Jack and Jill Swing Dance Contest Honors Fatal Car Crash Victim from Marion

A Marion woman who died in a fatal car crash last fall is being remembered through a swing dance competition put on by former co-workers at a local dance studio.

Kelley McLaren was an instructor at Dance New York when a teen, who has been charged with two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter, was driving the wrong way on I-380 and struck her vehicle last November.

McLaren loved to dance, particularly swing dance, and her friends and students thought a contest would be a good way to keep her memory alive.

"Kelley was a huge part of the Dance New York family and she is greatly missed every day," said Beth Henderson of Dance New York. "We want to do whatever we can to keep her memory alive. Swing was her favorite dance so it was just appropriate to do a swing contest."

The Iowa Dancesport Classic, which is a Ballroom & Latin Dance Competition, is on April 13 and 14 at the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

The Jack and Jill Swing Contest in honor of Kelley McLaren is on Saturday, April 13, with specific time to be announced. The top ten couples will receive prize money.

It will be free to enter the contest once you purchase entry into the ballroom.

McLaren participated in the University of Iowa Swing Dance Club for five years, and on weekends participated in swing dance competitions.

Henderson said she hopes some of her old friends will take part.

You can buy tickets ahead of time by contacting the studio at 319-373-3025 between 1-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, and the tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for youth, or $15 for college students or you can just purchase the tickets at the door for $5 more.

Saturday will be the competition day, and Sunday will have workshops in the morning, lunch, and then the afternoon will have showcase performances.