BYU Swing Kids Membership Contract
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Brigham Young University Swing Kids Club is to serve one another and the community by building an appreciation for big band dance and music. As members, we are dedicated to learning and teaching all forms of swing dancing and developing an awareness on campus and in the community of the excitement of swing dancing.
To achieve the club's full potential and purpose, all members will have to be willing to share their knowledge of swing with those wanting to learn at club meetings on Saturday nights. Be sociable, ask new people to dance, and exchange what you know with others.
As a club at BYU we agree to be service oriented, each member contributing a minimum of 5-10 hours of service per semester in conjunction with the club. The Swing Kids Club is based on volunteer help. We are always looking for artists, teachers, and people to help us publicize by working booths and other events. If you are looking to help in a fulltime capacity, or are willing just to help out once in a while with specific duties, let us know!
Membership
Anyone can be admitted as a member, whether they are a BYU student or not. Dues are $12 for each semester.
Benefits include:
- Free admission to club meetings (a.k.a. dances!)
- Swing Instruction Saturdays from 7-8pm, and Tuesday evenings.
- Access to Lindy Hop instruction videos.
- Discounts on fundraiser dances.
- Guest passes are available for $3 per semester with your membership. These passes allow one guest to come with you to each club dance.
Dance Etiquette
A large part of creating an environment that is conducive to learning and FEELING big band-swing is to uphold some age old principles of etiquette on the dance floor: Be AWARE and courteous of those dancing around you. (Gentlemen, watch where you lead your ladies.) When not dancing, please move off the floor. Dance near the sides of the dance floor when practicing, not in the middle. Gentlemen, escort you partner to and from the floor. Please try to include all club members. Gentlemen, ask ladies standing alone to dance. Lifts can be a great addition to your dancing and style if they are done properly where there is enough space to perform them. Because of the possibility of injury, however, they should be used with care. The following rules can help prevent accidents: BE COURTEOUS! Never do lifts where the floor is crowded. (If you are unsure, there is NOT sufficient space.) Always use a spotter when practicing or performing stunts. Use lifts as an addition to your dancing rather than a substitute for it. Ladies(and men), let your partner know if you are uncomfortable with a lift.
Live Bands: we try to have live bands come and perform for us once in a while, so we can have the experience of dancing to the real thing. These will be more formal, and have more of a dance feeling than the weekly meetings. Please show appreciation for the bands that perform for us. Take special care to follow etiquette for General Dancing. Dress nicely (no jeans) when we have live band dances. It is appropriate to applaud at the end of each piece be attentive to the performers. Have fun and stop practicing -- start dancing!
From The Presidency
We cannot guarantee that we will have dances in the same room every week. We try to use the KMB and room 278 of the RB, but this is subject to change. It is the responsibility of each member to find out where and when the next meeting will be held. You can do this in any of three simple ways: subscribe to the weekly mailing list and check the event calendar.
If you'd like to know who we are, see the officers page and drop us a line.