The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: dancing

  • Everyones getting into swing

    by Jasmin Shirazian

    Monday nights come to life for swing dancers at Redwood Raks World Dance Collective. After finding out Cal Poly Humboldt offers swing dancing as a class this semester, it became a goal for me to find out about the community here. From 6 P.M. to 7:50 P.M., Professor Phillip Nicklas teaches swing to students in the kinesiology building. Afterwards, he rushes to Redwoods Raks, where he can be found at Monday night swing. He recently mentioned this to his class, leading a few students to join in on the ever-growing swing nightlife. 

    Swing dancing began in Harlem, New York during the 1920s. Most dances came from Black communities, coming in many styles and forms, such as the Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, and so on. Luckily, the art continues to thrive, including in Humboldt. 

    I watched as people were asked to dance, being swept up off the floor and twirled in fervent circles. I even found myself on the floor after a wonderful man named Tony asked for my hand. He quickly showed me how to do the Charleston and I tried my best to follow. Professor Nickolas was there to keep the spirits up as he DJed through the whole night.

    Growing up here, Nicklas has been dancing since 1996, 2 years after graduating high school; his first Lindy Hop lesson was actually at Redwood Raks. He began teaching in 1997 after joining the military and finding out he was the only one with knowledge of the dance. 

    “I love teaching swing dancing,” says Nicklas. “I notice I’m just in a great mood after I teach.” 

    Many of the students who take his class agree that they can feel his love and passion for the art. Somerset Miles Dwyer, a first time swing dancer, has been taking Nicklas’ class this past semester. 

    “I used to dance a lot when I was younger, and I wanted the opportunity to learn how to dance with a partner,” says Dwyer. “[This class] is a fun way of getting to dance with a lot of different people, and finding someone you like dancing with. People have a lot different styles, and that can teach you a lot more.”

    Other students, such as Kaya Knutzon, struggle with the time that the class is at, and thus prefer going to Monday night swing at Redwood Raks. 

    “I joined swing dancing due to pressure from my roommates, but I just thought it would be a really cool skill to have,” says Knutzon. “I’ve definitely learned a lot with the amount of times I have gone, there’s a surprising amount of moves you don’t realize are going on. I don’t think I’ll take the class next semester, but I’ll definitely be going to the out-of-school activities.” 

    All in all, it seems like swing is alive and well in the Humboldt community. It was really refreshing to see such an array of skill, and it felt nice to not be judged due to my lack of talents. It’s nice to know that if there’s nothing to do on a Monday night, swing dancing is always an option.

  • Demolishing the dance floor

    Demolishing the dance floor

    By | Juan Herrera

    Bodies in full motion with music blaring, a usual day for HSU’s hip-hop dance team, Demolishion. Along with the rest of her team, co-captain Cassandra Cree put in work on the dance floor.

    “We had a good turn out and it was turnt up,” Cree said when talking about the first day of HSU’s Demolishion hip-hop dance team tryouts.

    Demolishion is a co-ed hip-hop dance team at Humboldt State that performs at pep rallies, football games, basketball games and the Van Duzer Theatre. They practice twice a week for two hours each day during peak performance season.

    close up
    A group of people trying out for Demolishion on Sept. 18 2017. Photo credit: Juan Herrera

    Cree mentioned how on the first day of this year’s tryouts, they had a great group of dancers and one of their best turnouts yet.

    Alexis Turner, four-year member of Demolishion, gave her thoughts about this year’s group.

    “This group just gives off such a cool vibe,” Turner said, “it’s almost as if some of them have danced together for years.”

    Turner also talked about how the first day of tryouts this year made her more excited and ready for the upcoming Demolishion season than ever before.

    Laney Mayo, co-captain of the team, mentions that the team’s favorite and most important performance is the pep rally before the football homecoming game on October 13th.

    “The pep rally is so hyped up with students, players and even teachers that the atmosphere is awesome,” Mayo said, “and when you add the factor of it being night, it makes it that much more fun.”

    Mayo said the team has gotten better and better for all three years she’s been involved.

    “This team is an awesome way to do what you love and have fun with people that want to do the same.”

    Jacky Torres, another four-year member, said that her favorite performance is when they take the stage in the Van Duzer theatre.

    “Performing in the Van Duzer allows us to show the community what we got,” Torres said, “and also give the community more opportunities to be involved with us.”

    Demolishion is open to everyone in the community, not just HSU students, and they encourage anyone and everyone to join.

    “There’s still a couple more days of tryouts, so anyone come on out and dance your heart away,” Torres said.