Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is ballroom dancing?
Offical competitive ballroom dancing is comprised of 19 dances. These dances are: American style Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz, as well as Cha Cha, Rhumba, Swing, Bolero, and Mambo (these are the dances frequently taught at club); International style Waltz, Tango, Quickstep, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz, as well as Cha Cha, Rhumba, Jive, Samba, and Paso Doble. Salsa and Hustle, though taught at club, are not official ballroom dances and the team does not compete in them.
- I've never danced before. How do I start?
If you have never done ballroom dancing we encourage you to come to our club. You don't need experience, a partner, special clothing, or special shoes. We start with the basic and have you dancing in just a few minutes!
- I've never done ballroom dancing. Can I still join the team?
Absolutely. Most team members joined the team without knowing which foot was which. Part of joining the team is a commitment to learning how to dance and a commitment to have fun while learning. Those are the most important qualities of being a team member and those are the qualities we value most.
- How do I join the team?
Every semester the team holds tryouts. This event occurs within the first two weeks of the semster. To join the team, you try out! Students from all of the Five Colleges are encouraged to try out for the team!
- What happens during tryouts?
When you arrive at tryouts you will be assigned a number and asked to fill out a short survey. The number allows us to differentiate between each of you and the survey helps us get to know you. We teach you two dances during tryouts in the same format that we teach our club lessons. We then ask you to dance to the music while expierienced team members keep track of the dancers they think should be admitted to the team. It is a very friendly atmosphere and there is absolutely no need to panic or feel uncomfortable.
- What exactly are you looking for during tryouts?
The team holds tryouts to find new members who share the goals and commitments of the team. What we look for during tryouts is not how well you can dance. We look for your ability to pick up new dances and new steps, your willingness and availability to come to all required practices and events, and your enthusiasm. You must be able to attend all practices to be considered for joining the team.
- How many people do you take from tryouts?
There is no fixed number. Every time the team holds tryous we accept as many people as our team can support. We are always trying to create a strong and commited team. The number of people we can accept depends on how large our team is at the beginning of each semester.
- What are the expectations for a team member?
Team members are requried to attend our coaching sessions each week as well as all practices conducted by the captains. Generally, there are about 8-10 hours of practice required per week for each person on the team. In addition, each team member is requried to compete in at least two competitions per semester (there are generally at least five competitions held within 3 driving hours of UMass per semester), participate in at least one fundraising event, and promote the team around the UMass campus at least once per semester.
- How much does the team cost?
All team members are required to pay membership dues each semester he or she is on the team. Membership dues range from about $50-$100 dollars per semester (the cost depends on the size of the team, the amount of fundraising, and the cost of our coaches, to name a few variables). In addition, team members are required to compete in at least two competitions per semester. Compeition registration ranges from $20-$40 dollars per competition, so two competitions per semester costs between $40-$80. The team carpools to our coaches' studio in Connecticut as well as to competitions and each person is required to pay his or her driver for their gas each trip! Each team member spends about $50 per semester on gas whether he or she drives or not.
- What do you mean when you say "competition?"
Ballroom dancing competitions are held around the world and for all levels of dancers. The UMass Ballroom Team competes in collegiate competitions in the New England area. These competitions are conducted by other collegiate teams such as MIT, Harvard, Yale, BU, and Tufts. Competitions range in size and duration. Some are one day (a Saturday or Sunday) and some are two days (Saturday and Sunday). Some competitions have less than 100 competitors and some come close to 1,000. At a competition each couple competes in the various ballroom dances against all other couples in their level. You can click on the "Recent Competition Results" link on the left to see how our team has done recently. To get a good idea of what a large competition is like look up the MIT Open Ballroom Dance competition website--they have videos and pictures from recent years.
- I'm interested in having you perform. What should I do?
To have members of the UMass Ballroom Team perform at your event, please contact the team captains. They will arrange for all performances. The team performs an average of four times a semester in venues ranging from the BigE to the Festival of the Arts at UMass to the Festival of Diversity at Mount Holyoke College.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Offical competitive ballroom dancing is comprised of 19 dances. These dances are: American style Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz, as well as Cha Cha, Rhumba, Swing, Bolero, and Mambo (these are the dances frequently taught at club); International style Waltz, Tango, Quickstep, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz, as well as Cha Cha, Rhumba, Jive, Samba, and Paso Doble. Salsa and Hustle, though taught at club, are not official ballroom dances and the team does not compete in them.
If you have never done ballroom dancing we encourage you to come to our club. You don't need experience, a partner, special clothing, or special shoes. We start with the basic and have you dancing in just a few minutes!
Absolutely. Most team members joined the team without knowing which foot was which. Part of joining the team is a commitment to learning how to dance and a commitment to have fun while learning. Those are the most important qualities of being a team member and those are the qualities we value most.
Every semester the team holds tryouts. This event occurs within the first two weeks of the semster. To join the team, you try out! Students from all of the Five Colleges are encouraged to try out for the team!
When you arrive at tryouts you will be assigned a number and asked to fill out a short survey. The number allows us to differentiate between each of you and the survey helps us get to know you. We teach you two dances during tryouts in the same format that we teach our club lessons. We then ask you to dance to the music while expierienced team members keep track of the dancers they think should be admitted to the team. It is a very friendly atmosphere and there is absolutely no need to panic or feel uncomfortable.
The team holds tryouts to find new members who share the goals and commitments of the team. What we look for during tryouts is not how well you can dance. We look for your ability to pick up new dances and new steps, your willingness and availability to come to all required practices and events, and your enthusiasm. You must be able to attend all practices to be considered for joining the team.
There is no fixed number. Every time the team holds tryous we accept as many people as our team can support. We are always trying to create a strong and commited team. The number of people we can accept depends on how large our team is at the beginning of each semester.
Team members are requried to attend our coaching sessions each week as well as all practices conducted by the captains. Generally, there are about 8-10 hours of practice required per week for each person on the team. In addition, each team member is requried to compete in at least two competitions per semester (there are generally at least five competitions held within 3 driving hours of UMass per semester), participate in at least one fundraising event, and promote the team around the UMass campus at least once per semester.
All team members are required to pay membership dues each semester he or she is on the team. Membership dues range from about $50-$100 dollars per semester (the cost depends on the size of the team, the amount of fundraising, and the cost of our coaches, to name a few variables). In addition, team members are required to compete in at least two competitions per semester. Compeition registration ranges from $20-$40 dollars per competition, so two competitions per semester costs between $40-$80. The team carpools to our coaches' studio in Connecticut as well as to competitions and each person is required to pay his or her driver for their gas each trip! Each team member spends about $50 per semester on gas whether he or she drives or not.
Ballroom dancing competitions are held around the world and for all levels of dancers. The UMass Ballroom Team competes in collegiate competitions in the New England area. These competitions are conducted by other collegiate teams such as MIT, Harvard, Yale, BU, and Tufts. Competitions range in size and duration. Some are one day (a Saturday or Sunday) and some are two days (Saturday and Sunday). Some competitions have less than 100 competitors and some come close to 1,000. At a competition each couple competes in the various ballroom dances against all other couples in their level. You can click on the "Recent Competition Results" link on the left to see how our team has done recently. To get a good idea of what a large competition is like look up the MIT Open Ballroom Dance competition website--they have videos and pictures from recent years.
To have members of the UMass Ballroom Team perform at your event, please contact the team captains. They will arrange for all performances. The team performs an average of four times a semester in venues ranging from the BigE to the Festival of the Arts at UMass to the Festival of Diversity at Mount Holyoke College.