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

Medal Tests FAQ

As I'm sure you all know, our annual Medal Tests are coming up on the 7th of May, and we'd like to see as many people as possible getting involved. Bernie's already written a great article about it (which you can find here), so check that out if you have any doubt that it is a fun experience.

I seem, however, to be hearing similar things from people who haven’t done it before, so here's my two (or three) cents on some frequently asked questions:

1. Stress! Doom! Horror!
Medal Tests can be stressful, particularly if you're not used to performing. But whatever feedback you get on this particular test, you can’t actually fail. You may find it's not intimidating at all - but even if you are dead scared, working through the nerves is a learning experience in itself, as is being able to accept constructive critique.


2. Give me more time – I don’t know enough steps yet!
When it comes to Medal Tests, you’re getting feedback on what you can do, at your own level. So dance to the best of your ability, focus on the basics, and don’t compare yourself to people who seem to know more steps or have better coordination. As long as you're comfortable with the steps you do know, you'll be fine. A good basic, by the way, is far more important than fancy moves!

3. I just dance for fun – why should I do a test?
Dancing for fun and dancing well aren't incompatible - on the contrary, they're related. I'm sure you're aware that in your regular class you're thinking about steps and don't always focus on making the whole dance work. But in preparing for Medal Tests, you get to think about the details and how they fit into the whole picture.
Having solid technique is always preferable to being sloppy – it makes dancing a better experience for you, and for your partner. So whether you're a casual dancer or raring to go for Intervarsity, this is a very good place to start.

I hope that answers at least some of your questions ;) We're interested in what you think, so please do chat to us about how things are going. Here is the list of class times – they'll be on Sundays in Molly Blackburn, with the exception of the Easter weekend, when we'll be practising on Monday. See you there!

10am: Beginner
11am: Intermediate
12–1pm: Formation
1.30–2pm: Advanced
2.30–3pm: Pre-Bronze/Bronze