STRUTTING THEIR STUFF All kinds of dancers gather in the Union for an open ballroom competition inspiring social and physical activity

Dancing has always been a social and cultural means of meeting others and expressing one’s self. Clubs might be the current social dancing spot, but the Union was filled with energy with a mix of salsa, waltz, swing and other dance styles Monday night. Ballroom dancers of all levels competed and performed in the annual “So You Think You Can Ballroom?” competition.
“It’s a healthy social event,” said Krista Derington, a graduate student in modern dance who is in charge of the red team of ballroom dancers and helps run the company as a whole. “It is clean, safe, fun and you get to know other people.”
The dance was a public event anyone could join, and attendance was twice what it was last year. Students and community members — no matter their level — could take to the stage and freestyle with different styles of dance, Derington said.
The freedom of movement is what Sophia Jackson, a senior in speech communication, liked most about the event. She is in an intermediate American ballroom course at the U and liked the new competition experience. Her nerves were not too high — she was just excited to dance.

Joe and Rosie Voks are taking classes at the local BallroomUtah studio from Martin Skupinski, the emcee for the event, and came to check out the other dancers.
“It’s fun to see the amateurs compete along those who are a little better,” Rosie Voks said. “It is encouraging to see.”
It did not matter what level the dancers were, because the dance floor was open. Couples could wear and move how they wanted.
Some came to support their friends in the competition, like Janean Ford, a senior in international studies and economics. She loved to see her friends smiling while getting a chance to show off what they’ve learned.
Between rounds, the floor was open for a couple minutes of general dancing — a true free for all. Other dance teams were able to perform as well, such as the ballroom team and swing club.
Jenniffer Viana, a sophomore in social work, loves to dance because it’s a stress reliever and confidence booster. She is a member of the ballroom dance team, starting when she took a class her freshman year.
Derington believes this kind of involvement is great in school because extra-curricular activities help break up the monotony of classes. Plus, dancing is something anyone can do.
“In the 1940s and ’50s, social dance was alive and hopping,” she said. “That was the pastime, and through this event and teaching ballroom dance, we’re trying to bring that back to life.”
She knows many people like to dance, but may not like the atmosphere of clubs. For her, ballroom has been a safe way to get personal contact with people and move to music.
Dancing can help people break away from shy tendencies as well. Cosette Reeves, 15, came to the competition with her dad Dale Reeves. The duo are local community members from the BallroomUtah studio. They competed in swing, waltz and cha-cha.
“It makes me feel relaxed,” Cosette Reeves said. “I’m not a very social person, so dancing allows me to step out and express myself while being around new people.”