A Night in India!

UCT Ballroom Formal 2011: ‘A Night in India’

On the evening of Saturday the 17^th of September, the UCT Ballroom and Latin Dancing Society arrived at Kelvin Grove for a night of elegance – in India! Saris, henna, lavish materials, bindis and even a turban or two made their way into the ballroom, which was adorned with the colours and textures of an Indian palace. Thanks to Lucy Farrow and her team of helpers, every lady was made to feel like an Indian princess and every gentleman like a maharajah.

After being greeted with a glass of bubbly, we were swept into a whirl of colour – bright pinks, reds, oranges and yellows dangled from every inch of the magnificent room, with its golden chandeliers and sweeping staircases. After having our photographs taken by a professional photographer (and practising many a dip for the camera), we were welcomed by our chairlady, Lara, to the 2011 committee’s final major event for the year.

Not only is the formal the main social event on the Ballroom calendar, but it is also a chance to thank the current committee for all that they have done for the society. The most improved beginner for the year, the dancer who shows the most promise, was also announced, and this year it went to Salahuddeen Ahmad.

The hours of searching for that perfect outfit to fit the theme - winding oneself into a sari (without looking like a sack of potatoes), searching for sari fabric, having henna done (thanks to Bhanoo Sukha of Art of Mehndi) was well worth it! No Indian-themed Formal would be complete without an appropriate line dance, so once we had had our delicious butternut soup starter and buffet main course, we all sprang onto the sprung dance floor for Iliana’s Indian routine. And of course no dancing social is complete without the Macarena, Cha Cha Slide and some Cotton Eye Joe… (we like our line dances, ok?) and plenty of Ballroom and Latin dances too!

Now that the floor had been warmed up, it was time for the final performance of the 2011 formation dance (not really Indian as such, but it did involve ‘Waka Waka’…). After that, we all tucked into the array of sweet delights.

We could have danced all night, but as the clock struck 12 (or rather, 1am), so Cinderella had to leave the ball (before her sari turned back into a draped piece of 6-metre fabric). The formal was a fantastic evening and we eagerly await the 2012 ball!

- Kathryn Luyt

Professional photos from the event can be found on our Facebook page!

AGM: running for Ballroom comm 2012!

Our Annual General Meeting will take place on 29 September. One of the purposes of this meeting is to elect a new committee, who will gradually take over the reins from the current comm, and lead the society in 2012.

We have a lot of enthusiastic members this year, and would love to see many of you continuing to be involved in UCT Ballroom. There are many ways to do this – but for those who want to know more about what being on committee entails, read on...

Why should I run for committee?
Being on comm is a great way to give something back to the society, and ensure that ballroom continues to be an awesome place. It’s challenging, fun, and you will learn a ridiculous amount from the experience. No, seriously.

Only been with the society a year? Not a problem! It’s vital that we get new ideas in the mix, & keep the society in touch with both new and experienced members.


General requirements & responsibilities
You should be prepared to be an active member of the society in 2012, participating in your own class as much as possible, and interacting with other society members.

You’ll also need to

– do music duty in at least one other class per week

– attend meetings (currently on a weekly schedule)

– help out with events

– & work with the rest of the team to fulfil the requirements of your portfolio.

This might sound like a lot of work, but if everyone pulls their weight it’s really quite manageable.

If you’re thinking of taking on an event portfolio, rest assured that the responsibility does not only fall on your shoulders! Part of being on committee involves learning to delegate effectively. When it is time for your event, you can draw on the committee, and co-opt other members of the society to help you.


The AGM:

You may run for more than 1 position. They will be elected in the order listed below – so for example, you may run for both Treasurer and O-Week coordinator, but if you are voted in as Treasurer, that takes precedence. You may, however, apply for multiple positions and make it clear which ones are higher priorities for you.

At the AGM, we’ll take nominations for a portfolio, and candidates will be required to give a short motivation as to why they are suited to the job. People might ask a few questions – but remember, the AGM attendees are the same people you see every week; they don’t bite ;) Then the society members who are present will take a vote.

By the end of the evening we will have a new committee, who will work with the 2011 comm to plan the upcoming year! As well as committee members, we’ll also need lots of helpers, especially as Intervarsity comes closer, so keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved.

If you have any questions, feel free to interrogate the current committee about their portfolios, or send us an email – uctballroom[at]gmail.com . We look forward to seeing you at the AGM!

Committee positions:
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Treasurer
Socials
O-Week
Medal Tests
Intervarsity
Formal
IT