In Questionable Taste!

While advertising the upcoming social, I innocently suggested that dressing to the theme of ‘Questionable Taste’ was unlikely to permanently damage anyone’s reputation. The committee, I assured you, would go to great lengths to set a new standard for awful attire.

Little did I know that the society would take that as a challenge to produce some of the zaniest, most outrageous costumes ever seen on our dance floor. Along with the obligatory leopard print, the hall was bursting with enormous wigs, top-to-toe rainbows, awkward gym kit, and a few combinations that definitely made a getaway from the 70s. One day my eyes may recover from the multi-coloured onslaught, but it won't be any time soon.

The outfits set the tone for a crazy atmosphere. In amongst the boogies, foxtrots and waltzes, we tried out some salsa moves under the coloured lights, and even witnessed an impromptu macarena. Anyone who thinks ballroom dancers never let their hair down would’ve had their mind blown, to say the least.

If you missed out, never fear: our next social is on 25 March (the last day of term for us students) from 8 till midnight, so come along and dance away your stresses. Can’t stay for the whole evening? No problem – society members attend for free.

The theme is Mardi Gras, so grab some beads and get ready...

See you on the dance floor!
Lara

P.S. While dressing up is always a bonus, it’s not compulsory – the point of a social is to dance!

Add your own photos & keep up with society events on our Facebook page.

Formation

At the beginning of every year we start practising what is known as The Formation. This is a dance in which a number of couples perform in sequence. This sequence is choreographed by our coach, Iliana, who also chooses the songs; usually according to a common theme. The dance is made up of sections in which you change the type of dance; usually when the music changes. Iliana tends to stick to a major dance group; i.e. mostly Latin-style dances or mostly Ballroom-style dances.



The formation will be performed at Intervarsity in its own category, with most universities entering one formation group each. This means that a trophy will go to the formation winners and we are proud to say that we were the 2010 winners. In 2009, we came second; another outstanding achievement. Goes to show how committed we are!



Previous Formations

Having been part of the 2009 and 2010 formation teams, I can speak for both teams when I say that we had a really good time practicing and performing our dances. Learning the formation dance is a frustrating and sometimes difficult endeavour; with countless hours practicing sequences and timing. Being a beginner in the 2009 formation, I found it quite strenuous on my little toes, but had a good time nonetheless. Let me just say, if you keep coming to practises, you will get it sooner than you think.

When the formation finally comes together, it’s a truly great feeling. Not only do you feel a great sense of achievement, but you also start to see how beautiful it looks, with eight or ten couples doing very similar things. You also get to do a few unconventional dance routines which can feel awkward at first, but are usually quite fun.



The 2009 was a straight Viennese Waltz which was performed to the “Harry Potter” theme song. In 2010, we spiced up our routine to include numerous Ballroom-style dances (with a few sassy samba moves thrown in). This was performed to different songs from the “Lion King” soundtrack. This year we will be doing a Latin-style formation, which promises to be very African, very sexy and mountains of fun.

Would you like to do the formation in 2011?

Unlike most other universities, the UCT Ballroom and Latin Dancing Society encourages beginners to compete in the formation. We try to team them up with a dancer from a higher level. Anyone can learn the formation, as long as you are willing to put in the time. Commitment is the biggest thing. We will be practicing at least once a week at first, which will increase just before Intervarsity to twice a week at least. We continue practicing through the holiday and sometimes on Sundays, so if you cannot make these times, then you need to reconsider doing the formation.



Yes, you have to work harder at this than anything else dance-related you have ever done. Yes, your feet are going to hurt. Yes, you are ocassionally going to feel very lost. But you get to partake in an extremely rewarding dance routine, getting to know a team of other dancers and doing something different every Tuesday night. You also get to wear a shiny new outfit. Formation is really good fun; you are going to laugh more than any other time in your life.

The Perfect Dress

Even the least fashion-conscious person will find themselves contemplating their dancing get-up. So, in this post I am going to give you some ideas on what it is that makes dancing an exciting wardrobe experiment.

Rule of thumb: when you see that perfect dress or skirt, buy it!

What is the perfect dress or skirt?

The perfect dress or skirt is a plain, bright colour made from heavy material (not cotton). This skirt should either flare or be wide enough that you have plenty of space to stretch your legs. Most importantly, it must be straight at the bottom - no wavy bits or long and short bits. Plain is good because you are not allowed to wear patterned, sequined or reflective material at medal tests. Bright is also good because it helps you to stand out on a crowded dance floor.



Most importantly, the Perfect Dress has straps and a comfortable bust area. You don’t want your dress to fall off (which jives are very good at inducing), and neither do you want to spend the whole night adjusting your dress.



Where do you find the perfect dress or skirt?

We wish we knew. Girls who have great outfits have generally been looking out for perfect clothing wherever and whenever they have been out shopping. Most of my skirts have come from alternative shops (like Ska, Gypsy or from craft markets) but you can find a great skirt or dress just about anywhere. Be aware that some dresses can rise too high, especially if you have a skirt that flares past the top of your underwear. You have been warned.

The Perfect Formal Dress

The Perfect Formal Dress has a skirt that is not too tight and generally has straps. Corseted dresses also work, but then they need to be super tight. Try on your dress at the shop, bearing in mind that if it is too long (if you can’t step backwards without standing on it), then you need to get it taken up. A little bit shorter than normal is better, even if you are wearing high heels.



Our theme for the formal this year is A Night in India, so look out for something that suits the theme (head dresses, make-up or “Indian” colours/styles).


What are the other important clothing items you need?

Hotpants! Yes, it is not appropriate to show off your underwear to judges; or fellow dancers for that matter. Preferable colours for hotpants are natural or neutral colours like black, beige or brown, or alternatively the colour of your favourite skirt.

Hot pants are not as easy to find as you think – but just keep checking out the underwear section of stores. I once found some brilliant ones at Pick’nPay clothing. You can also find them at dancing shops. Make sure they are “full” – the underwear known as “boypants” don’t work!

It is also a good idea to buy a few pairs of tights, especially for winter when you want to wear skirts but the cold makes your legs turn all sorts of horrible colours. As a suggestion, long skirts and jeans are not a good idea for dancing, and I seriously recommend knee length skirts. Iliana also likes to see what your knees are doing, so wearing a skirt is the best way of showing off your technique. I have recently discovered The Tights. They are the “cropped” ones found at Foschini. Albeit expensive at R95, they are a wonderful silky material and are light and stretchy.

What to keep in your dancing bag at all times

1. Your shoes
2. A brush for your shoes (ask fellow dancers for ideas)
3. Plasters (important for the very beginning when your shoes still give blisters)
4. Safety pins
5. A spare pair of hotpants or a pair of tights
6. A water bottle
7. Spare change for the vending machines

Other items of clothing to look out for

Dress up items for socials
Leg warmers (great for winter)

Saturday was MAGIC...literally

Not to brag, or anything, but those who attended our Ice-Breaker Social on Saturday the 26th February 2011, really got a lot for a measly R10. Although the crowd wasn’t huge, those who came were certainly entertained. Think delicious homemade hamburgers with crispy chips and yummy veggies. Combine this with one of South Africa’s premium sleight of hand artists, and you are bound to have fun.

The Fat Cow makes great burgers, probably because of their focus on, well, cows. It also makes amazing deep-fried camembert and onion rings for the veggies amongst us. We decided that some entertainment would also be a fun so we decided to hire a magician. Technically, Stuart Lightbody is a sleight of hand artist whose speciality is making things disappear. He certainly had the crowd in raptures (and ruptures with his witty comments). He reads your mind, astounds your senses and leaves you awfully befuddled. Everyone who was there will attest to his amazing abilities.

I would like to thank everyone who came and chilled out with the rest of us. The whole point is to make friends, meet more people and have a good time, without the fear of performing when you have only learned a step or two.

That will soon change, trust me. That’s why the next social will take place on the 12th March at Molly Blackburn. The theme: In Questionable Taste. So, bring out your moustaches, 80’s hairstyles, leopard print dresses and granny's costume jewellery. It’s going to be epic!

To view photos of our events, check out Facebook, become friends with the committee and 'like' our page UCT Ballroom and Latin Dancing Society

Hints and Tips for Beginners

Q: Do I need to come to every beginner class?

No, you do not have to come to every class (and there are three of those for the beginners). UCT Ballroom is not here to make dancing a chore, nor is it here to take over your studies or your social life. Dancing can be done at your pace, so keep on enjoying yourself as much as possible. That said, it is important to come to at least one class a week and coming to two is beneficial if you want to do better and if you want to meet different people.

Q: How do I practice dancing?

Come to your classes and make sure you attend socials. They are fun, free and conveniently take place at UCT. They also involve some creative freedom and artistic expression – you get to dress up. The socials coordinator would also appreciate any help decorating the hall.

We also have extra technique classes just before medal tests and intervarsity, which are useful to learn to dance with your chosen partner and to learn to improve your technique.

Q: What is the one thing a beginner must always do?

Learn the basic step properly, no matter how repetitive it may seem. When you reach intermediate level you will soon see why. It is not enough to know how to do a step; it is equally important to learn how to lead it (boys) and follow it (girls). It also takes time for your feet and your muscles to adjust to the steps. Lastly, it is a great for exercise! If you are not tired after a class, then you aren’t working hard enough.

Q: Why does it take a whole year to learn five dances?

Your body will adjust to dancing over time. Doing exercise on heals (for both men and women) takes some getting used to. Your muscles learn to stretch and adapt and your feet harden and callous. Your core muscles will also have to adjust to a better posture, as will your upper body adjust to the Ballroom and Latin hold.

For men, learning to use the floor in order to lead (by pushing off from the floor when stepping) is something that you can’t learn overnight. It takes conscious effort and practice.

Q: What are some of the things you must remember when dancing?

Remember to use your floor
Remember to brush your feet
Remember that you should take every opportunity to dance
Remember to have fun, because it will make your dancing look great

Q: What is typical dancing etiquette?

A woman is never supposed to turn a man down, except when tired or when she has promised a dance to someone else.
A man should be courteous when asking a woman to dance and both partners should thank one another afterwards.
A man is supposed to be showing off the woman at her best. Difficult moves and poor leading skills will not achieve this.

Other things to remember:

You are allowed to ask more advanced dancers to dance. Just make sure that they understand that you are a beginner!

Swop partners constantly, this will improve your dancing immensely because you never know what your new partner will do. You are here to learn a skill, which involves learning how to dance, not what to dance.

Plaza Week 2011

Plaza Week, during the first week of the University calendar, is the best opportunity for us to recruit you! Did we succeed? I think so. It was certainly fun, encapsulating the atmosphere of dancing which we try to maintain throughout the dancing year; even during those oh-so-serious moments of medal tests and intervarsity.

That is what dancing at UCT Ballroom and Latin Dancing Society is all about, fun! As clichéd as it sounds, if you stop having fun, stop meeting people and stop enjoying the social aspect of dancing, then you need to reassess why you are dancing in the first place.

Getting involved is usually all it takes, just like the plaza week volunteers realised. If you were there you would have seen some (rather tired) but smiley-happy up-beat people, who are there to promote the thing that they love and believe in. You may have seen Nic and Mirada spinning in circles around the plaza, or the sweet and steadfast Leigh behind the desk. I hope you got a chance to meet some of the committee, because we are here to serve you.



If you signed up with us, thank you. We hope to make dancing mean to you, what it does to us. Dancing is many things and UCT Ballroom will give all of these to you, if you open your mind and allow your feet to follow the process.

Dancing means meeting new people all the time
Dancing means learning a life-long skill
Dancing means learning floor craft and spatial awareness
Dancing is good exercise
Dancing increases your enjoyment and your confidence in all kinds of dancing
Dancing means having fun

I want to thank all the people that came to help during plaza week:
Mirada, Nic, Rudi, Leigh, Neann, Kamla, Thandeka, Alicia, MJ, Michelle and all the Catherines and Katherines

Thanks too to the committee who made themselves available to do demos, hand out flyers and keep the spirit upbeat and happy.

UCT Monday Paper

The Ballroom Dancing Society made it into the Monday Paper for its demo on Jameson Plaza during Oweek. Great free advertising :)

Don't forget the Icebreaker on Saturday afternoon. Be prepared for fun and games.