During the easter break there was a big DUSS trip to Swing Revolution in Leeds, which was particularly exciting as it this year featured live music from Naomi and her Handsome Devils, all the way from America, as well as its usual fantastic all star teaching lineup. The competitions made for particularly spectacular viewing, as Chloe stormed to victory in the newbie mix and match, and the shag mix and match resulted in a battle of the ex- presidents, as DUSS legends James and Emma danced against each other in the final to take 2nd and 1st place respectively. I may have slightly lost my voice from screaming so loudly for them all but it was definitely worth it!
The new exec
2017 - 2018: The End of an Era
by T. E. Wood
Despite so many members leaving at the end of last year, DUSS got back on its feet with some hard work in freshers week, plus great classes from Trix, Marisa, Jo, Ben, Isobel and Emma (also multiple food based socials), giving us some new keen beans who would soon be swinging out across the Fonteyn Ballroom floor. A few DUSSers travelled to Jorvik Swing in York, before hosting our own beginner workshop event, Wade in the Wear. We had teaching from the fantastic Rob and Tina (+baby!) for the second year under the event’s new name. A mid term EGM brought some much needed new exec members, including our first ever welfare and intersectionality officer, altogether considerably easing my DUSS related angst.
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It wouldn’t be a DUSS first term without a weekend away, and this year we were joined by intrepid dancers from York as well as the newly formed NUSDS! We returned to YHA Langdon Beck for another great weekend of dancing, eating, playing games and walking through surprisingly perilous countryside (oops…).
Second term saw the addition of yet more new dancers to DUSS, giving me sufficient confidence that the society would survive another year. A few DUSSers made a trip to the fantastic University of Swing in Edinburgh, and we once again staged a huge invasion of York’s Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Hop, at which soon to be president Chloe made finals in the newbie mix and match, and Sarah came 2nd! The term wrapped up with the elections of the new exec, but the work wasn’t over for the outgoing exec by any means…
Weekend away fun!
DUSS and York survivors at Swing Revs
After all that fun, it was time to run Summer Swing, the biggest DUSS event of the year. Mine and Keturah’s living room was transformed into Summer Swing HQ and our poor housemates had to suffer us endlessly discussing every minor logistical issue involved in running such a big event. Thankfully it was a huge success, attended by more people than ever before, and featuring a wonderful lineup of teachers from across the UK and Sweden, as well as our usual swinging socials and afterparty on the Prince Bishop boat.
The jazz off result + social dancing at Summer Swing
Helping run DUSS over the last two and a bit years has been a huge part of my life, and as much as I’ve complained/stressed about it on many occasions, I really am going to miss helping to make the society as awesome as it as, as well as teaching classes on a vaguely regular basis. Thankfully, I have no doubt that the new exec is gonna keep up the good work whilst I’m away on my year abroad, and that I’ll return next year to find the society is better than ever. Thanks to everyone who has helped with DUSS during my time as president, be that on the committee, through teaching, or just coming along to our classes and events. Finally, good luck to the new exec; I know you’re gonna be great!
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Tom Wood
President 2017-18
Teaching Coordinator 2016-17
Helpless Noob 2015-16
Keen Bean for life
