Pointlife
Jimmy Scott and Shelly Hayes put on some moves as members of the student organization Any Swing Goes, which focuses on teaching UWSP students how to dance for free and for fun.
Any Swing Goes
The Pointer
kshan945@uwsp.edu
After a long day of classes, students at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point want to unwind. It may take throwing the football around, lounging on the futon with the Food Channel on in the background but for a few on campus ,unwinding takes on a whole new twist. Any Swing Goes is a student organization that focuses on how to teach students to ballroom dance with many different styles including jitterbug, triple swing, lindy hop, mambo, cha-cha, tango, and waltz.
The organization was started a few years ago by a student who hoped to teach swing and salsa to other students for free. Since then, it has been student taught and still maintains its tradition of remaining free to all students.
“We are possibly the most laid back group on campus. There are no obligations or fees,” said Any Swing Goes president Alicia DeGroot.
None of the officers are dance majors or ever have been. “In fact, two of our officers [Jimmy Scott and Shelly Hayes] came to Any Swing Goes last fall never having a dance lesson in their lives. By spring, they were teaching swing to the group,” said DeGroot.
Three years ago, participation in the organization was very low.
“When I became officer, Any Swing Goes was on the verge of collapse,” said DeGroot. “Myself and others made a goal that we would keep it alive and ensure its survival for years, even after our graduation. I think that we have accomplished that. We have lots of ideas in the works, but we are all still a young organization just getting [a] foothold in the University. Right now we are focusing on the best way to spread the love of dance that the officers of Any Swing Goes share.”
By promoting and expanding the knowledge of dance, they now have about 20 students attending each lesson – many of whom have become regulars.
Mackenzie Kujawski, a second-year dancer to the organization, said, “I decided to join this group because I had already learned the basics of swing and salsa and loved it. I wanted to add more to my ballroom repertoire and this group teaches so many different types of dances.”
The organization also performed for Centertainment Productions last November and taught a lesson at the Swing Fling in February. According to DeGroot, “We hope to sponsor our own dance soon. Other organizations should know if they would like Any Swing Goes to be involved in or appear at a function, especially a dance, we would be thrilled to do so.”
Tuesdays and Thursdays in October are the regular meeting times for Any Swing Goes in the same place, or students can contact Alicia DeGroot with any questions about participation. As the organization motto states, which is borrowed from Dave Barry, “It doesn’t matter if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance, because any swing goes.”
