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Show WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2013 -- 6- DIXIESUNNEWS.COM For a video on Red Rock Swing Dance, visit DixieSunNews.com Cllv revives Local dance academy hits other Cronin, tradition atop old water tanfc scorch summer 3ft 4 W ; with new releases radio rock The Black Keys and Jack White is formulated to a tee. This is pop- - BY PAYTON DAVIS Copy Editor Mikal Cronins X4 ti ; sand-coate- d I "'I na tans and charcoaled f steaks that better summer complement than any release from the past three months. Competmg against an onslaught of notable albums by acclaimed acts, Cronin bested Vampire Weekend sonically, created more outlandish pop than Daft Punk, and branched out artistically like Kanye MCII West and Yeezus. like sounds mosquitos buzzing in the ears of good friends at a barbecue just before a summer f !- - ' .. X V i, M r t i i t i Y j v- ; : I v. Hi V-.- n MCII emulates the U- - I Jl storm. Red Rock Swing participants learn a style of swing dance known as Lindy Hop. Red Rock Swing instructors also teach styles of dance such as East Coast, West Coast and Balboa. Cronin resembles Kurt Cobain trapped in Conor Obersts body on his second album. Every track could turn into a rocker, power chords included, but most dont. Waiting for absurd amounts of g guitar fuzz and drums on Shout It Out, I realized my prediction was wrong when hand claps and an elegant chorus instead full-sca- le BY KRISTIN SIMONS Staff writer On a late summer's eve, sunlight dwindling from Red Hills Parkway's red rocks, a group of people greet the ending day atop St. George's historic water tank with a weekly activity: swing danc- ing. Red Rock Swing Dance, a local dancing school, hosts a "Dance on the Old Water Tank," every Tuesday, free to the public. The swing dance seminars not only offer opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy and learn about swing dancing, but also revive an old tradition. Located on top of St. George's water tank located at 500 E. Red Hills Parkway, a plaque describes its history. According to the plaque, the water tank was built in 1948 not only as a major water source for the citizens, but also as a place to host social events. "The tank was constructed with a railing around the top, and its wide, flat concrete roof became a popular outdoor dance floor," the plaque states. "For years after its completion, the water tank was a favorite spot for citizens." Sukcha Choi, a sophomore psychology major from South Korea and a Red Rock Swing Dance said the common intciest to host swung dances began when instructors of different styles of dance w anted to come together to teach as a group. However, they ran into a problem when they couldn't find a suitable venue. Tiffany Barnes, the founder of Red Rock Swing Dance, said she held practices in her boyfriend's apartment in the past. It was eventually his idea to host them on the water tank, when the epiphany struck him while he was running past it one day, she said. Since then, Red Rock Swing Dance has revived the water tower as hot dance spot. Barnes said she wanted something that was different from her past dance experiences. She found that in swing dancing. "I was looking for a new art form and a new dance form," Barnes said. "Ive done classical ballet my whole life. I was looking for something a little bit more raw. More of what I thought was joyful, more vernacular, more for the people than for the people to watch. Red Rock Swing Dance teaches different styles of swing, including East Coast, free dance sessions on top of the water tank, especially the West Coast, Lindy Hop, and Balboa, Barnes said. "Unlike other dances, solo dances or couple dances, swing dances are known to most people from 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, all the way until now," said Choi, "It's still popular. All people can dance from their level, their physical ability, whether they're strong or weak. Barnes said people are often enthralled and excited by Red Rock Swing Dance's many different variations. We all love it," Barnes said. "We all geek out about it." Katherine Kirkland, an assistant instructor and volunteer marketer for the Red Rock Swing Dance club, said a variety of people can take a lot away from participating in the beautiful scenery. "My favorite aspect about dancing on top of the water tank is that it is outdoors," Kirkland said. "Overall, the weather has treated us well while dancing there, often giving us a light breeze, cloud cover and hypnotically beautiful sunsets. Theres something magical about dancing outdoors feeling the mild wind on our skin, seeing the rainbow-lik- e sunsets, and the ambiance of the enjoying city lights of St. George after dark." Kirkland said about 20 people from all around the area of all ages have joined in on the water tank dances. "Along with college-age- d and middle-age- d attendees, weve had mothers dancing with babies in arms, fathers with dancing their young children, and a grandpa dancing with his adult Kirkland said. (Weve also had) some roller bladers and even a senior-age- d hiking group join us. Kirkland said the classes circle-danc- grand-daughte- , es r, early in the evening are I ti 1 i !H ori- ented toward beginners and create a fun atmosphere to be around. "Besides our dances being a fun way to exercise, hopefully, a sense of camaraderie is what people gain especially if theyve been joining us Kirkland semi-regularly- ," said. Red Rock Swing Dance instructors Kelly Aslin and Katherine Kirkland demonstrate basic steps in the Lindy Hop. The local dance school welcomes all ages and skill levels. MW.r" The dances on the water tank take place Tuesday nights at 8 pan. and are opened to anyone interested in swing dance. For more information about the water tank dances or other activities from Red Rock Swing Dance, check out the Red Rock Swing Dance's website at wrist-cramm- ed floor-bustin- reigned. This album is quite unpre dictable in ways that most meshed angst, which makes it unfairly catchy but still angry and chaotic. Cronin does amp up the freakiness in other places. Sure, the heavy, black clouds just settle over the albums scape before fading away many times, but occasionally they drop flurries of bombastic noise that make every other quality concede its importance. The piano and melodies would be the projects best feature. However, the spastics that follow will make any listener forget the keys and vocals. the best parts of Forgetting MCII makes every listen new and exciting. In addition, the albums accessibility in general makes for an enjoyable listen: Its short enough that on a car ride, the 10 tracks could be played entirely, and there really is something for everyone. Compoimded with Cobain and Oberst, I could include other gifted rockers that Cronin is reminiscent of, from Townes Van Zandt to Nick Drake. MCII deserves much praise and consideration for album of the year, but summer 2013 was too good not to mention other great albums. heart-warmi- Below are five other projects strong enough to outlive even some of the strongest memories and headlines from May to August . .Like Clockwork by Queens of the Stone Age This wrecking ball of a summer slam channels 70s rock acts Queen, Elton John and Led Zeppelin throughout the diverse track list. John also belts lyrics alongside lead singer and guitarist Josh Homme on Fairweath-e- r Friends, and guest appearances by contemporary rock god Dave Grohl and the eccentric Trent Reznor make each track a whos who of guitar-base- d music. Standout Track: If I Had a Tail Monomania by Deerhunter indie rock groups like Death Cab for Cutie and Vampire Weekend pushed the genres sounds from distorted and dirty to polished pop, but Deerhunter is shifting the gap back with each release. The Southern outfits new LP teeters between Foghat-esqu- e rhythms and lyrics as angsty and abstract as the best college rock Lines. Standout Track: Pensacola Mid-00- s Run the Jewels by Run the Jewels In theoiy, the El-- P and Killer Mike collaboration should have floundered and included the annoying excess that projects by artists usually do. Howprominent but quite different hip-ho- p ever, from the self-title-d album's start, that isnt the case. The two woik so well together they trade spars e rhyme-for-rhym- throughout. Standout Track: This British Sea Legs Silence Yourself by Savages group surpassed all hype it garnered while playing gigs in London for the better part of two years. The world used to be silentNow it has too many voices lead singer Jehnny Beth howls at the albums beginning, and with lyrics like that, listeners wont need to be told twice to shut up and listen. Standout Track: Husbands post-pun- all-gi- rl k Was Dead by King Tuff First released in 2008, Was Dead went unheard until King Tuff found Internet success last year; thus, fans called for its reissue since so few were originally pressed. Whether released in 2013 or five years prior, this album has a timeless feel and couldve been an uncovered work by garage rock groups from several periods. Standout Track: Stone Fox |