So You Want to Get More Involved . . .
- Subscribe to our listserve
- Come to practice space
- Attend our workshops
- Take a dance class
- Go social dancing
- Take private lessons
- Compete
The key to becoming more involved with ballroom is YOU. Some members come to workshops once a week, some only go social dancing once a month, while others practice for several hours every day. It's up to you how involved you want to be. BAM provides numerous dance opportunities for everyone including, classes, practice space, car pools to social dances, and a competition team. In the beginning, ballroom dancing can be very intimidating, especially for guys. But BAM provides a safe environment to support your inevitable ballroom dance addiction.
Why should you try ballroom dancing?
- Meet people
- Gain confidence
- Improve your posture
- Increase your sense of rhythm and appreciation of music
- Have a ton of fun dancing every weekend
A special note for guys:
Girls like guys that can dance! BAM will teach you how to dance.
And a note for girls:
50% of BAM is made up of guys who can dance!
How to get involved:
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Subscribe to our listserve
You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Ballroom At Maryland weekly e-mail using these two links. The emails will keep you up-to-date on all weekly outings, classes, workshops, competitions, and practice space. Our weekly emails are the best way to know what's going on with the club.
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Come to Practice Space
You can do it by yourself, you can do it with someone of the opposite sex or you can do it with someone of the same sex . . . JUST DO IT AND DO IT ALL THE TIME. Ok, get your minds out of the gutter, we are talking about BALLROOM PRACTICE.
If you have problems hearing the beat, practice counting music when you drive the car. Practice cha-cha lock steps down the hall on your way to class. However, the best place to practice is at PRACTICE SPACE!
WHO: All interested undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni of the University of Maryland College Park who are members of BAM.
Sign a waiver at practice space and sign up as a member under the Campus Recreation Services website under 'Ballroom Dance' then go to "Member Add."
WHERE: North basketball gym of the Health and Human Performances Building (HHP) next to the CRC and Cambridge Community. When you are facing the front of the building, enter in the doors all the way on the right on the same level as the parking lot. After you enter, the gym is on your left.
WHEN: Wednesday and Thursday nights from 9- 10:30pm. See our calendar.
WHY: Because we have a HUGE wooden floor and there will be music and dancers of many different experience levels there. Practice by yourself, practice with a partner, ask people questions, meet other dancers and the officers, just come to practice space!
Attend Workshops
In the fall and spring semesters we provide a variety of beginner classes. Every week, we have one class dedicated to latin, one dedicated to standard, and one lesson dedicated to the review of the newcomer lessons taught by Dan Calloway each week. Pay attention to the calendar linked below for when specific classes will be happening.
Refer to the calendar for any schedule changes
Take a Dance Class
There are a variety of places in the DC metro area to take ballroom classes. Many UM students take classes through the Art and Learning Center **(Link to A&L website). Individual studios in the area also offer dance classes of many types. None of the classes require you to bring a partner.
You might ask which class? If you're not sure which class to take talk to an instructor, show up at the first class to get a feel for it, or email an officer at questions@ballroomatmaryland.com.
To get the most out of your dance classes, make learning new dance steps and techniques an active process. If you don't understand something, ask the instructor. This may sound simple, but you would be surprised at how many people just let something slide if they don't get it! If you're too shy, ask after class. The instructors are there to help you. Also, your dance instructor gives you a great deal of important information. Keep a dance journal or notebook to record important points about the lesson, like routines, alignments, and general technique. Some instructors even pause their classes to give you a chance to write down notes.
Go Social Dancing
The ballroom social scene in the DC area is the BEST in the nation. If you want you can go social dancing every day of the week! There are five other nearby colleges with active ballroom clubs including Georgetown, George Washington, American, Catholic, and UMBC.
BAM organizes weekly social dancing trips and carpools. You can find detail on this weeks social outing on our main page, on our calendar, and in our weekly emails.
Not only will you meet a ton of people at each dance, but you will get a chance to practice and improve your skills, watch and dance with people who have been dancing a long time, and have a BLAST!
Don't feel limited by the opportunities that BAM sets up. If you would like to organize your own social outing, email our scheduling coordinator at scheduling@ballroomatmaryland.com.
Take Private Lessons
There are many professional instructors in the area who offer 45 to 60 minute private lessons at local studios. A lesson cost anywhere from $40 to $90 an hour, with the average being about $60 for college students. If you take a lesson with your partner you can split the price between you.
For a complete listing of coaches in the Washington DC/Baltimore area and their contact information, click here.
Private lessons are a more effective way to refine technique than group classes and give you the opportunity to meet some of the incredible professional dancers in the area. It is never too early in your dance career to start taking private lessons. In fact, having private lessons earlier can prevent you from developing bad habits that will take longer to fix later.
If you have questions about who you should take lessons with, feel free to email questions@ballroomatmaryland.com.
Compete
BAM attends and travels to at least three competitions each semester. All of the information about competitions and our comp team can be found under the Competitions link on the main menu.