I’ve always really liked dancing, even though I’ve never done it formally and I’m not exactly great at it. I had mentioned it a few times to my boyfriend Graydon, who goes to the Naval Academy, but I didn’t expect anything to come of it. The night before I was going to Annapolis to go out to dinner and meet some of his friends, I got a text that completely changed the plan. It said, “Also we’re going to swing night tomorrow.” Then right after that: “Get ready for that.”
I immediately started looking up videos of what swing dancing even is, because to be honest, I didn’t really know. I was so excited but also a little nervous. I watched a few tutorials and did a quick deep dive so I’d have some idea of what we were getting into.
Swing Night takes place in Dahlgren Hall, one of the most stunning buildings on the Naval Academy campus. I had walked through it once before, but I hadn’t really taken in how massive and open it is. The windows stretch along the length of the building, and there are lights strung across the arched ceiling that look like dashed lines. Bronze trusses run across the ceiling, and flags from all 50 states hang down along the upper level. It feels grand and historic.
While getting ready for Swing Night, I found out something cool. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech in Dahlgren Hall when John Paul Jones’ remains were brought to the Naval Academy. The space used to be an indoor drill area and later served as the Weapons Department lab for midshipmen. Knowing that made the night feel even more surreal. We were just there to dance, but the room had seen so many serious and important moments. That contrast made the whole thing feel extra special.
When we walked into the hall, the jazz band was already playing at the far end of the room. Music echoed up into the ceiling and filled the whole space. People were dancing everywhere. I turned to Graydon with wide eyes…we both laughed and kept on walking.
We dropped our stuff at the edge of the room and stood there for a second, not really sure what to do. A couple of people from the Swing Club saw us looking a little lost and came over right away. One of them asked if it was our first time and if we needed any direction. We laughed and said, “Very much need any help we can get.” They walked us through the basic step—step, step, rock back—and we tried to follow along. At first, it was a little weird to get the hang of. I stepped on Graydon’s feet a few times and got elbowed in the head once (which did leave a bruise), but we were having fun and laughing the whole time.
Once we started getting the hang of it, we tried more complicated moves like the pretzel. We definitely weren’t smooth, but we were improving. Everyone around us was so welcoming and encouraging. It didn’t feel like anyone cared if we messed up and it was just about trying something new and enjoying it.
Then I saw our one of the girls who had helped us earlier, Meghan, drop into a split in the middle of a move. Her partner held her and pulled her right back up. I looked at Graydon and said, “Wait...we can totally do that.” When she was done and walking back to the table by us, I said “Wait, do you think you could show us how you did the split one, that was so cool!” She smiled and explained that you do two steps she called cuddle, cuddle, then go in front of your partner, drop into a split with their arms under your armpits, and they lift you back up.
So we tried it. I did the two steps and dropped down, and Graydon pulled me up so fast I caught a little air. We kind of surprised ourselves. It was a little messy at first, but it worked!
By that point, I was sweating more than I expected because for some reason I didn’t realize swing dancing would be such a workout. Plus, Navy doesn’t turn on the air conditioning until the end of April and it was only the 4th. We slipped out the side door to cool off and drink some water, then went back in for one last dance.
After trying the split and a few new moves, we were shown one of Meghan’s favorites that she thought we could definitely pull off. You had to jump into your partner’s arms with both legs stretched back as they held you at one hip. Then, using your core, you swing around to their other side before swinging back again and getting set down in front of them. In all honesty, I thought he might drop me. He was kind of insulted that I even thought that, but we pulled it off really well. I can’t lie.
The whole night reminded me how dancing can bring people together so quickly. Everyone was from different backgrounds. Some were midshipmen, some were part of the local community watching from above, some were seasoned swing dancers, and some had Googled swing dancing just hours before *cough* me *cough*... but it didn’t matter. There was a shared energy and joy in the room. People were helping each other, trying new moves, laughing, and just enjoying themselves.
What surprised me most was how relaxed and welcoming everything felt, even in a place like the Naval Academy that’s usually all about structure and tradition. Seeing people let loose, dance, and just enjoy themselves in a space with so much history made the whole night feel special. It showed me how different sides of a community can come together in ways you wouldn’t expect.
Afterward, Graydon and I realized we had completely forgotten to get dinner. We walked downtown and ended up at McGarvey’s, where we got burgers and a drink. We stayed there for a while and met up with a bunch of his friends. It was the perfect end to the night.
If you ever get the chance to go to Swing Night at the Naval Academy, go. You don’t need to know how to dance. You just have to be willing to try, probably sweat a little, and have fun. It was one of the most fun nights I’ve ever had.
Comments
Post a Comment