Students show off their moves at Ballroom Dance Club’s Flannel Friday Dance
Ballroom dance may be common to see when someone turns on the TV to “Dancing with the Stars,” but what many students may not know is that RWU has it’s very own Ballroom Dance Club right on campus.
Attendance was $5 for students and $7 for non-students, with the money going to help the club, and as the name of the dance suggests, it was recommended that attendees wear flannel clothing.
It is one of the dances that the club hosts every semester, as is a tradition in colleges across Rhode Island. As such, it was designed as a kind of social gathering for people who wished to attend, as well as a chance for members of the club to show off what they have learned.
Devon Kaplan, a member of the club, says he joined ballroom both because of his great love for dancing and to help him in his performing arts major. He says he attended the dance because he wanted to practice with his new dancing partner, Tori Besette.
Ballroom Dance Club is headed by President Dana Herlich, and it meets every Wednesday during the academic year. The club is partnered with the dance studio Dancing Feeling in Warwick, which has taught dance to schools such as Brown University, University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College.
Rachael Moony, an instructor from Dancing Feeling and dance instructor for the Ballroom Dance Club, has been teaching dance for 14 years. Among the many types of dances she teaches are the tango, waltz, swing, cha-cha, rumba and foxtrot.
The club attends many dance competitions throughout the year and hosts some as well. They also host a dance showcase in February, where members can show what they have learned to their families and other students.
