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Tucker Spencer-Wallace, a dancer with the Ballroom Dance Club, started off the night by teaching some of the basic East Coast Swing moves. / Photo courtesy Elif Coskun

An estimated 100 students attended a 1920s speakeasy-themed swing dance Friday night at the Curry Student Center Ballroom. The event, hosted by Northeastern’s Ballroom Dance Club, included beginner East Coast Swing lessons followed by dancing, a mocktail bar and a photo booth.

Sahaj Kumar, NU Ballroom Dance Club’s social chair and a second-year computer science major, said that the group teaches weekly lessons and hosts social dance events — like Swing Night — so they can teach popular ballroom styles to the Northeastern community in a fun and engaging way.

“We had so many people come tonight, both regulars who always come to our weekly lessons and people who have never tried any form of ballroom dancing,” Kumar said.

Tucker Spencer-Wallace was one of the teachers for the beginner East Coast Swing lessons. A second-year mechanical engineering major and dancer for the group, he said ballroom dancing is a passion for him and described it as “both exercise and creative expression.” He also encouraged everyone not to be shy in coming to events like Swing Night.

“The room was full, and there were people who didn’t know a single move to Swing dancing, but they were having so much fun once we taught them the basic moves,” Spencer-Wallace said.

Spencer-Wallace, along with Erica Dunn, a fourth-year business administration major and the Ballroom Dance Club’s treasurer, taught some of the key East Coast Swing moves, which included the triple-step basic and rock step, the under-arm turn, peek-a-boo’s or stop-and-go, and the leader’s belt turn.

First-year pharmacy major Morgan Napier attended the dance and learned some moves with her friends.

“It was so nice to learn dance moves tonight that I otherwise couldn’t learn,” Napier said. “My friends and I had so much fun, and I strongly recommend that people come out to events like this at least once.”

Makayla James, a first-year physical therapy major, was another attendee who had been to some of the weekly lessons before.

“It was really nice to be able to show other people ballroom dance and how fun it can be,” James said of the swing dance. James and her friends also took advantage of the other activities, such as getting mocktails, which she said was one of her favorite parts.

At the end of the East Coast Swing lesson, the Ballroom Dance Club hosted a dance competition that took a twist on swing dancing.

“We had everyone pair up and gave them a challenge, for example: dance swing as if you’ve had too many drinks,” Spencer-Wallace said. “It’s really just a way for everyone to relax and forget about needing to dance the steps exactly right.”

Pairs who followed each challenge best advanced to the next round, and the pairs who made it to the final round were given prizes including chocolate bars. Some of the songs contestants danced to included “Handclap” by Fitz and the Tantrums and “Thumbs” by Sabrina Carpenter.

“I’m glad so many people came tonight,” Spencer-Wallace said. “I had so much fun teaching the moves and dancing with my friends. People really seemed to enjoy the ‘20s speakeasy theme.”

NU Ballroom Dance Club partnered with the Office of Global Services, or OGS, for this event as part of Carnevale celebrations at Northeastern. Carnevale, also known as mardi gras, is a Christian celebration marking the beginning of the Lent fasting season. Kumar said that the Ballroom Dance Club was excited to co-host the event with OGS.

“They definitely helped get the word out of there about this event,” Kumar said. “So many people came, and I am glad we were able to increase our outreach to the Northeastern community.”

Many people came dressed according to the theme. Several women wore flapper-style dresses and T-strap heels, while many men wore vests, suspenders and fedora hats.

While many of the night’s songs were energetic and fast-paced, like “Ex’s and Oh’s” by Elle King, there were still plenty of slow dances like “A Whole New World” from Disney’s “Aladdin.”  

“My favorite part was seeing all the new faces here tonight,” Spencer-Wallace said. “I’m so glad that they had fun learning swing in a relaxed but still polished dance setting.”