Club President Kip Bowser said the goal of the new Western Country Club is to help immerse students into western culture through dancing, eating western-style foods and watching western-themed films. He added club members will also be participating in Culture Night performing line and swing dancing.
Club members will be learning two styles of dancing, he said, including line and swing dancing. He explained line dancing is a form of dancing involving rows of people dancing in sync with each other.
Vice President Cayden Eliason said country swinging involves dance partners, a girl and a guy, performing a variety of different moves including dipping, spinning and twirling.
Bowser, a sophomore from Tooele, Utah, majoring in videography and entrepreneurship, shared he enjoyed country swing dancing at BYU–Idaho and at BYU in Provo. Upon realizing BYU–Hawaii didn’t offer similar opportunities, he said he was inspired to start a club surrounding those interests.
Eliason said previous to the development of the club, western culture was a “niche that needed to be filled.” Eliason, a junior from South Dakota majoring in marine biology, shared she felt out of place coming to BYUH where there wasn’t a club that reflected the culture she grew up around.
Growing up in a small town of 900 people and surrounded by agricultural practices made her appreciate western culture, she said. “It’s cool to have a club that focuses on those ideals of the western United States and their livelihoods and their lifestyles.”
Opening social
On Feb. 1, the presidency and about 45 members of the club gathered at the opening social in the Heber Grant Building. Some of the students donned boots and jeans, characteristic of western culture.
Members of the presidency introduced themselves, including Kirra Facer, vice president over activities; Haley Elliott, secretary; and Adeline Travis, treasurer. Students played a game of “Never Have I Ever” allowing members to learn about each other by sharing something they have never done.
At the event, Bowser discussed the club’s plans to participate in the upcoming Culture Night in March. Facer, a senior from Southern California majoring in business management, demonstrated both styles of dancing at the social. At the conclusion of the event, members of the club got to practice similar dance moves to country music.
Appreciation for western country culture
Kathryn Daniels, a sophomore from Parker, Colorado, majoring in political science, said western film and music is what drew her to the club. “It’s good to be around people with the same interest,” she explained.
Daniels said western country culture seems to be lost and people take for granted the principle of the freedom it represents. “This club is going to capture some of those iconic parts of [western] culture.” She said the goal is to help bring back those elements and help others celebrate them. For example, she said she admires that western culture incorporates ideals surrounding hard work and perseverance.
She shared following the event, many attendees left feeling proud of western culture. “I think BYUH is a great place to be exposed to different cultures.”
Charles Hughes, an undecided freshman from Laie, said he learned more about country dancing, which he used to do with relatives in the past. “I thought by joining the club I’d be able to get better at it and meet other people.” He added country dancing is complex and includes small, coordinated movements.
Hughes shared learning about western culture is important to him because it allows him to learn about his ancestors, who settled in the West. “For me to be able to learn more about their culture, I feel like it helps me connect with them and see how they lived and expressed themselves.”
He said western culture is an important part of United States history. “People who lived in the West really helped pave the way for the LDS pioneers to make their way out West and form civilizations there.”
Eliason said she hopes people from outside of the United States would join their club and learn about the western culture. “We get to join their clubs, and so it’d be cool if it was also reciprocal.”
Plans for the future
Bowser shared the club is also planning on doing service projects at Gunstock Ranch or local farms in the community.
At the activities, he said he hopes they can enjoy food such as cornbread, chicken-fried steak, and chicken and waffles. Eliason said the club is also hoping to carry out activities such as horseshoes, bean bag tossing, roping and having a bonfire.
As the vice president over service and careers, she said she hopes to enroll the club into career workshops and the upcoming Asia Pacific Career Conference. “The idea is to help our club members to take those steps to prepare to enter a career field or enter the professional world.”
Eliason said she hopes the club continues to grow, specifically with more guys joining and participating in the dancing in the future.