We all learned how to do this!

Among the many other dance and music groups at Columbia, the fact that our school has both a swing dance group and a big band is often easily forgotten. But recent collaboration between the two groups has put on an event that was – according to senior staffer Ross Chapman – pretty memorable, both for the low-stress free dance lesson and the accompanying music.

On Saturday night, there was probably a lot going on in Wien that involved motion and sweat. But only one of those Valentine’s events was in public: CU Swing Dance’s Valentine’s Day Bash, featuring the CU Big Band. The inaugural event held in Wien Hall completed the timeline of Valentine’s events on campus. While many groups hold sales before the holiday, and February 15th chocolate sales hold us through until spring break, the Valentine’s Bash provided a high energy event for couples and singles alike.

What made this event, hosted in a Wien Lounge decked out with pink ribbons, low candles, and message-adorned lollipops, succeed was its ability to appeal to couples and single participants. The first two hours or so were presented as a quick lesson and a speed date. Members of the club, more versed in dancing than (almost) every guest, taught five basic moves to prerecorded music. As guests learned, leads and follows rotated around in a circle, letting each person practice with about ten different partners. While the Swing Dance members only joked about people getting each other’s numbers at this event, the ability to meet so many new people on Valentine’s Day was a welcome experience. However, couples at the event often cheated the rules and stuck to their preferred partners, a practice the organizers had no problem with.

The event featured 2 sets of performance by the Columbia University Big Band, a student group which has only recently popped back into existence. The 15-piece jazz band re-emerged this year, outside the purview of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Performance Program.  So far, it has only so far played events with CU Swing Dance, but it’s planning to move onto more events as the year goes on. Comprised of Columbia and Manhattan School of Music students, the group balanced superior musical quality with appealing, accessible repertoire. I had the pleasure of sitting in on a song with the Big Band, and they have the individual talent and friendly banter characteristic of exceptional jazz ensembles. As they continue to grow as an ensemble, keep an ear out for them as they ascend to bigger venues. But for now, enjoy them as they provide unmatched live music for energetic events.

Both of the groups managing this event have more planned for the spring semester. The Big Band will have a concert at Symphony Space on April 27th along with Jazz House, while Swing Dance will host the Sugar Foot Strut on April 2nd. If both of these events are as friendly to beginners as the Valentine’s Bash, singles, couples, beginners, and experts should all expect to have a good time – albeit with less candy.

Fun font logos via CU Swing on Facebook