Trails of sparkles, half-used tubes of hair gel, streaks of sweated-off body makeup and 4 a.m. alarms are the lullabies of Hofstra University’s Ballroom and Latin Dance Club.
Ballroom dance, which is no longer a common social event, is still alive and well among the collegiate competition circuit. It consists of partner dances with one lead and one follow.
Mika Freitor, junior English major and vice president of the Ballroom and Latin Dance Club, explained that ballroom dance includes graceful and elegant styles.
“The term ‘ballroom’ encapsulates four styles of dance within the ballroom and Latin categories,” Freitor said. “The dances you associate with a ball: waltz, tango, and the like.”
Ballroom is then divided into two more subsections: standard and smooth. Waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, quickstep and foxtrot are the standard and smooth dances. Standard and smooth have many of the same dances within them, but the rules differ. The biggest difference is that in standard, you cannot disconnect from frame, which is the positions dancers hold their upper bodies in, whereas in smooth, you can. Standard is an international style done around the world, but smooth is unique to the United States. Additionally, some of the steps differ. For example, standard foxtrot and smooth foxtrot are entirely different dances with completely different steps, but they are both jazzy in nature and are performed to similar music.
“The jazzy nature of foxtrot can be compared to jazz, with both of them having similar steps such as grapevines and jazz boxes,” said former club president and senior dance and forensic science double major Taryn Norrod.
Norrod grew up a ballerina, which helped her with ballroom dance in some ways and hindered her in others. “Smooth has so many parallels to ballet in the way that you move and spin and hold yourself,” Norrod said.
Beyond ballroom, the club also does Latin dance, which tends to be more sensual, with hip movement and shorter gowns to add focus to the sharp leg motions. Under the Latin dance umbrella, there is a version called “rhythm.”
Latin is the international style with stricter rules than rhythm. The main rule in Latin is to keep your legs straight. Rhythm is the American version of the style that showcases bent legs.
“It’s difficult to find a parallel for [these styles] without reaching towards traditional Latin dance,” Norrod said. “The complex hip action and super precise legs in conjunction with the high level of performance quality required makes it different from most popular styles of dance taught in studios.”
Another big part of all ballroom and Latin dance is the performance aspect.
“On the floor, you need more than technique: the best dancers are also spectacular performers, whether that means looking wistfully reminiscent in waltz, or fiercely passionate in tango,” said Amber Sun, advanced ballroom and Latin dancer and junior biology major.
While the lead is the traditionally masculine role and the follow is the traditionally feminine role, Hofstra – both out of necessity and empowerment – features same-sex partnerships, meaning both the lead and the follow are women. Hofstra’s ballroom club is actually entirely composed of women.
“Switching to leading was one of the best decisions I’ve made, much better suited to my preferences and strengths,” Freitor said. “Being able to do both makes you better rounded as a dancer.”
Beyond just learning the dances, many of Hofstra’s dancers compete. There are four main levels: newcomer, bronze, silver and gold. There are levels above for advanced dancers, but most collegiate students dance within the first four. As you level up, you are allowed to compete more figures, which are essentially different moves.
“As a team, we go to two competitions per semester, but sometimes the more advanced dancers will go to up to four,” said senior political science and global studies double major and competition coordinator, Cassandra Rogers. “Everyone always competes against people at their level, so if you are a newcomer, you will never be dancing with couples who have been dancing for years.”
Hofstra’s Ballroom and Latin Dance Club was established 11 years ago after the founding president, Ria Dela Rosa, took a ballroom class. Norrod said the class got Dela Rosa and her friends hooked and they wanted to make a club once they found out that Hofstra didn’t have one.
Dancers can choose the option of dancing socially at practices or training to compete.
“Social members are welcome to come and learn dances at practices here on campus, and for some of the more local competitions, you can come just to watch,” Rogers said.
Practices are held on Mondays and Thursdays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. in Netherlands Hall North. Students of all skill levels are welcome. Professional dancer and coach James Repetti along with student executive board members teach lessons at the meetings.
More information on Hofstra’s Ballroom and Latin Dance Club can be found on their Instagram @huballroomdance.
