That swing thing that's sweeping the nation has danced its way onto the UD campus as well, attracting hepcats and their honeys quicker than you can say jitterbug.

In dance classes, on stage and even at alcohol-free nights at the Stone Balloon, hipsters are jumpin' and jivin', dippin' and swingin' to those Big Band sounds that swayed the campus in the '40s.

"Swing dancing is becoming popular in Newark because it's such a democratic dance. Anyone can do it," says Nananamibia Smith, AS 2001, a member of UD's Ballroom Dance Club. "Its appeal lies in its versatility of form. There are variations of swing (like the jive or jitterbug) that are fast, upbeat, fun and physically demanding, depending on how good of shape the dancer is in! There are other types like West Coast swing, which is slower and more sensual.

"Swing dancing is also fun because the music is as versatile as the dancing. You can dance swing to Big Band, blues, rock 'n' roll and even country," she says.

"About three years ago," Smith says, "I took one of the public classes taught by the Ballroom Dance Club. I joined as a high school student, and I've been in it ever since. The UD club teaches many dances, but swing is one of the most fun and certainly one of the most practical dances."

Harvey C. (Trey) Smith III, BE '96, 2000M, has been described as a "football player with grace," even though he doesn't play football. But, he does enjoy ballroom dancing, and swing is one of his favorites, he says.

"A friend cornered me into joining the club my sophomore year," he says. "He told me it was a great place to meet women. In the beginning, I was pretty terrible, but now, five years later, I'm still on the team and pretty good.

"Swing is a favorite of mine because you can be creative," he says. "You can do lots of fun things-throw your partner up in the air, dip, things like that."

Smith and other dancers like to swing at the 5-Spot in Philadelphia and at the Crystal and Continental ballrooms in Delaware. Swing night at the Balloon also is a favorite.

"Swing makes me happy, and it gives me a great cardiovascular workout," Smith says.

In addition, swing also seems to have special appeal to those students who like to express themselves through costumes. Members of the punk movement, who once slapped on gel to hold their Mohawks in place, now use it to hold their hair in waves.

Wes Morton, AS '97, 99M, percussionist with Jump 'n' Jive, a popular Newark swing group, says, "It's great to look out and see all these people having fun and looking happy. You can't help but tap your feet and smile to swing music."

Morton describes the eight-member band, composed mostly of UD students and alums, as "the most fun group I've ever played with.

"We all respect each other and all get along. Besides, it's just really fun music," Morton says.

The group, which gained popularity through swing nights at the Balloon, has a large following and has been booked at such diverse places as the Collegeville (Pa.) Inn on New Year's Eve, a Wilmington high school after-prom party and the Philadelphia Zoo-where the ensemble helped the new primate facility "swing" open earlier this year.

Playing swing music wasn't much of a leap for any of the Jump 'n' Jive musicians, Morton says.?While they don't exactly wear zoot suits, all have affected some sort of '40s apparel, Morton says.

Other members of the band include Matt Hetzler, AS '96, and Brian Ewing, AS 2001, both on sax; Paul Arbogast, AS '98, on trombone; David Bozenhard, AS '03, on guitar; Jack Kidd, AS '99, on bass; Brian Dwyer on trumpet; and vocalist Paul Piccari.

For more information on Jump 'n' Jive's upcoming appearances, send e-mail to <jump'n'jiveband@hotmail.com>. For more information on UD's Ballroom Dance Club, visit its website at <http://www.udel.edu/dance/ index.html>.

-Beth Thomas