Campus club attracts students from all walks
Every Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m., approximately 20 students meet in the old gymnasium of the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. These students are a part of Sting Swing, a West Coast Swing dance club on campus.
On this particular Wednesday, Sting Swing was without its faculty advisor. Faith Musco, an instructor of forensic science at Waynesburg University, was unable to attend the weekly practice.
Robert Cronkhite, a junior exercise science major and president of Sting Swing, led the instruction in her absence.
Most of those present were dressed in shorts, t-shirts and socks – their shoes, along with their cell phones, backpacks and sweatshirts, lay abandoned along the first row of bleachers.
When that time came, Cronkhite walked over to the ‘sound system’ – a laptop and a portable speaker.
“Any song requests?” he asked.
“‘Royals’!” several students called out.
Soon everyone was singing along as that very song was played, walking up and down the gym floor to the beat of the music.
It was anything but a high pressure environment. Several students were sliding along in their socks as they walked. Some were strutting, or skipping, or even moonwalking as they danced to the next song that played: ‘Moves Like Jagger’.
After their warm-up, Cronkhite demonstrated a ‘sugar push’ – a particular West Coast Swing step – with Cassandra Gates, the vice-president of Sting Swing. Then, he had the other students pair up. Those with experience in the dance style were placed with newcomers.
“It’s okay if the person you’re dancing with has no idea what they’re doing,” Gates called out as they paired up. “There is no judgment in this room. If you’ve seen how I dance, you know there is no judgment in this room.”
Cronkhite even took several minutes to help a few of the new students separate from the rest of the group.
Throughout the session, everyone was smiling. When they messed up, they laughed. Cronkhite emphasized being positive and having fun is the key factor surrounding Sting Swing.
“Whenever we bring more positivity into our lessons, the people are more likely to return,” said Cronkhite. “So whenever I focus on something little that they’re doing right, all of a sudden they forget about the part they’re doing wrong, and it starts to improve.”
Cronkhite added that one of the goals of Sting Swing is to build qualities such as self-confidence and respect.
“That’s something a lot of people aren’t aware of,” said Cronkhite. “Things that are generic, like martial arts or dance, you think just the typical technique. But you’re also learning things like focus.”
“We have lots of people who have never danced a day in their life,” added Courtney Crouse, a sophomore middle level education major. “But the best way to get better is to dance.”
Sting Swing got its start in 2012, but did not officially become a club until this past spring. According to Cronkhite, Musco had the original idea to make Sting Swing happen.
“[Musco] was like ‘Hey, I want to teach dance. You guys are interested? Okay, we’ll get the gym reserved’,” he said.
As for himself, Cronkite said that a high school course in generic ballroom dancing had sparked his interest of learning how to dance. However, that wasn’t his only motivation in joining Sting Swing.
“Professor Musco was my chemistry lab professor, and she said ‘Oh, we’re thinking about doing this, and if you guys come to our dance lessons on Wednesday nights, you get bonus credit’,” said Cronkhite. “I was like ‘Oh, cool. I want to learn how to dance, and if I go learn this dance, I get extra credit. So I’m there.'”
“After the first lesson, I was stuck on it,” he added. “I love being there.”
Sting Swing grew from a starting number of around 12 to its current number, with many newcomers each week. Conflicting events on Wednesday nights, including the popular ‘WU’s Line’ event, sometimes account for a lower number in attendance.
This past June, nine members of Sting Swing attended the Michigan Classic West Coast Swing Dance Competition. Most students competed in the ‘Newcomer” category, and Cronkhite placed first in the ‘Novice’ category.
“There were a lot of people that noticed us as a group [there],” said Cronkhite. “They would say ‘Oh where are you guys from? You’re all together?’ And we said ‘Waynesburg University,’ and they’re like ‘Really? That’s neat. You guys are starting something out there? Maybe we’ll have to tell somebody about it’.”
For a group of approximately 20 students who meet once a week in an old gym, it isn’t about the recognition. It is all about people, and dancing.
“We bring people into our circle, and help them experience dancing with a fun atmosphere,” he added, summarizing the reason for Sting Swing. “Learning through it [can] bring community together in Waynesburg, as well as people in other areas.”