Arms flailed, hips twisted and fingers snapped at the "Love that Swing" dance Saturday evening. From 8 p.m. until midnight, up to 60 students danced and dined in the Shapiro Campus Center atrium at the Brandeis Swing Club's biggest event of the year. "A lot of us will be jumping all night," said Orin Davis '03, publicity coordinator for the club, as he welcomed people and collected the $7 entrance fee. "People come to have fun," he said.

Students trickled in from the brisk cold night, stripping off their coats and hats to reveal crisp suits and dresses underneath. The evening started slowly, with 10 to 15 students, mingling to the hum of the band's instruments tuning up and the shuffling of chairs. But, by 10 p.m. the atrium was fully alive with smiling students who each vied to make an entrance. They coupled on the designated dance floor, dipping and turning to the fast tempo beats of the Back Bay Rhythm Makers, a six-person '50s swing band that was in all regards a treat.

The band consisted of a cornet, trumpet, tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass violin, electronic piano, a complete drum set and vocals. Instruments were substituted throughout the evening. Steve Dale (piano) explained that acoustically the atrium was not ideal, but attendees did not seem to notice the echo, applauding and dancing enthusiastically to all the songs.

The presence of the live band was made possible by funding from the Union Allocations Board, money that Stephanie Shelan '05, club president, had been working to get since the dinner and dance idea sprouted last year.

"I think it's awesome they got this together," Edward Greenberg '05 said over a plate of spaghetti and salad.

The band was by far the most significant contribution to the upbeat and classy energy of the evening. The music was smooth and sultry during the ballads and low-tempo songs, but it picked up in rhythm as vocalist Steve Marvin crooned out with his deep lounge-like voice "It Had to Be You" or "The Way You Look Tonight." Just listening to the music and watching the often impressive dancing of the attendees was enough to provide a nostalgic escape from anxieties about midterms and lottery numbers.

"I think it's wonderful we have a swing club that throws these wonderful events," said Miriam Philips '03, who has been swing dancing for more then four years.

The plentiful dinner provided was a welcome departure from cafeteria food and included a buffet of seasoned spaghetti, a mixed green salad and more vanilla and chocolate cake than any college student could want. The bland spaghetti was the only letdown. During one of the ballads, the floor cleared and students gathered over the Ritz crackers and dip, elegantly layered on a paper plate.

Some students preferred to dress casually, wearing jeans and sneakers or even daring to go barefoot, contributing to the informality of the evening. The light-hearted spirit, however, was supressed to an extent by the towering metal detector, that lay wedged between a wall of couches. Although it was comforting to know there was concern for safety, one wonders how the couch barricade would prevent weapons from entering the area.

Some students came only with ease and little swing dance experience, which, despite the potential intimidation factor, wasn't a large concern for the few couples learning as they went. "We all want to share the love," Davis said, explaining the willingness of swing club members to teach others. Most students came with a few years of casual experience, although the twists, kicks and dips on the dance floor would indicate many of the attendees came with a lot more advanced skill.

The atrium could have used better lighting, as some red tones or dimmer shades would have set a classier mood and created a more club-like energy, and more decorations besides 20 white balloons scattered on the dance floor would have appeared more sophisticated. The "Love that Swing" dance, nevertheless, proved to be a most pleasurable evening. The dance floor hosted a modest amount of energetic couples, giving them room to completely get their swing on.