Celebrate Valentine's with Spring Swing Thing and America250
Published: January 27, 2026 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 3 minutes
The Southern Utah University Department of Music, in partnership with America250, invites the community to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the Valentine’s Spring Swing Thing, featuring SUU Jazz Ensemble One, on Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., in the Sharwan Smith Center Rotunda on SUU’s campus. This festive evening of live jazz and social dancing is free and open to all adults.
The evening will begin with complimentary swing dance lessons led by Toni & James Sage from 7:00-7:30 p.m., welcoming dancers of all experience levels. At 7:30 p.m., the dance floor will open for an energetic night of dancing accompanied live by SUU Jazz Ensemble One, performing classic and crowd-pleasing swing-era favorites.
The Spring Swing Thing began in spring 2018 as a collaborative effort between Dr. Adam Lambert, Director of Bands at SUU, Toni & James Sage, and SUU Community Education. Now a beloved annual tradition, the event continues to bring together music, movement, and community in a joyful, accessible setting. Organizers are especially excited to partner with America250 this year as part of the nationwide celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Joseph Howe, SUU instructor and member of the Cedar City Arts Council, helped facilitate the partnership with America250. “Jazz is one of the most American things we have in music,” Howe said. “Born in New Orleans, it swept the nation in the 1930s and 40s thanks to groups like Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington. When thinking about how we can celebrate America’s 250th anniversary this year, it was an obvious choice to partner up with Dr. Lambert and Jazz Ensemble One for their Spring Swing Thing. I hope people will come and have a great time dancing and enjoying one of the most pure American creations this country has ever produced.”
Whether attendees come to dance, listen, or simply soak in the Valentine’s atmosphere, the Valentine’s Spring Swing Thing promises a lively evening celebrating love, community, and America’s rich jazz heritage.
For more information about arts events at SUU, please visit www.suu.edu/arts.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Tags: Ballroom Dance Jazz America250 Music Community College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact Information:
Dr. Adam Lambert
435-865-8160
adamlambert@suu.edu