Students anxiously lined up at Tony's Big Easy, 129 S. Pugh St., not to partake in 99-cent pitchers and karaoke contests, but instead to celebrate Latin culture and movement.

Everyone from advanced to novice dancers are welcome to come swing to the Latin beats of DJ Malcom, for the popular and quickly growing Salsa Night, held every Wednesday starting at 10 p.m.

Participants come dressed in their best attire. Ladies celebrate Spanish flavor in bright colors with bedazzled free-flowing skirts complete with fringe and high heels, and for men, crisp dress shirts and slacks are in order.

"I've never had dance experience, but it just sounded like so much fun, and it has a bit more life to it than your average ballroom dance," Emily Mills (graduate-music) said.

All ages are invited to Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and Cha-cha, and admission is free for those over 21. The cover charge is $5 for underage dancers.

"When they established the all-ages night, it was a big deal -- everyone was talking about it," said Diane Kadushin (junior-public relations and theatre), a member of Penn State International Dance Ensemble and Ballroom Dance Club.

Anne Harper (senior-art education) said the grace of the dancing is what attracts people.

"I think people are becoming more interested in going salsa dancing because it's something different and better than the barbaric bumping and grinding of club dancing," Harper said.

Latin Night is an event for people with similar interests to meet each other.

Kadushin said there is definitely a salsa-loving population at Penn State.

"It is the only place downtown that even has a Latin night, so they have a captive audience," she said.

Students tend to gravitate toward salsa night because it is a different setting than an average dance club, Nathaniel Sheetz (senior-industrial engineering and Spanish) said.

"Salsa is different from typical club dancing -- it's a social dance where people can talk and enjoy themselves in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere," Sheetz, a member of the Ballroom Competition Team, said.

Sheetz introduced his sister, Janalyn, to Latin Night.

"The atmosphere is great, and everyone is excited to be there," Janalyn Sheetz said.

The brother and sister duo compete as partners for the Penn State Ballroom Competition Team and regularly visit the packed dance floor at Tony's Big Easy.

"The people make all the difference -- and the music does too. Plus, it involves some real dancing," she said.

To learn or practice salsa, the university sponsors free dance lessons Monday nights at the White Building, from beginner to master levels.

The classes hold about 100 people according to the club's official Web site, www.clubs. psu.edu/up/ballroomdance/Salsa/Salsa.html.