This fall, millions of people tuned in every Tuesday night to watch “Dancing With the Stars,” eagerly awaiting the elimination of the next celebrity and marveling at the beautiful ballroom dances. University students were no exception, with many coming together with friends to watch weekly. Beyond simply watching others on television, however, some students choose to showcase their own dancing talents through the University Ballroom Dance Club.
Founded in 2001, the University’s Ballroom Dance Club gives students of all ages and dancing abilities the opportunity to learn and compete in this unique art form. With around 25 members, each dancer varies in experience, some joining with past exposure to other forms of dance and some simply wanting to pick up a new hobby. Sriharsha Sambangi, the club’s vice president and second-year College student, initially joined with relatively little dance experience, only having danced when he was younger but with no knowledge of the ballroom style.
“I didn’t have much dance experience,” Sambangi said. “When I was younger, I used to do Bollywood dancing, but not too much. It was years since I last danced, so I basically came as a fresh slate.”…