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“Boys on one side, girls on the other,” 26-year old University of Cincinnati alum Bryan Sykes called out to a room packed with swing dancers. “Next, sway back and forth. Snap to the beat. Now you’re getting it. Step, step, rock step. Step, step, rock step. It’s kind of like learning a new language; you have to really feel it. Now everyone, find a partner. Let’s swing.”

On Friday night, Sykes explained the basics of swing dance to a group of Bearcat swingers. From holding hands (must have your wrists up) to the complications of the spins, Sykes taught the “newbies” everything they needed to know about dancing to the jive.

The UC Wellness Center’s Friday Night Live, a program that has been in operation since 1999, hosted this event.

“FNL hosts events every Friday to provide free and fun entertainment on campus for UC students,” Forrest said. “We have partnered with the ‘UC Hepcats’ and St. Monica/St. George before on this event and it has always been a really great collaboration and experience for students to learn how to swing dance and meet new people. We have also done salsa and country line dancing events in the past.”

Graphic design student Kaitlin Kinneyand and fashion design student Alyssa Petrie made it out on the dance floor this Friday for different reasons.

“I saw the announcement for the event on the bulletin board in my dorm,” Kinney said. “I’ve always loved to dance, but I really wanted to learn how to swing.”

Petrie was just looking for something to do.

“It just seemed like an interesting, different way to spend my Friday night,” Petrie said.
Many students shared Petrie’s feeling of interest — so many, in fact, the event generated more than 80 people.

Hepcats president Aaron Sykes, a mechanical engineering student who led the event with his brother Bryan.

“Every Monday night, we have our weekly swing dance club,” Sykes said.

“Normally, 30 to 40 people attend. It’s a lot different than our Monday night swing dance lessons because on Fridays, we see a lot of new faces who haven’t been dancing.”

The Hepcats — who define themselves as enthusiastic swing dancers — started their swing dance events five years ago.

Aaron Sykes has been president for one year, and the program has flourished. In the fall quarter, attendance averaged more than 30 people and had an attendance high of 100 in one session.

Sykes said he is determined to keep the club “swinging.”

The Hepcats host weekly Monday night meetings in the TUC atrium, which are free and open to the public — no partner is required to participate.

They also have their own Facebook page with event announcements and cool links to online dance tutorials.

Sports administration student Becca Refenes said she wasn’t expecting to have such a great time at Friday Night Live (FNL).

“It was so much fun, and I really enjoyed myself,” said Refenes. “This really makes me want to attend more FNL events. It’s just a free and safe way to enjoy myself on a Friday night, which is a luxury that is very hard to find lately.”

_“Speed Dating” is next week at 7 p.m. in the TUC Atrium. Space is limited, so students will need to call 556-6124 to reserve their seat. Other events include other awesome experiences like “Self Defense” and “Casino Night.”

You can check out all the events on http://www.uc.edu/wellness/friday_night_live and click on “Check Out Our Schedule!” located on the right hand side._