By Toshira Johnson
For The State News
A day of swing dancing got the Comm Arts Dance-Nic celebration off on the right foot by wowing the crowd with jumpin', jivin' and swingin' routines.
An energetic dancing performance included gravity-defying aerials, cool moves and fast footwork, which made spectators cheer and clap.
About 75 students gathered on the top floor of the parking structure located behind the Communication Arts and Sciences Building on Wednesday afternoon to launch the first "dance-nic" celebration at MSU.
The event's proceeds, in the form of monetary pledges and personal item donations, go to MSU's Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention, or SACI, a student organization comprised of volunteers who are trained to provide advocacy to survivors of sexual violence on campus and in the surrounding Lansing area.
This dance and picnic event was the brainchild of students in CAS 492, a class that deals with fundraising and writing grants, as well as the College of Communication Arts and Sciences and members of SACI. The students offered free pizza, ice cream and beverages to attendants of the celebration.
Kristen Karnosky, a member of SACI and event organizer who also works in the State News advertising department, pitched the idea of fundraising to her classmates for the organization to promote awareness and prevention against sexual violence.
"April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so the event connected perfectly," the journalism senior said. "This was a great opportunity to help out a great organization that does a lot for the community."
CAS 492 creator and Professor Bonnie Bucqueroux said the inspiration behind the event was to provide an opportunity for her students to combine real-world experience with classroom instruction.
"In today's world, a lot of organizations must find new ways to raise money. There are a lot of creative benefits in throwing an event like this," Bucqueroux said. "There's nothing like a real-world experience by doing a real event to let students learn how to plan events."
Krista Rowe, one of the event's organizers, said all the students' various class experiences accumulated into this day.
"It was a good experience to see how things work in actuality, as opposed to theory," said the interdisciplinary studies in social science senior.
The dance-nic also featured special guest performers from State Swing Society. Dancers Tracy Kerchkof and Mike Van Andel taught fellow dance enthusiasts and onlookers alike a basic swing dance for beginners called the Charleston.
"It's a great opportunity to teach swing dance, and we're always willing to help out a good cause," said Van Andel, a chemistry senior.
The class, consisting of 25 students, planned the event in small groups and as a whole since early January.
