Cowboy Country Swing Club, one of the popular RSO’s on campus, holds a dance in the bottom of the Union. They normally hold dances every Thursday at the Union Ballroom.
It’s Thursday night in the Union Ballroom at the University of Wyoming. “Footloose” is blaring out into the hallway. Slip on some cowboy boots – it’s time to dance.
Hunter Christensen is the founder and president of the Cowboy Country Swing Club (CCSC). Christensen started the club during the spring semester of 2012 and since then, participation has skyrocketed. The club currently has more than 400 members, numerous Facebook followers and countless non-members who attend events. Christensen said this was his initial intention when he first conceived of the club.
“The goal of the club is to provide an alcohol-free and friendly atmosphere where people are open, and anyone can show up, ask questions and learn,” he said, adding he believes the atmosphere the CCSC offers is something many UW students look for.
“I just think we have really cool, really nice people at UW,” Christensen said. “It is easy to find good people, so helping provide this opportunity to become friends is valuable for me because I enjoy seeing people smile, learn new things and succeed.”
Jordyn Schroder, an undeclared student, said the environment the CCSC offers is something unique to the campus.
“I like it because it is really laid back and the people there are a lot of fun to hang out with,” Schroder said. “Some of my really good friends are ones I have met while swing dancing on Thursdays.”
Oh, yes, the swing dancing. Every fourth day of the school week, pairs of dancers, both experienced and novice, swarm the dance floor in the Union Ballroom –or sometimes the LDS Institute of Religion, depending on the day. They flip, the spin, they swing – instructors stay during the free dance and visit with students. This continued instruction means you won’t miss out on new moves if you show up late.
Along with the basic instruction, club officers and regularly attending members dedicate time to organize a weekly coordinated dance. To help provide for the free venue, Christensen sends six executive officers and ten instructors who help during events and are responsible for such things as logistics and scheduling.
The club has no full-time support or sponsorship; it receives dononations from family members and the LDS Institute of Religion, while also working closely with the Student Activities Council in order partner and pay for events.
Information on the location and special themes of dances can be found on the club’s Facebook page; Cowboy Country Swing Club. Also featured on their page are YouTube instructional videos and pictures from events.
