UC hosts Swing Into Spring

Last November, Elissa Looney and Holly Weber endured the cold while driving a horse and carriage around the Oval for two hours to promote Fall Into Finals – a night of dancing and country music just before the semester’s most taxing week.

This afternoon, they will once again ride in circles to spur interest in a similar foot-stomping hoedown: the Swing Into Spring dance (with the tagline “Kiss Winter Farewell and Give the Dance Floor Hell”) kicks off tomorrow evening. The dance will offer an hour of swing dance lessons in the University Center Ballroom, followed by the music of local group Stomping Ground.

Looney and Weber wanted to provide an event that would not only draw University of Montana students, but the Missoula community as well.

“There aren’t that many places to go, even if you’re 21,” Looney said of the lack of dance-oriented establishments in Missoula. Looney works with the UM Center for Leadership Development.

Weber, the student coordinator for the UC Theater, added that the ages at last year’s Fall into Finals ranged from 18 to 60. She expects even more of a draw from the general public this year.

Shane Clouse, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Stomping Ground, said the event offers those who “don’t necessarily want to be in a smoky bar” with a night of Western music and swing dance.

Clouse claimed that people often label the band “country,” but he believes they have a much broader appeal. During their sets, the band plays a mixture of original songs and cover tunes ranging from Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” to a hybrid of Soundgarden’s and Johnny Cash’s version of “Rusty Cage.”

“We’re not just a bunch of shells with instruments up there,” Clouse said.

“I really hope to open more people on campus to Shane,” Weber said. “I’m constantly impressed with how much of a performer at heart he is.”

Weber said with tickets priced at $3, she isn’t concerned with a huge profit.

“I’m happy if we have 600 people there and we make $1000 for the event,” she said.

Clouse echoed this sentiment, saying that he would even love it “if at every venue we played with no cover charge.”

The dance begins tomorrow at 7 p.m. with an hour of swing lessons from local instructor Martha Jane Newby. Stomping Ground will take the stage from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Tickets are available at the door or at the Source in the UC. Weber and Looney will pass out candy bars on the Oval from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Five of the candy bars will include free tickets.