NIC celebrates 80 years with dance

The student union building was adorned in white tables, each covered in the golden wisps of candlelight that illuminated the room with a warm and inviting glow. Attendees bustled in, dodging the raindrops that fell outside, and slowly began to take their seats, mingling with one another along the way.
Vague crowing and squawking noises came from the far corner of the room as the Jazz Northwest band tuned their instruments and got ready to begin to play their lively and soulful tunes.

It was the celebration party of NIC’s 80th anniversary and to dedicate it, a full big band jazz concert was in swing. Before the band started to play, Cheamkwet Park, the new park behind the student union building, was dedicated, complete with a native Coeur d’Alene Tribe prayer and blessing along with the Rose Creek Drummers. Afterwards a free cookout courtesy of NIC Dining was held complete with pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, and corn on the cob.

Once everybody’s stomach was full of food and the crowd had settled into the evening, the kick of the drum could be heard and the band began to play. The horns trumpeted sweetly into the air and the singer, adorned in a fittingly retro dress that moved and swayed with her movements as she sang out the notes of “The Way You Look Tonight” among many other classics.

After some encouragement from the band, couples one by one of all ages began to get up to dance; holding each other close, laughing and clapping with all the joy and merriment the night had to offer.

Children began dancing, with one another and with their parents. It became an entire family-fun event and as the night winded to a close, people began to leave, and the band played themselves off, there was a warm glow of community and friendship in the air.