By Martin J. Kidston
Montana State University-Northern will be jumping to the sounds of the Cherry Poppin Daddies this weekend when free dance lessons begin in the Student Union Building. The event will be open to everyone, not just students, so dust off those blue suede shoes, organizers say, because whatever your taste in dance, chances are, itll be on the menu.
A Northern student and one of several event organizers, Justin Lutgin said that dance instructors will be brought in to teach everything from the waltz to the east coast swing to the jitterbug.
Were going to teach it all, from ballroom dancing to the Texas two step, Lutgin said. Well have instructors to teach it all.
Lutgin said he teaches the country jitterbug, the two step and the waltz, but hes partial to the swing.
Its easy, he said. It just takes practice. Once you learn the jitterbug, its easy to learn the swing.
After the lessons, participants can strut their steps in a dance that follows that night.
Lutgin said he is working in conjunction with the MSU-Northern program council to align the dance workshop. The program council provides entertainment services for the campus. As for the dance workshop, Lutgin said, its a spinoff, of sorts, from the Tuesday night swing lessons, which have become a rather popular event, drawing up to 40 dancers per lesson.
However, this dance fever wasnt started entirely by college students, Lutgin said.
It got started by a local high school student who was on a dance team in Kalispell, he admitted. He talked his instructor into coming down, and hes been helping us with the lessons.
Dancers shouldnt expect the sounds of Poweman 5000 or No Doubt. Instead, the Bryan Seltzer Orchestra and the Cherry Poppin Daddies are more inclined to put you in step with your partner.
Well play some old time swing and big band music, Lutgin said.
The dance workshop takes place on Oct. 16, from noon to 6 p.m. The dance is from 8 p.m. to midnight. The event is open to the public and free of charge.
