Swing dancing welcomes all at Cal Poly club

Cal Poly’s student-run swing dance club offers weekly lessons, open to students from any level of experience. 

Swing dance lessons take place on Sunday afternoons from 1-3:30 p.m. in Architecture Building Five, room 225, according to business administration junior and club president Katie Smith. 

“We teach mainly Lindy Hop which is a style of swing dancing from the 1930s and ‘40s that originated out of Harlem,” Smith said.

But she says they also teach a variety of different swing dance styles, like Balboa and Charleston. 

In addition to having lessons weekly, they also welcome anyone to their social dances every Monday night from 8-10 p.m. at the Madonna Inn.

“Anybody can come no matter their experience level, you never have to bring a partner or anything like that, it’s just come to have a good time,” Smith said. 

Since discovering the Swing Club, Smith has never missed a swing event at the Madonna Inn. 

Cydney Thornton is a child development sophomore and secretary of the Swing Club. She shared her love for the community of swing dancers that she’s met at Cal Poly. 

“I love to dance and I wanted to make a lot of new friends my first year coming here and it has not disappointed,” Thornton said. “I have met so many people from a variety of majors that I probably would have never met elsewhere.”

Smith is also very grateful for the memories she’s made since joining the club. 

“I am just so grateful to be a part of such a joyous and loving and caring community,” Smith said. “Honestly, the best people that I have met in my entire life are part of the Cal Poly Swing Club. And everybody is just so lovely.”

More information about the Cal Poly Swing Club can be found on their Instagram at @cpswing.