A year has passed since no-preference freshman Ryan Carter discovered blues dancing, a relaxed, slowed-down style of partner dancing, at a local studio near his hometown of Grand Rapids, and the love-at-first-sight feeling has yet to wear off.
“I love the connection and interaction between two people and seeing how close you can get,” he said. “Whether you’re connected by two fingers, one hand or your hips, it’s about being able to move together to the pulse (of the music). That pulse is a revelation.”
Carter, who participates in the MSU Ballroom Dance Club, decided to share his love for blues dancing by hosting a blues night at 7 p.m. Friday in the Pub of Gilchrist Hall.
For the event, Carter invited instructors from Moveir Dance Studio in Wyoming, Mich., to teach participants the fundamentals of the dance. After a brief lesson, the dance floor was left open to any members who wanted to show off their moves.
Carter said he has become much more accepting of others since he started dancing, and he brought the event to MSU to share that open-mindedness.
“You have to learn to work with all levels of dance,” he said. “In a social dance setting, everyone gets to have a good time. There’s not any rejection — there’s only acceptance.”
Blues dancing, which emerged in the South in underground music establishments in the late 1800s, involves close contact, improvisation of moves and dancing to multiple rhythms within one song. Although it has not been utilized much competitively, it grew in popularity with the emergence of blues music into mainstream society, Carter said.
Moveir instructor Josh Stein, who led the tutorial at the beginning of the night, enjoys the simplicity of the dance and how easily it can be taught.
“Unlike most dances, you can’t hide behind flashy moves,” he said. “You’re communicating on a deeper level. With blues, there’s less emphasis on the moves, and it’s easier to connect with your partner.”
Psychology freshman Taylor Marino, a friend of Carter’s, decided to attend the event and expand her horizons outside of her background in salsa and swing dance.
“I love (blues) music,” she said. “You move to the music, but it’s not so much about moving your feet like other dances. It’s about full body movement.”
Carter hopes to begin teaching lessons in blues dancing and eventually own his own dance studio and change people’s lives in the same way dance changed his.
“For me, it’s all about the love of making people discover a part of themselves (with blues),” he said. “Other dances are fun, but blues is gritty, earthy and down in your soul. You really feel
the music.”
Support student media!
Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Discussion
Share and discuss “Event teaches close contact, improvisation of blues dancing” on social media.
