Dancers Swing in the New Year at the Brush Barn

“Let’s do this slowly, one more time. Now, five, six, seven, eight…”, John Pomeroy, calls out from the center of the barn dance floor. “Rock, step, triple, triple, rock step,” he repeats to the group of dancers encircling him.

On this  frigid night the couples, some of which are beginners, others long time swing dancers, gather at the Smithtown Historical Society’s Brush Barn for the 7th Annual Swing Dance Black Tie Affair, which was held last Saturday.

Pomeroy, the current president of Swing Dance Long Island Inc., an all volunteer not- for- profit team of people dedicated to the promotion of swing dance, has about two dozen or more couples, dressed in tuxedos and taffeta, listening to his swing dance 101 instructions.

Swing is a quick, fast-paced dance. The term “swing” usually refers to a variety of partner dances, such as the lindy hop and jitterbug. Pomeroy, 52, from Lake Grove is on his second term as president of  SDLI and has been a member for the past 20 years, a year shy of its conception.

“It’s a very free form dance. There’s not just one right way to do it.” says Pomeroy, who works in Research and Development at Cablevision, and is dressed in a black tux and bow tie.

"It’s all about the energy you bring to the dance," he says.

As the lesson progresses, more guests filter in, paying their ten or fifteen dollar fee at the door and  swing dance the night away to the live musical sounds of Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra.  Gilles Fouquart, treasurer of SDLI and his wife, Sarah, collect the funds and welcome the guests. The chilly barn air quickly dissipates as the dance floor heats up and the couples move about to the big band tunes popular in the 1930's and 40's.

“It’s just good wholesome fun,” Fouquart says of the event. “And it’s not ridiculously expensive.”

Fouquart, 39, of Mineola, has been swing dancing with his wife for nearly 10 years. The couple met through the swing dance community when they lived in Detroit. Foquart says the night was a success, with close to a hundred people attending, about 70 of them being members of SDLI.

“We’re a real fun and nurturing community,” he explains. “Why we exist is to learn about the dance and to give the opportunity to dance.” 

That opportunity came to Marichelle Weill, 20, from Levittown, when she and her boyfriend Gregory Razzano of Latham, NY were looking for “something fun to do on a cold night.” The pair, both students on winter break from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Postsdam, found the swing dance event online and came to learn some steps.

“It was hard at first but we caught on real quick.” said Weill, who dressed for the event in a cream chiffon slip dress. 

“Everyone was really great about helping us. They were all so good," she said.

Lorraine and John Mongiello, swing dancers for the past five years were dancing next to the couple when they noticed the beginners struggling. In no time they came to their aid and helped with the basic steps.

Pomeroy often finds college kids coming to the club’s dances.

"It’s all about relaxing, having a good time, he says. “And to go home feeling better than you set out.”

Weill, who stands at just five feet, said the only significant challenge she had with the dance was the height difference between her and her six-foot two boyfriend.

Asked if she would do it again, she replied “For sure, absolutely.” said Razzano. “Plus it was really cool to dance in a barn."