Strictly ballroom: Obies learn to swing their stuff

Think back to a time when kids got dolled up in zoot suits to go swing it out to the big bands, when Fred and Ginger glided like angels, when everyone knew the same moves, when dancing was an occasion. What happened to those days? We look back to them now with awe and envy. We see this strange time where dancing was weaved into the social fabric and it seemed as though everyone could dance and could look good doing it.

Social dancing these days consists of a lot of bouncing, grinding, listless swaying and head bobbing. It seems to lack a certain energy and style, and good dancers are few and far between. There is no effort anymore, no skill, and no communication between dancers.

Well, it looks as though the tide is turning here at Oberlin. Over forty people showed up at Hales Gym last Sunday night in response to a KIOSK message advertising for a new ballroom dancing organization. The majority were beginners, and they instruction was given for the first hour or so, and the people were hungry for savvy steps to try.

The idea was initiated by college sophomore Nova Mackently, who was surprised but pleased at the turnout. "I wasn't prepared to teach all those people, but I hope they had fun." Mackently is a recent transfer from Carnegie Mellon University, where there is a substantial ballroom constituent. Arriving at Oberlin to find virtually no campus outlet for ballroom despite apparent interest, she decided it was high time for Oberlin to get going on a permanent ballroom program.

The hope is that this new organization will be a resource for teaching, learning and practicing all forms of ballroom, from rhumba and cha to fox trot and swing. Mackently also has grander visions of competition a couple years down the road. This suggests that the goals of the group may be heading towards more of a company type status.

Because the organization is just getting on its feet, the obstacles it faces right now are mainly logistical. They have a faculty advisor, Professor of Dance Carter McAdams, but they are in the process of picking officers and putting a budget and charter together. The plan is to bring in professional instructors. The problem is finding an accomodating price, space and time for everyone concerned. Technicalities aside, it is great to see ballroom find a home at Oberlin.

Social ballroom dancing in general never went away, it just became too formal for younger generations. But it's that cool, secret talent that many of our parents seem to have. It's a shame that there is little social dance discipline these days, because there is something really charming about a floor full of people dancing together, in rhythm, in partners, almost as if it were choreographed. Don't get me wrong, things did not go entirely downhill after the '40s and '50s. After all, we had people doing the group hustle in the 70s and we had communal breakin' in the 80s. These were glamorous times to be sure.

The '90s, however, have had a habitual problem of lacking orignality, and thus the trend has always been to go retro. This may account for the popular resurgence of swing that has been occuring for the past couple of years. Many people have have been tapping into this vintage era, and Oberlin is no exception.

There was plenty of evidence to suggest an affinity for ballroom on this campus; swing orchestras at Talcott formals, the Dascomb ball, and most recently, a winter term ballroom course that culminated in a performance/dance party at the beginning of the semester. All things considered, the horizon is looking promising for ballroom at Oberlin. Judging by the flushed and happy faces of the dancers last Sunday night, there is enough energy to get things off to a rolling start.

If you're feeling hip enough to come out and show your stuff, tonight is "Swing Night" at the 'Sco from 10 p.m. to 1 a .m. Absolutely free.