Hands in each other’s palms, sneakers slide across the floor and laughter fills the room. The Swing Dance Society at UT San Antonio allows music to go beyond the background — it is a rhythmic reminder to keep swinging.
The student-run club has grown into a welcoming community where anyone from beginners to seasoned dancers can find their swing. Swing Dance Society is more than just steps and spins; it offers students a space to connect, unwind and carry on a dance tradition rooted in joy and inclusivity.
“We like to say jazz will jazz, swing will swing,” President Grace Rhodes said. “It is really hard to mess up the dance as long as you are having a fun time. It is less technical than some other dances, with more of an emphasis on connection with your partner and with your community.”
Founded in 2019 by Ben Johnson, the club was started by a small group of students with a passion for swing dance. Leslie Kortz, a founding member, former historian and former vice president, started with minimal swing dance experience. By reaching out to different members of San Antonio swing dance communities, she gained experience and contributed to the club’s growth.
“In the beginning, it was just a table in the student union and a handful of dancers,” Kortz said. “People were curious, and once they learned how to move to the music, they fell in love with it.”
Dancers do not need rhythm, a partner or much confidence to participate in Swing Dance Society. All they need is a willingness to try.
For many students, the word “swing” conjures images of flappers or their grandparents’ music. But the Swing Dance Society reshapes that perception by making the dance approachable and playful — allowing curiosity to develop into enthusiasm with the community once students step onto the floor.
“A lot of people think swing is just this old-timey thing, but we are changing that,” Rhodes said. “People do not always know what it is, but they are curious — and once they try it, they realize it is fun, it is social and it is very much alive.”
That open community feel is intentional. Lessons are designed to be approachable for students who are seeking beginner-friendly lessons with welcoming spaces. Financial barriers are also kept low; students get six hours of free instruction before they are asked to pay dues, and off-campus socials rarely cost more than $7.
Swing culture is built on playfulness and community. At the end of each lesson, the club forms a jam circle where dancers take turns dancing in the middle, cheered on by their peers. Sometimes they play “popcorn,” switching partners rapidly to break the ice.
“That is what makes swing unique here,” Vice President Thomas Olvera said. “It is very social and because it is a little more niche, you get this atmosphere where everyone has a shared interest and encourages each other.”
This fall, the society is looking to expand. Leaders are tabling more often, hosting outreach socials and working toward bringing back a performing team.
“My big goal is to get us out there performing again,” Rhodes said. “It gives members something to work for, instills interest and it shows off swing dance.”
At the heart of it, though, it is something simpler: the joy of dancing. Each song is different, each partner is new and each dance is its own creation.
“I will never dance that song the exact same way with that person again,” Rhodes said. “We are in this space together making it our own, and it makes it unique in its own way.”
The club meets every Thursday from 7:45-9:45 p.m. inside the Recreational Wellness Center in the Blue Studio, room 2.210.
