By Kaylee White
With one step back, two steps to the right and a pivot turn, what was once a staple in American and global culture is brought back to life on the University of Arkansas campus: ballroom dancing.
Ballroom is a type of dance known for its technique and partner work. University of Arkansas Ballroom Dancing Club President Payton Crowne said, “What makes ballroom different? Structure. You have a rulebook.” Each dance has specific footwork, frame and timing.
According to the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, the waltz is the oldest traditional ballroom dance, originating in Europe in the 16th century. The dance then evolved and various new styles emerged. Ballroom dance became a symbol for the upper class and was key to any social gathering for the next 300 years.
This style didn’t just take root in Europe, though. According to Dance Vision, a very different branch surfaced in Latin America. While still a partner dance with specific steps, Latin American ballroom is far more rhythmic, expressive and energetic than the European style.
“Ballroom dancing is universal,” said Jenna Johnson, the club’s social media manager. “You can go to a Viennese ball in Vienna and do the same things there that you learned here (at the university).”
Today, ballroom dance has been nearly eliminated from social life and instead introduced into the competition world.
The University of Arkansas Ballroom Dancing club is actively working to preserve this lost art. They have revived the social aspect of the dance through welcoming inexperienced dancers to learn the moves of the various dances, creating an inviting community centered around ballroom, while also partaking in ballroom dancing’s most popular form today, which is competing.
Despite not being a prominent aspect of society anymore, this form of dancing has become notable in the media over the last 20 years. “Dancing With The Stars,” a show where celebrities are partnered with professional dancers and compete in the different ballroom styles, has put ballroom dancing back on the map.
The show has run for over 30 seasons, where millions of fans can watch these classic dance styles in a more modernized fashion. While the show relies heavily on show quality, such as tricks, props and costumes, the performances are still rooted in the traditional movements of the centuries-long dances.
The University of Arkansas Ballroom Club takes a unique approach to teaching its members this technically-based art form.
“We try to create a very fun and comfortable atmosphere here at practice, regardless of experience,” said Bennett Pappalexis, the club’s secretary.
They not only aim for their members to learn the various global dances but compete nationally. Within their club, members have the option to join the competition team. This team competes once per semester.
There are no local ballroom competitions, so the competitive team travels to places such as Texas and the Northeast to compete with other dancers. Each competitor will complete a total of six dances in the American style. Each member will have around two partners, one for the smooth and the other for the rhythmic categories.
According to Johnson, members over the past few years have been very successful in their competitions. The team has won several first-, second- and third-place awards among the experience categories of beginner, intermediate, and newcomer.
The club has a special process when it comes to the practice schedule. Regular practice is three times a week, one for social dances, one led by an instructor and the other led by the club itself. Competitors also have the opportunity to attend practices focused towards their events and partner-work.
The instructor-led practices are taught by a professional and focus primarily on technique. Here the members will learn steps for two dances, one standard and one in Latin. The club-led practices, however, are taught by the officers of the club. This is a time to review what was learned from their instructor and learn steps from more American-style dances.
This year, the club is expanding its horizons into more international styles of dance, including the Latin styles, which has doubled the amount of dances the club covers.
From attending one practice, it is clear to see the sense of community within the club. Officers first reviewed the steps of the waltz that were learned in the practice before, then practiced timing the moves with music. They even helped one-on-one with newcomers and those who had missed prior practices.
After covering the waltz, the practice focused on the American style two-step. Here, the foundations of the dance were covered along with some of the classic tricks, dips and spins involved in the style.
It’s remarkable to watch the movements come to life within the practices. Without a choreographed routine, members are still able to move seamlessly together about the dance floor as if they had memorized every beat. It is evident the club is able to successfully teach its members flawless technique in such a wide variety of dances, each with unique footwork, tempo and story.
Each officer said they joined the club out of curiosity. Johnson said, “I saw it at HillFest last year and decided to take a chance.”
Crowne said he was curious about the club and wanted to experience something new.
Pappalexis said he was seeking a new experience when a friend introduced the club to him.
The club officers invite anyone to join their club, regardless of experience.
“College is the time in your life to be trying things out, especially things you wouldn’t have considered yourself doing,” Pappalexis said. “In joining, you will be exposed to something completely new with a community who is jumping into something new too.”
The Ballroom Dancing Club meets every Sunday, Monday and Wednesday night. Additional information for locations and times of practices can be found on the Club Ballroom page on HogSync.
Despite not being a staple in society anymore, ballroom dancing still remains alive and thriving among its community. The legacy still lives on, even on the University of Arkansas campus.