As celebrities and their partners dance across the television screen, a group of University students twirl around the rooms of the Aquatic & Fitness Center: the Ballroom Dance Club.
On the popular television show "Dancing With the Stars," 10 celebrities -- including rapper Master P, football player Jerry Rice and ex-98 Degrees member Drew Lachey -- paired up with 10 professional dancers to perform glitzy, rhinestone-studded ballroom dance routines. Closer to home on Grounds, a less star-studded but equally enthusiastic group is hitting the dance floor.
With a current membership of approximately 100 students, the University chapter of the Ballroom Dance Club was founded in 2000 by a student who transferred from the University of California at San Diego. The club hosts dance lessons and showcases as well as competing against other college dance clubs.
Competition
About 30 members of the club travel to five or six competitions each year.
Competitions consist of heats where between 20 and 30 couples dance the same dance, such as the waltz, foxtrot or tango, for 90 seconds. During that time, judges circle the dance floor and observe the couples.
After the first round, judges make cuts and the process repeats itself through octo-finals, quarter-finals and semi-finals. Finally, six to eight couples remain in the last round and are ranked.
Although the structure of competitions is straightforward, members of the University's club find the most memorable aspects of individual competitions outside of the judging. For starters, the club's information packet for spring 2006 states "the road trips themselves are half the fun."
The night before the competition begins, a social ballroom dance takes place. Second-year Engineering student and co-president Emily Hesaltine said the social dance is one of her favorite parts of the competition.
"They play music that's all different ballroom songs," Hesaltine said. "It looks similar to if you walked into a dance anywhere, except everyone's dancing ballroom. It's kind of an exhilarating experience because here at U.Va. you don't see people dancing well together."
Even though the social dance gives the competitors a chance to meet fellow ballroom dancers from other schools, Hesaltine noted a convenient use for the dance as well.
"The social dance is also a way to check out the competition," Hesaltine said.
Competition starts early the next morning and Hesaltine said one thing dancers lack at competitions is sleep. Sometimes the female members of the team rise as early as 4 a.m. to start on their hair and makeup.
"The makeup especially is a very big deal in itself," Hesaltine said. "It's overdone so you stand out on the floor."
Once the heats begin, catching the judge's eye is the name of the game.
"You're trying to show off what you can in the 90 seconds you're given," said Katherine Rothrock, second-year College student and co-president of the club.
Though a day measured in 90-second increments may sound long and stressful, Hesaltine said there is plenty of activity outside the competition.
"There's always people lined up and changing outfits and practicing on the side," Hesaltine said. "You're always meeting people from other schools, so it's very social as well as competitive."
Although the Ballroom Dance Club travels as a team, the competitions are mostly individual.
"You say you're competing against other people, but if you go out there and dance your best it's for you and not other people," Hesaltine said.
First-year College student Brandon Rothenberg's favorite part of the competition is stepping out on the floor.
"The first moment you step out there, surrounded by 50 people doing the same dance, and it's all classical dancing -- you don't really get that atmosphere anywhere else," Rothenberg said.
Both Rothrock and Hesaltine said they have memories of competitions where receiving a callback was entirely unexpected.
At the National Collegiate Dance Sport Championship in Columbus, Ohio, Hesaltine's partner wanted to compete in every step, including the foxtrot, which Hesaltine had not learned. Her partner taught her the basic step, but she said their 90-second heat was a fiasco.
"The entire time he was stepping on my feet because I had no idea where I was going," Hesaltine said.
After their heat, Hesaltine sat down to watch the other dances with her legs tucked under her, so one leg fell asleep. She said she was unconcerned because the foxtrot callbacks were next, but when she and her partner heard their number called, Hesaltine's nonchalant attitude turned into distress.
"I looked down at my leg and it was kind of limply hanging there," Hesaltine said. "I attempted to stand and it was just Jell-O, so I hobbled into line. I managed to get enough feeling back so I could stand, and for another painful 90 seconds [while] my partner stepped on my toes."
Needless to say, Hesaltine and her partner did not make it to the next round.
The Club
Although competitions seem central to the Ballroom Dance Club, less than half its members are competitive. The club holds weekly practices of all different levels of dancing.
The Social Survival and Bronze level lessons are intended for students with little or no experience and teach the basics of nine common dances such as the Tango, Cha Cha, and Waltz.
The Silver level lessons are a continuation of the Bronze level classes and are recommended for members who would like to do well in competitions.
There is also a Formation Team class where a small group of couples are taught a choreographed routine.
Four different instructors teach lessons for the club. Peter Collins, a University graduate, drives from New York to Charlottesville weekly to teach the Social and Bronze level lessons.
Collins "comes back to help us keep the club," Hesaltine said.
Lee Santos travels from Northern Virginia to the University to teach Silver lessons and coach the Formation Team. Santos has also appeared on "Oprah" to show off his moves.
Donna Arehart, director of finance and administration of the Alumni Association, serves as the club's faculty advisor and is assistant coach for the Formation Team. Gary Chovan, a local ballroom dance instructor, also assists the Formation Team.
Rothrock, who has danced ballet, tap, jazz and swing all her life, said she wanted to take ballroom dancing for a change of pace.
"The people in the club all love ballroom dancing, but they have another thing they're really into," Rothrock said. "That makes them fun to hang out with and have social events that aren't all about ballroom."
Even though Rothenberg -- one of approximately 25 men in the club -- danced cotillion for six years, he said he had to be dragged to the University's Ballroom Dance Club by a girl in his dorm. Rothenberg said his opinion has now changed.
"It's such a fun atmosphere," Rothenberg said. "It's not a pressure thing at all. It's a great experience."
When asked how he feels being a male in a ballroom dance club, his response was adamant.
"Everyone thinks it's really cool," Rothenberg said. "The ladies love it."
Reality Check
So how similar is ABC's version of "Dancing with the Stars" to the real thing on Grounds?
"Well, it's ballroom dancing" on the TV show, Rothrock said. "I don't particularly like the show because I know a lot of what they do is flashy kind of trick stuff instead of the more traditional, actual steps."
On the other hand, Hesaltine said she thinks the show is good publicity for ballroom dancing.
"It's a good way for people to get interested in ballroom," Hesaltine said. "We've had showcases in the past, and something like that is very similar."
Regardless of the popularity of "Dancing with the Stars," Hesaltine said she is optimistic about the upcoming semester.
"It's going to be hot," Hesaltine said.
Read More
It’s okay not to be okay
By Mai Hukuoka | 3 days agoWhether talking to a friend, a loved one or a professional, it is so necessary, and human, to need more than you can provide for yourself.
Taking a break at Tangerines Kitchen
By Charley Thomas | 5 days agoWhat the restaurant somewhat lacks in ambiance, it compensates for in tasty dishes and prompt service.
Virginia Policy Lab — a hub for student-led policy action
By Katherine Haden | December 9, 2024Students propose their own projects and collaborate with other members to research their issues of interest, brainstorm solutions and write policy proposals.
