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By Lyndsey Sage
THE BATTALION
While the rage for swing dance has faded since the 1930s and
Os, students such as Kendra Morris, Class of 1998 and a current
cmiputer science graduate student, and other members of the Aggie
wing Cats, keep the fad in full swing in the A&M community.
‘Once you get into it, it’s an addiction,” Morris said. “It’s like
lequote they have for A&M, ‘From the outside looking in, you
an’t understand it; from the inside looking out, you can't
;plain it.’”
Morris, president of the Aggie Swing Cats,
ving dance organization founded in
the Spring 1999, became interested in swing when she attended a
wedding reception with had a sock hop theme. She took the ini
tiative to attend lessons hosted by the Aggie Swing Cats. Since
then, swing dancing has become a major part of her life.
"When I first got started, 1 danced four to five times a week.
Now I only dance two or three times a week,” she said.
Morris said it was easy to pick up the basics of swing, and
once she had those steps perfected, she learned more advanced
moves and how to react to a dancing partner.
Morris has been a member of the Aggie Swing Cats for two
years. Morris said the Swing Cats are active in any
thing that has to do with swing, whether it is a
concert, a road trip to a workshop or dance, teach
ing lessons or hosting dances and exchanges.
Swing Cats often travel to surrounding cities
such as Houston and Austin to hit dance
floors or attend swing workshops.
‘‘Last weekend we went to the Great
Southwest Lindy Festival in Houston.
Instructors from all over the nation were
there, including Frankie Manning and
Dawn Hampton,” Morris said. “We lis
tened to them reminisce about what it
was like dancing in the 30s and 40s.”
Listening to the stories of Manning
and Hampton, who played major
roles in the invention and develop
ment of swing, was just one of the
highlights Morris has experienced
since becoming involved with swing.
Piling into a car with fellow members
to attend various out-of-town dances,
competitions and workshops are
another aspect of the swing scene
that Morris has enjoyed.
“This is a very unique area,”
Morris said. “People from Houston
and Austin show up at our events,
I and we show up at theirs.”
Recently, Morris and
several Swing Cats spent
their Sunday from 3 p.m.
to midnight in Houston
learning new dance moves
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and displaying them on the dance floor.
Julia McGarey, a senior English major, has been active in the
Swing Cats since the club was founded, said the music was the
original force.that drew her into swing. McGarey said swing danc
ing has since provided her several opportunities.
“I like it because it is a social dance; you dance with every
body,” McGarey said. “You meet so many people.”
The dance floor is not the only place to meet people. McGarey
said one easily forms relationships through a nationwide network
of dancers.
“Once you get into [swing], you can find a place to stay as
long as there is a dance scene there,” McGarey said. “You invite
people to come and stay and dance all weekend; it’s called an
exchange. I’ve been to San Francisco, Chicago and I’m about to
go to [Washington] D.C.”
Dusty Reagan, a member of the Swing Cats and junior com
puter science major, said he was introduced into the swing scene
and found the dance offered a common bond to many other swing
dancers throughout the nation.
“Once you get into it, they have exchanges and workshops,
and, a lot of the time, they are nationwide,” Reagan explained.
“The longer that you’re in the scene, the more people you meet
from out of state. It’s cool to see you know people from other
cities and states when you go to these workshops and exchanges.”
The Swing Cats frequent these workshops, where different
levels and dance elements are taught. As he acquires more skill
through these classes, Reagan has become active in performing.
Recently, he was accepted into a performance team in Houston.
“A lot of people see swing dance ads on commercials where they
are doing the aerials and big stuff,” Reagan said. “But on the social
dance floor it is not so much so. It’s real laid back, you can do
almost anything. Aerials are more for exhibition and jam sessions.”
McGarey’s involvement with swing has led to more than travel.
McGarey, along with about 25 other swing dancers from across
Texas, performed in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
“We practiced every other weekend, all weekend, from
February to September. Most people had been practicing for two
years; since we only had such a short period of time, we had to
work extra hard,” McGarey said.*
While many hold the perception of swing as “just another
dance,” Reagan said swing dancing is a skill and art form.
“You can always keep building on it,” Reagan said. “You could
keep going forever and ever.”
WAWAMNEMWKK
April 1: ♦ True Diversity: Exploring Race, Gender, Sexuality Programming
by Magadalen Hsu-Li from 24 pm in Rudder Tower 401
+\1as>dalen Hsu-Li Concert at Rudder Theatre at 8 pm
You can get vour tickets $5 at the MSC Box Office: 8454234
♦Domestic Partner Benefits in Rudder 501 @ 5:30
April!: ♦Film: Hedwig and the Angry Inch in Koldus 11 lat 7:30 pm
♦ Lunchbox Concert: Shade 12-1 pm at Rudder Fountain
April 3: ♦GLBTA Social: For more info email Justin: spenserve@yahoo.com
♦Same Sex Marriage at Rudder Fountain: tamimow@yahoo.com
April 4: ♦National Day of Silence: Support materials at Rudder Fountain
+The Way Discrimination Based on Gender Intersects With Other
Kinds of Discrimination by Riki Wilchins at 7 pm in MSC 206
mm
April 5: ^Evening of the Arts:Going Beyond Opressum in MSC 201 at 7 pm
April 6: ^Cabaret at 7pm at Manor East Mall: 779-1302
April?: ♦GLBT PN Picnic at Hensei Park from 2-6 pm
Sponsored by the Office of Gender Issues Education Sendees (845-1107), GLBTA, MSC Film
Society MSC Town Hall, GLBT PN, and ALLIES. htti)://studentlife.tamu.edtigks/
Scou
Now Accepting Applications
Class of 2003 Team
Class of 2004 Team
Class of 2005 Team
Fundraising Chair, all classes
Marketing Chair, all classes
Operations Chair, all classes
Records Chair, all classes
Social/Service Chair, all classes
Senior Class Gift Chair
Junior Class Gift Chair
Executive Director of Team Traditions
Boot Dance Director
Elephant Walk Director
Junior E-Walk Director
Maroon Out Director (1-2)
Senior Ring Dance Director (2)
Leadership Invitational Director
Real World Director
Freshmen Programs Director (2)
Asst. Freshmen Programs Dir. (2)
http://classcouncils.tamu.edu
Go to the 'GETTING INVOLVED" section for the job descriptions & applications
Applications are due Friday. April S"' by 5pm
In the Team Traditions cube
(2 ra floor MSC . above the sweet shop)