Spring Break
URI ballroom dancing club waltzes to UConn's tune
Corey Tackett
Issue date: 10/21/08 Section: News
10/21/08 - After six weeks of hard work and practice, the University of Rhode Island Ballroom Dancing Club competed at the University of Connecticut last Saturday.
Seven members of the club left campus for the all-day competition at 7 a.m. For most of the dancers, it was their first time competing with only a few weeks of experience under their belts.
There are 80 couples in each event and only the top 13 make the semifinals.
UConn hosted groups from 15 different colleges, high schools and dance companies, with ages of participants ranging from 12 years old to 70 years old.
Despite the large number of competitors with various levels of experience, each member of the URI Ballroom Dancing Club placed in an event and two couples made it to semifinals.
URI Ballroom Dancing President Lauren Poston has been dancing for more than a year now, and commented on how proud she was with the outcome and all the members that chose to compete.
"I'm proud of everyone," Poston said. "Some of them have only been dancing for a semester and it was some people's first competition. It was neat to be able to take home ribbons."
Poston placed sixth in the Bronze Tango with partner Alex Lee from New England Institute of Technology. The two also made it to the semifinals in the Bronze Waltz, Quickstep and Rumba.
Along with Poston and Lee, sophomore Jen Paquette, the club's treasurer, placed second in the Newcomer Foxtrot and Waltz with partner sophomore Rebecca Beaulieu, and also took sixth place in the Newcomer Rumba with freshman Stephanie Canton.
Sophomores Joe Hackman and Yunkyung Lee made it to the semifinals in the Newcomer Waltz.
Poston said when going into the competition, there is no way of telling what experience the other teams will have. The goal, she said, is to go with an open mind and to have fun.
"We all go to do the best we can," Poston said. "Some clubs practice five times a week. We practice once or twice a week. We did really well all things considered."
Both Poston and Paquette said they maintain relationships with people they've met through the competitions from schools such as Roger Williams University and Johnson and Wales University.
Competing is optional for Ballroom Dance Club members. Wednesday Oct. 22 is the beginning of the new session. Experience is not required and they will be offering lessons on the Mumbo and the West Coast Swing.
Seven members of the club left campus for the all-day competition at 7 a.m. For most of the dancers, it was their first time competing with only a few weeks of experience under their belts.
There are 80 couples in each event and only the top 13 make the semifinals.
UConn hosted groups from 15 different colleges, high schools and dance companies, with ages of participants ranging from 12 years old to 70 years old.
Despite the large number of competitors with various levels of experience, each member of the URI Ballroom Dancing Club placed in an event and two couples made it to semifinals.
URI Ballroom Dancing President Lauren Poston has been dancing for more than a year now, and commented on how proud she was with the outcome and all the members that chose to compete.
"I'm proud of everyone," Poston said. "Some of them have only been dancing for a semester and it was some people's first competition. It was neat to be able to take home ribbons."
Poston placed sixth in the Bronze Tango with partner Alex Lee from New England Institute of Technology. The two also made it to the semifinals in the Bronze Waltz, Quickstep and Rumba.
Along with Poston and Lee, sophomore Jen Paquette, the club's treasurer, placed second in the Newcomer Foxtrot and Waltz with partner sophomore Rebecca Beaulieu, and also took sixth place in the Newcomer Rumba with freshman Stephanie Canton.
Sophomores Joe Hackman and Yunkyung Lee made it to the semifinals in the Newcomer Waltz.
Poston said when going into the competition, there is no way of telling what experience the other teams will have. The goal, she said, is to go with an open mind and to have fun.
"We all go to do the best we can," Poston said. "Some clubs practice five times a week. We practice once or twice a week. We did really well all things considered."
Both Poston and Paquette said they maintain relationships with people they've met through the competitions from schools such as Roger Williams University and Johnson and Wales University.
Competing is optional for Ballroom Dance Club members. Wednesday Oct. 22 is the beginning of the new session. Experience is not required and they will be offering lessons on the Mumbo and the West Coast Swing.
