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“I was totally fascinated by his brazeness–I’d never met anybody like that before,” Lydia says.

Duckworth slid into the music major’s arms and has led her two-inch soles through the footwork of more than 48 years of marriage.

“The reason we’ve been married so long is we dance so well together,” he says, a sly smile drawing attention to the wrinkled bags under his eyes. “You understand, I’ve never taken lessons. That is what I want to get across to the young people: There’s no slip-up in swing–it’s all new. I like to improvise. I can do the [same] step four or five times, but I don’t want to do that anymore,” he declares, shaking his hands at shoulder height in mock rage, intent on making his point. “I’m anxious to get away from the routine.”

Gy Johnston, swing dance instructor and officer of Western’s Associated Students Swing Kids Club, wholeheartedly agrees. “Even when you mess up in swing, it’s cool because you’re creating something,” he says, running his hand through already ruffled chestnut hair.

“Maybe that’s why you’re smiling–you’re making a fool of yourself. If you’re not making a fool of yourself, you’re not doing it right.”

“Go ahead, mess up,” urges Johnston from the stage of the Eagle’s Hall where the Swing Kids Club hosts its dances. A dancer with years of jazz, ballroom and break-dancing under his feet, but only nine months of swing, Johnston proudly shows off his zoot suit and so shuffles back in history to the early ‘30s when the outfit first graced the swing stage.

He has no fear of constriction in the baggy, black-and-white-striped pants and matching calf-length coat. A simple white button-down shirt contrasts with the coat’s mustard yellow lining and is complemented by a green tie that, “... looks like something you’d put on a couch.”

Johnston, who teaches swing at the YMCA and continues weekly lessons at The Royal and The Factory, leads the 100-plus college students at the Bellingham Eagle’s Club through the basic steps of swing. “Step, step, rock-step, step,” he says, his voice full of enthusiasm.

One couple practices the step off to the side. The girl smiles gleefully through endless repetitions, adding some stylistic hip sashaying. Looking into her shining eyes, the boy raises her hand slightly, asking through gesture if she’s ready to twirl.

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