Guys and dolls swung around the Student Center Ballroom Friday at 7 p.m. as the Auburn Knights transported them back to the big band era.
The Fine Arts committee of UPC presented Dinner and Dancing featuring the Auburn Knights 18-member orchestra.
The lights were low as couples swung the night away to the sound of Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Nat King Cole.
"I'm a big fan of big band sound," said Chris Wilson, a Ph.D. student in electrical engineering. "I like to see the Auburn Knights when they play, and the opportunity to dance with a beautiful lady is just too good to pass up."
Dancers young and old came out to listen to the music and eat the food provided by Tiger Catering.
"It's a great way to get the public and students out here," said Elise Pace, director of the Fine Arts committee.
UPC wasn't targeting one specific age group with the event, but welcoming anyone and everyone to come enjoy the dancing and food.
Pace said it gave people something different to do before a game.
The committee put out fliers two weeks before the event and handed them out all day Friday on campus.
Pace said they also sent out street teams to the tailgating areas to get football fans looking for something to do the night before a game to come out.
Swing dancers of all different levels were present Friday.
Auburn Swing Dancing Association gave lessons before the event at 6 p.m. for participants wishing to polish up on their moves.
"It's good that they do the lessons first for people who have no idea what they're doing," said Robyn Farley, a junior in biomedical sciences.
The association gives free lessons Friday nights at the Jan Dempsey Arts Center on Opelika Road.
"They're ridiculous at swing dancing," said Meredith Hastings, lead female vocalist of the Auburn Knights. "I like to sit on the side and just watch them because they have so much fun and they're really good."
Whether they were just learning and concentrating on the moves or gliding across the floor, dancers were laughing and having fun all night.
"We went to the Friday night swing lessons and that was really fun, so that's why we came tonight," said Lindsay Shaughnessy, a freshman double majoring in public relations and graphic design.
Along with good music and dancing, Tiger Catering provided the participants with chicken, pasta, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad and a large dessert buffet. Large tables lined the back of the ballroom with food.
Matt Barker, a freshman in political science, said his favorite thing about the evening was the food.
For the past two years, UPC has hosted the event nearly every semester.
They try to change the theme of the event, inviting dance organizations in the area to come teach students and the general public different styles of dance.
Spring 2009 had a salsa theme.
The night provides an escape from the norm. It brings the community together for a night of classy entertainment.
"I love performing as a part of the Auburn Knights," Hasting said. "This event involves the whole student body and a lot of my friends come out every year to participate. A lot of the other gigs we do are around the Auburn and Opelika area, so we don't really know the people that we're playing for, but this one is very crowd friendly so we keep coming back."
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