Every few weeks during the semester, students gather for an evening of fellowship, a brief swing dance lesson, and socializing, which was held Feb. 12. Kellen Quinn, a sophomore majoring in woodworking technology, described the recurring event, known as “Throwdown Thursday.” Held every three to four weeks, this dance night serves as both a social outlet and preparation for one of the group’s major traditions, the “Barty,” short for barn party.
“We mainly do it for our Barty,” Kellen said. “It’s basically this huge barn party we have every semester. It’s a time for people to connect, learn swing dancing, and have fun.”
The barn party is usually hosted on land generously provided by a local family and is open to various Christian groups. While the location changes, it is often just outside town, allowing students to gather in a relaxed, rustic setting.
Throwdown Thursday helps make the larger event more accessible. Organizers recognize that many students arrive at college with little or no experience in swing dancing. Their regular lessons offer a welcoming introduction, not only to the dance steps but also to the community.
“When people come to college, they’ve either never heard of swing dancing or never really gotten into it,” Kellen explained. “So, we have a Throwdown so we can let more people know about it, what people actually like to do when they swing dance, and just let them get to know each other.”
The event is entirely student-led through Saint Pius X, the Catholic campus ministry. The student board organizes activities, with each member holding specific responsibilities from promoting events to coordinating instructors. The board oversees the planning and execution of each dance night.
On a recent evening, students gathered in a large open space as volunteer instructors. Tyson Webber, a sophomore marketing major, and Katie Davis, a community member who grew up locally, demonstrated one of the night’s featured moves, the princess dip. Some attendees were seasoned dancers. While others admitted they have never tried swing dancing before.
“We try to keep it pretty casual and friendly,” Weber said. The lessons are designed to be short, energetic, and easy to follow.
As the music played, the instructors broke down the move step by step. Leads were instructed to raise the left hand to guide a spin, place the right hand on their partner’s lower back, and step behind for support. Students were shown where to place their hands and how to shift the weight safely for the dip.
Laughter and encouragement filled the dance hall as students repeated the move, occasionally asking for another demonstration. The tone remained lighthearted and supportive, with instructors emphasizing safety and comfort over perfection.
Weber and Davis first connected at a previous throwdown event during Weber’s freshman year. After successfully teaching last semester, they were invited back.
”It’s all good casual fun,” Davis said.
Outside of official events, many participants gather informally on weekends to dance together. Friendly rivalries emerge over who can master the flashy moves, but the focus remains on enjoyment rather than awards.
Beyond dance, the hosts a variety of events throughout the semester. Among them is the restored speaker series, held twice per semester. Each event includes a mass, a free dinner, and a talk by a visiting professional speaker. Recent topics have included friendship in building meaningful relationships. The upcoming Restored speaker is scheduled to present in March.
The center also offers a free lunch every Wednesday from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M., prepared by the church’s volunteers. Along with outgoing four campus missionaries who regularly engage across the campus.
For Davis, the welcoming environment stands out.
“It never hurts to step in the door and just make a new friend,” she said. “You never know where it’ll take you.”
Throwdown moving feet and fellowship at St. Pius
