They hold hands and their eyes meet. Their bodies synchronize as they sway to the pulsating rhythms of the smooth and seductive beats. As they change positions, the tempo quickens, and through whisks, spins and dips, it finally slows and they finish, cheek to cheek.
It’s just a typical Wednesday night on Fairfield University’s campus; the Oak Room transforms into a dance studio and the students of the Ballroom Dance Club heat up the floor.
But don’t start picturing your grandparents’ idea of traditional ballroom dancing.
“This is very sexy dancing,” said club member Alison Irving ’10.
The dedicated club members get out their dancing shoes each week to learn a new repertoire of hip-shaking moves. With training by a professional dance instructor, they learn to swing, cha-cha, salsa and do the hustle, all to sounds of modern music. It’s “Dancing with the Stars,” Fairfield style.
“I think people expect the club to just be waltzing in big ball gowns,” said club member Caitlin Murphy ’08, “but it’s so much more, and people don’t realize.”
Sarah Howe ’07, the club president, agrees.
“You get really into it and get inspired,” she said. “You learn a cool move and then you want to keep learning more moves. People like that they can look cool dancing.”
This interest in the art of dance comes with a recent surge in the popularity of ballroom dancing among a younger generation. Because of recent films like Take the Lead (2006), Shall We Dance? (2004), and Mad Hot Ballroom (2005), as well as the surprise success of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” people “get curious,” according to Howe.
Irving, who has been taking lessons on her own for two-and-a-half years, was first inspired to dance when she saw a classic dance film.
“Truthfully, I first became interested in dancing when I watched Dirty Dancing,” she said. “I knew I wanted to dance like that.”
She is also a faithful fan of “Dancing with the Stars,” and thinks that the show is “great because it’s real ballroom – the costumes, the music, the steps. It’s also very inspiring. I watch and say, ‘I want to be one of those people someday’.”
“Dancing with the Stars,” in particular, attempts to stomp out the stereotypes associated with ballroom, especially through its unexpected male celebrity dancers.
However, most Fairfield students who are dancing with the Stags aren’t aspiring to be the next Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers.
The club’s instructor, Brandon Stavola, of Southport’s Ballroom DanceSport studio, said “it’s all about getting them [dancers] off the couch from watching to actually doing what they see.”
Stavola is impressed that the Fairfield students are able “pick up a lot of information in a short time,” The club focuses on introduction and basics and many members see the lessons as a fun hour once a week and a good time to distress.
“After the practices, you come back so energized,” Howe said. “You’ve just spent an hour burning calories. You’re out of breath because you are moving so fast.”
Irving said, “Just like the high that others get from sports, I get that feeling when I dance.”
While ballroom dancing is an excellent form of exercise, there are also many social benefits. Often, the music playing in the background cannot be heard over all of the talking and laughing.
Juniors Hannah Martin and Caitlin Murphy met at the club freshman year and have been friends ever since.
“It’s a great way to meet people. You’re forced to talk when you’re dancing together for the night,” Martin said.
According to the club members, the moves that they learn each week are about more than just strutting their stuff on the dance floor.
“Not only is it very good exercise, it really empowers you,” Irving said. “It really makes you more confident because you learn how to carry yourself and be comfortable with your body.”
“It’s upsetting that it’s not a more popular club on campus,” said Murphy. “I think that this might be because it is called Ballroom Dance Club, which I think carries a stigma with it.”
However, these dancers are determined to win over the Fairfield campus with their fancy footwork. Even those with two left feet are encouraged to come see that this club is more than just the waltz.
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