Like intramural sports, jam bands and craft circles, dance organizations provide an outlet for college students to continue doing what they enjoyed in their hometowns.
I love to dance
but I didn't have enough time for the school's dance team said Michelle Cano, a junior psychology major and president of Los Disco (Ladies Of Soul Dancing In Sync Co.), a hip-hop dance club.
When Ashley Turin and Molly Marinik made the move to Athens, they noticed there was no place where they could practice their favorite form of dance: tap. They decided to take matters into their own hands. What started as a few people tap dancing in the basement of Baker Center has led to an approximately 30-person tap group. The OU Tap Cats have performed at various local events and university functions; in 2005 they were guest performers for the School of Dance's spring concert.
Such was the case with Shawna Darrington and Tishara Clement, who were on the same dance team in high school and now are founding members of the hip-hop group Bodies In Motion Dance Team.
Although classes for non-majors are available through the School of Dance, there is a limited selection.
Different classes would be wildly successful but probably wouldn't happen said Morinik, a fifth-year visual communications major with a dance minor.
This is due to faculty and budget strains, said Madeleine Scott, director of the School of Dance. Faculty hired for different genres would have to be capable of teaching other dance classes as well.
It would be wonderful to have more genres
but right now we don't have the additional lines to do that
Scott said.
People dance for different reasons
Marinik said. Some like creating choreography or enjoy the physical demands. Others just like the feeling of being on center stage.
Like any organization, dance clubs meet regularly, pay dues and work on their craft. Most of the clubs are involved in volunteer work. Bodies In Motion recently sponsored a jump-rope event to raise funds and awareness of sickle cell anemia. Dance clubs sometimes give lessons at after-school programs and perform at university pep rallies.
The clubs create their own choreography with the exception of a few guest choreographers - usually dance majors or professional dancers.
Not every group has an audition, but most suggest previous knowledge of the dance to keep up better with the classes. Dance clubs are fun and relaxed, Cano said, but added, I do ask members to be committed and willing to put their time in. Los Disco usually practices every day before a performance.
At Jitterbug Club meetings, classes are offered the first hour, followed by an hour of free dance, said Katie Labbe, a senior art education major and president of the club. The classes start at the beginner's level in each quarter's opening and become progressively more challenging as the quarter continues. This encourages students as well as local residents who are interested in learning how to swing dance, she said.
Tonight the Jitterbug Club will be sponsoring a dance featuring the band Hepcat Revival in Baker Center Ballroom. Lessons are from 8 to 9 p.m. and open dance is from 9 to 10 p.m.
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