On Thursday, January 11, Eastern Michigan University held Jazz Night, an event for both students and the public with music, food, and lots of dancing. The event took place in Room 300 of the Student Center, hosted by Campus Life, an EMU Student Organization.
From 9 to 11 pm, guests were able to come to Room 300 to hang out with friends, enjoy a live band, meet new people, and try out some new dance steps. Dancers of all skill levels are welcomed, whether they have no experience in swing dancing or are a pro, there is a place at this event for everyone.
“Every Thursday night from 9 to 11 there is something going on, and sometimes we call up a local band from Ann Arbor and put on Jazz Night,” Campus Life Student Assistant Jaycie Sabala said.
In the past the event was known as Sky Lounge and has been happening at Eastern Michigan University for about eight years. It is one of the more popular events that Campus Life puts on with anywhere from 50 to 100 people attending. The Ballroom Dance Club at EMU attends as well and at some point during the night an announcement is made informing guests that the members of this club are going to teach some basic steps to those who might not be as skilled as others.
“It’s a way to spend time on a Thursday night if you don’t have anything else to do. You can spend time with friends and dance,” Sabala said.
Jazz Night has the mood set perfectly with dimmed lights around the tables where attendees can sit or stand but fun colorful lights illuminating the dance floor. The band, the Michael Malis Band, provides upbeat tunes as well as some slower songs. However, even when the band is taking a short break, dancers are still moving on the dance floor to the music playing over the speakers.
“It’s beautiful and so classy. It’s so night that they do this and we get to dress up and come,” junior, Autumn Chall said.
Chall is a part of the Ballroom Dance club and through that club is how she heard about this event. She brought along her roommates who got to learn some new moves and spend a night out of the dorm room together.
In addition to getting the word out about this event through simple word of mouth, there are other ways Campus Life works to advertise for this event as well as other events that are put on throughout the semester. Events are put on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter and are also posted on different information boards around the Student Center.
“We post on pretty much every social media site but people mostly hear about it through word of mouth and friends telling friends about it [the event],” Campus Life Student Assistant, Hunter Mitchell, said.
Jazz Night allows students to get a break from studying and to get out of the dorm they are in the rest of the week. A way to have fun with friends and maybe learn a new dance move or two.
“Jazz Night creates an atmosphere for students under 21 and gives them a place to go and have fun,” Sabala said.
