It takes two to tango
For the 19 members of the USU ballroom dance team, being on the team means more than just competing to win. It means they get to do something they love to do. Danielle Holcomb, a freshman in animal science, said, “I like dancing because it’s a lot of fun being with a group of people who enjoy the same thing as you, and it’s fun to learn together.”
Even though they enjoy spending time and learning together, the pressures of running and organizing a club sport are still real to Alyssa Brande, a sophomore majoring in political science, who is also the president of the ballroom dance team. She is familiar with the challenges the team faces. Brande said the team does get some financial support from the school, but not much, which means if the team wants to perform or compete, the money has to come out of their own pockets.
Each semester there is a $100 due for all the team members, Brande said. This money pays for renting space for practice as well as a small portion to costumes. When they go to compete at competitions farther than Salt Lake City, the team has to rent a van and find food and lodging, which can cost around $150 to $200, said Stephen Houghton, a sophomore in accounting.
Putting all money issues aside, Brande and Vice President Jennifer Tonioli, a senior in business, still have to put together a team of dancers by acting as coaches for the team. Tonioli said they practice in the HPER three times a week from 3 to 5:30 p.m. She said during practices, they spend 45 minutes conditioning and then work on performance pieces as well as technique.
As student coaches, they said they have felt the frustration of trying to teach others how to dance, but they have also felt the successes. “I have enjoyed to see people progress as I have helped teach,” Tonioli said. “Sometimes practices suck, but when the competition is good, it brings it to a whole new level.”
Ballroom dancing is a different from the kind of dancing like jazz or ballet that most people see. For example, they dance in pairs, Brande said. When dancing with a partner, Brande and Tonioli said there needs to be a certain chemistry between the two so they work well together.
“Each dance has something different to say, and you have to convey it with your partner,” Brande said.
Jake Knight, a freshman in physics who is partners with Tonioli, said he has been dancing since he was 15 years old. He said when he found out USU had a ballroom dance team, he was excited to join. He likes to dance with the team and his partner because of the social atmosphere, and it gives him good practice, he said. “It’s so much fun spending so much time together. Like when we are on trips, we all become such good friends.”
Entertaining crowds during performances is one of Hayley Hayden’s favorite things about ballroom dancing, she said. Hayden, a freshman in public relations, has been doing ballroom dance for six years. She said when she heard about USU’s dance team, she was excited to join. “I thought it would be a good way to get to know people by being on a college team,” she said.
Although having background experience in dancing helps, Brande said the team is open to anyone who wants to try out.
Houghton said this is his first year on the ballroom dance team and he joined to learn how to dance. “I joined the team so I could be able to ask a girl to dance,” he said.
Brande said most of the members don’t have very much experience dancing, but they work hard to do their best.
-dwkoe