“Don’t be afraid of swine flu, ladies. Lean into those sugar pushes!”

Scott Lowry, President of the Mizzou Swing Society, addresses his beginner group while teaching a new move. The group does not focus on competition or the standard aspects of most clubs at the university, but instead focuses on a social dimension.

Lowry, who co-founded the group in 2007, says, “It’s a great social crowd. You can meet different people—it’s outside of your field of study but it’s still a group of people with a common interest. Anyone can do it. You don’t have to be affiliated with the university. There’s no dress code and no forms to fill out—and it’s great exercise.”

Lowry’s enthusiasm and passion for the club shine through in his light-hearted teaching demeanor.

“It’s sort of like squatting down to sit on the toilet,” he says, “but not quite.” He demonstrates a basic swing-dancing stance, one of many learned by novices who follow Lowry’s lead in steps and attitude.

The lack of leads is the only apparent problem, and Lowry wishes for more male swing dancers. There are plenty of partner-less girls waiting to be swept off their feet.

“We get to be nice and lazy and let the girls do all the work,” Lowry says.

Dawn Searcy, a member of the dancing group, disagrees.

"[It is] great relaxing into your lead and letting him direct you into the next swing out," she says.

Searcy has been swing dancing since high school and joined Mizzou Swing Society her freshman year on campus.

"The most difficult part about swing dancing is the connection and rhythm...it has to be just so." Searcy says.

The easiest part, she says, is getting to know the people she dances with and being comfortable with them. This certainly seems to be the case not only for Searcy, but also for the entire group, which currently has 40 regularly attending members. Partners rotate periodically, creating many opportunities to make new friends. These participants offer advice and help as much as the instructors. Simple repetitions of standard positions are key to the lesson.

“The most fun part is being able to express yourself while dancing with your partner with swivels and stylizing,” Searcy says. At the beginning of the lesson, students laugh at their fumbles, but by the end some are making up their own combinations of moves with near strangers. As students become more experienced, they have the opportunity to travel to St. Louis and Rocheport, Mo. for social dances. They can also travel with Mizzou Swing Society for their annual trip, an out-of-state workshop, which hosts nationally and internationally recognized instructors.

Elizabeth Horvath, a Mizzou Swing Society member, talks about her first social dancing experience with strangers.

“It took a lot of guts to put myself out there and jump into a situation where I was incredibly self-conscious and insecure. I'm so glad I broke that barrier,” Horvath says.

Mizzou Swing Society is breaking down barriers in society, as well. They are a jumble of skirts and sweatpants, girls leading girls, stylized turns and awkward missteps, but they are unified as dancers with one goal, as stated by Lowry, “to spread the knowledge and joy of swing dancing around the campus and community.”