and newcomers attempted to perfect the “step-step-rock-step,” the smiles and energetic atmosphere provided even the most clumsy dancers a reason to try.
“Anyone can do it,” said Elizabeth Lazar, a first year communication disorders graduate student. “They are learning the basic steps, and they will be able to take it anywhere and swing dance.”
Swing dance stretches farther than just TSO. The crowd consisted of avid swing dancers from New Orleans, Baton Rouge and even Jackson, Miss.
“It’s addicting,” said Jill Johnson, veterinary sciences professor and TSO faculty advisor.
Once the lesson was over and the lights were dimmed, participants got to show off their favorite moves — the men dipped, spun and lifted their partners into the air.
Whether it was two girls practicing the Charleston or a boy-and-girl couple showing off their favorite lift, everyone was tapping their feet or shaking their hips to the peppy sounds of Louis Armstrong’s trumpet.
The members of TSO encourage anyone who is curious to come and learn the basic steps of swing dance.
“Just relax, do not stress at all,” said Jayna Morgan, member of NOLA swing. “Swing dancing is social dancing, it’s all about meeting people and having fun.”
Reed Couvillon, a general studies junior and secretary of TSO, had another reason in mind when he decided to step onto the dance floor.
“Girls like to dance,” Couvillon said. “It’s a social thing, and that’s why I joined. There were more guys than girls when we first started the club, but now it’s beginning to even out a bit more. But I originally joined because it was another way to meet girls.”
Lauren Lane, a broadcast journalism junior, said swing dancing is a great hobby that people can take almost anywhere and join the local chapter. She said TSO is a great place for students to get started.
“[TSO] is a great way to learn,” Lane said. “Students pay $10 in dues to have one swing lesson a week. If students went anywhere else, they would be paying three times that much and learning the same thing.”