The Swing Cats are a group of passionate dancers.

The Main Gate Bar and Grill filled with swinging music Thursday as the Evansville Swing Cats provided a transmission of ’20s era culture through dance classes.

Since offering dance classes in 2007, their following has grown from a few to over 30. They now have eight core group members.

Chris Ramirez, a 2010 Alumni of USI, is one of these core members.

“It’s a close-knit culture,” he said. “You can really connect with the music and the people. 

The founding members, Carrie and Jamie Newman, first gained interest in swing style in 2005 after taking some ballroom dance lessons.

“Neither of us had dance before,” Jamie said. “We saw it as something we could work on together and develop together.”

Everyone has various reasons for being there. 

Carrie said the style is what drew her. It’s fun, social, inexpensive and a good exercise.

Lindsay Miles took ballet for 15 years before gaining interest in swing. She said she was looking for a style that you could have fun with a partner.

“You don’t need a set partner in swing,” Miles said. “It’s easy to become fast friends with anyone here.”   

Ramirez said it is what he looks forward to in the week. Ramirez chooses to take part in the Lindy Hop style of swing dance. Ramirez said swing is very improvisational. He chose Lindy Hop as his style because it suited him, and he felt he could creatively branch out the most with it. 

“It’s like having a conversation without words,” Ramirez said. “It’s high-energy, you can be fun and wacky.”

“Jazz and swing are very much in the moment,” said Scott Bishop, a veteran member of the Swing Cats.

Bishop said they are part of a larger, diverse culture. 

Kevin McFadden, a Purdue graduate and a one-year student of the classes, said the environment is very comfortable.

“There’s a mix of all ages and skill levels,” he said. “It’s fun and casual.” 

McFadden has studied East Coast Swing, one of many styles of the dance. Lindy Hop, the Charleston and the Balboa are some of the more popular, widely known styles. 

The Swing Cats have not always danced at the Main Gate. They first started in various churches, then moved to The Jungle on Main Street.

After “outgrowing” that venue, they moved to the Main Gate. At first, they held lessons upstairs. But the Fire Marshall had something to say about it, and they have had to move to the wings downstairs.

“We may be looking for a new home,” Carrie said.

The Swing Cats also provide information and transportation to various swing workshops across the country.

Their most recent workshops were in Indianapolis and Chicago. It’s two to three days of classes for many hours a day. Which workshop you attend depends entirely on your “style focus” Ramirez said.

Bishop said it gives you an opportunity to learn from those who have older knowledge of the dance.

“You get a chance to connect with people and learn the history of the dance and the era itself,” Bishop said.

The Swing Cats provide classes at 7 p.m. every Thursday. They choose the music at their own event and afterwards meet at Hacienda on First Avenue for an after party.

Classes only cost $5 per person, and only $3 if a student present a valid college I.D.

The Swing Cats will host a costume and dance contest Nov. 1. For more infomation, check out their Facebook page or their website – evilleswingcats.com. 

“It’s a social, non-threatening environment and anyone thinking of coming, definitely should,” Miles said.