OCR Text |
Show Ballroom auditions now in full 'swing' By LISA DA\VN PERRY JOURNAL STAFF WRJTER Students who like to swing, jive, cha-cha or just move their body can try o ut for the SUU baUroom dance team on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the Sharwan Smith Ballroom at 7:30 p.m. Instructors for the ream are senior Eric Hansen, and senior Cory Rivers. Hansen, an Idaho FaUs, Idaho. native, brings to the class five years of dance experience. Rivers, a dance major from Cedar City, has been dancing since he was a child. Hansen said thar this year the team is focusing o n education and involvement. He also said the team will be teaching and performing in the local grade schools and high schools. An athletic training majo r, Hansen added that he hoped the team ·s involvement w ith local schools will spark an interest in ballroom danc ing. Hansen explained that ballroom dancing is often misunderstood. He said he hopes that educati ng young people will help increase the popularity of the sport. Hansen said that having ballroom dancing added as a sport in the O lympics has increased its popularity with the younger generation. "Like any sport, the younger the athletes are when they get involved. the better they will be, " Hansen said. Ballroom dance had an inte resting start at SUU, said Hansen, w hen the ballroom dance team was formed in 1993 by forme r SUU students Den:k Van Ness and Br:111don Allen . He explained that over the past five years the program has seen a lo t of growth. Currently, the team is spo nsored partially by the school and dance perfom1ance fond raisers. ··wc·n .: dancers, ic makes sense.: that we <lance for our money. " Hansen said. The team has plans for many compeLitio ns and p erformances throughout 1hc year Hansen said . ·Our first performance is scheduled for the first weekend in December. We arc: going to perfo rm in Cedar Ci1y and in ' t. George," he s:iid. The tet1m ,viii compete against the l1111vcr:-ity of Utah. Ricks C1)1lege, UNLV and UVSC. AJ o, the team w ill lw,t a compc1i1ion for area high school 1eams. Han~c.:n said that ht: encouragcs everyo ne to co me o ut and p:1rlicipate in b:1llroo m dancing. 'Just sign up for the class. You don't have to be o n the team ," he said. "TI1e biggest misconception that people have is that dancing is hard. Dancing is just a fancy fom1 of walking co music. We want students to come and have a great time. lf they are having fun , the learning w iJJ come. We have great teachers and a grt-at staff. If students have two feet , le ft o r right, and they want to team, we can teach them," Hansen said. Brian 'Haakenson, aju 11io1· bio logy 1fiajor from Oakley, Utah~ and Collee11 Cutler, a sopho more conmnm icatton maj orfrom Draper, Utah, create arl and beauty i,i the form of Ba lli·oom Dance. Your Music Store and More 602 South Main Cedar City, Utah 84720 586-8742 (58 MUSIC) WELCOME TO SUU STUDENTS SEE US FOR ALL YOUR MUSIC NEEDS • PERSONALITY FOLIOS • SHEET MUSIC • LESSON BOOKS - Piano, Vocal and Guitar BEST SELECTION OF GUITARS IN SOUTHERN UTAH • FENDER • IBANEZ • OVATION • JASMINE • TAKAMINE GUITARS ARE ALWAYS AT LEAST 15 PERCENT OFF RETAIL PRICES GREAT SELECTION OF KARAOKE MACHINES (SING-ALONG MACHINES) • SING - ALONG CASSETTES • SING - CD GRAPHICS • 10 PERCENT DISCOUNT WITH THIS AD WE HAVE: • GUITAR ACCESSORIES • TAMA, PEARL, CB, AND CMC DRUM SETS AVAILABLE • FENDER GUITAR AMJ>S GET AN EXTRA 5 PERCENT OFF GUITARS WITH THIS AD. BUY ONE SET OF GUITAR STRINGS AND GET ONE SET FREE. * ( *OFFER ENDS DECEMBER 15, 1998) .J |