Ballroom dance

The owners, Oleg and Tatiana Pavlova, announced the grand reopening of their new studio located at 9049 Garfield Ave., Fountain Valley, CA 92708, on October 1.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA, USA, September 15, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ – The owners of the “Dance All You Can” ballroom studio, Oleg Suvorov and Tatiana Pavlova, have announced the grand reopening of their new studio located at 9049 Garfield Ave., Fountain Valley, CA 92708, Friday October 1st.

Please join them on Friday October 1 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for their grand reopening party. You are invited to help break through the new dance floor, learn a new dance or two, and have a great time. Don’t hesitate to bring your spouse, partner, friend, neighbor or just yourself. It is not necessary to bring a dance partner; singles are welcome! Light snacks and refreshments will be available. There will be a line dancing class followed by a few mini-group classes to start with and general dancing for everyone. There is no cover charge: it’s how the owners welcome everyone to the dance floor.

The moving
While everyone has experienced challenges during this pandemic, the studio was no exception.
Oleg and Tatiana were delighted to discover this great new location for their studio and quickly moved to acquire it.

Oleg said, “I think our students will appreciate the easy parking, the well-lit parking lot, and the convenient location. However, they may find the enticing aroma of nearby restaurants very tempting.

The new studio has a spacious wall-to-wall driftwood dance floor. The new air conditioning and filtration system makes the studio very comfortable. According to Tatiana, “the goal was to create an intimate experience while still having enough space to accommodate multiple activities at the same time. I think we have succeeded ”.

The studio
All styles of ballroom dance are taught including: adult social dance, club dance and line dance; wedding dances; youth programs; and competition technique for experienced dancers. Private lessons are reasonably priced with special packages designed to fit all budgets.

Weekly group lessons and training evenings are announced in their newsletter as well as the calendar on their website www.danceallyoucan.com. Newcomers are always welcome.

The studio is a great place for any type of activity involving dancing or dancing and can be booked for your special event. Please call early to reserve your event as the calendar fills up quickly.

About Dance All You Can
Dancing together since 1996, Oleg Suvorov and Tatiana Pavlova are among the most notable professional dance teams in the country.
In addition to winning dozens of open professional events in the United States and around the world, their list of accomplishments includes prestigious titles such as the US National Professional Grand Finalists in 2001, 2002, and 2003, the Finalists of World Cup in 2003 and 2004, as well as overall ballroom category winners at the 2002 Ohio Star Ball. After more than two decades of competition, training and judging, the opening of their own dance studio in Orange County was a natural consequence of their passion for ballroom dancing.
Having been in the dance industry for over 3 decades, Oleg and Tatiana have developed a unique and effective approach. It achieves the best results in the shortest amount of time in teaching dancers of all levels and abilities. They passionately share their love for social and competitive ballroom dancing with dance enthusiasts from the surrounding communities of Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, Westminster, Costa Mesa, and more.

For more information or to contact them, call (714) 968-8810 or visit www.danceallyoucan.com

Oleg Suvorov
Dance all you can
+1 714 968-8810
[email protected]

The owners, Oleg and Tatiana Pavlova, announced the grand reopening of their new studio located at 9049 Garfield Ave., Fountain Valley, CA 92708, on October 1.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA, USA, September 15, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ – The owners of the “Dance All You Can” ballroom studio, Oleg Suvorov and Tatiana Pavlova, have announced the grand reopening of their new studio located at 9049 Garfield Ave., Fountain Valley, CA 92708, Friday October 1st.

Please join them on Friday October 1 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for their grand reopening party. You are invited to help break through the new dance floor, learn a new dance or two, and have a great time. Don’t hesitate to bring your spouse, partner, friend, neighbor or just yourself. It is not necessary to bring a dance partner; singles are welcome! Light snacks and refreshments will be available. There will be a line dancing class followed by a few mini-group classes to start with and general dancing for everyone. There is no cover charge: it’s how the owners welcome everyone to the dance floor.

The moving
While everyone has experienced challenges during this pandemic, the studio was no exception.
Oleg and Tatiana were delighted to discover this great new location for their studio and quickly moved to acquire it.

Oleg said, “I think our students will appreciate the easy parking, the well-lit parking lot, and the convenient location. However, they may find the enticing aroma of nearby restaurants very tempting.

The new studio has a spacious wall-to-wall driftwood dance floor. The new air conditioning and filtration system makes the studio very comfortable. According to Tatiana, “the goal was to create an intimate experience while still having enough space to accommodate multiple activities at the same time. I think we have succeeded ”.

The studio
All styles of ballroom dance are taught including: adult social dance, club dance and line dance; wedding dances; youth programs; and competition technique for experienced dancers. Private lessons are reasonably priced with special packages designed to fit all budgets.

Weekly group lessons and training evenings are announced in their newsletter as well as the calendar on their website www.danceallyoucan.com. Newcomers are always welcome.

The studio is a great place for any type of activity involving dancing or dancing and can be booked for your special event. Please call early to reserve your event as the calendar fills up quickly.

About Dance All You Can
Dancing together since 1996, Oleg Suvorov and Tatiana Pavlova are among the most notable professional dance teams in the country.
In addition to winning dozens of open professional events in the United States and around the world, their list of accomplishments includes prestigious titles such as the US National Professional Grand Finalists in 2001, 2002, and 2003, the Finalists of World Cup in 2003 and 2004, as well as overall ballroom category winners at the 2002 Ohio Star Ball. After more than two decades of competition, training and judging, the opening of their own dance studio in Orange County was a natural consequence of their passion for ballroom dancing.
Having been in the dance industry for over 3 decades, Oleg and Tatiana have developed a unique and effective approach. It achieves the best results in the shortest amount of time in teaching dancers of all levels and abilities. They passionately share their love for social and competitive ballroom dancing with dance enthusiasts from the surrounding communities of Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, Westminster, Costa Mesa, and more.

For more information or to contact them, call (714) 968-8810 or visit www.danceallyoucan.com

Oleg Suvorov
Dance all you can
+1 714 968-8810
[email protected]

First Person is a daily personal piece submitted by readers. Got a story to tell? Check out our guidelines on tgam.ca/testguide.

Years ago I saw a sign on a utility pole: “Shall We Dance Studio – we offer Latin, group and private dance lessons…” I was single, in my late thirties, a Chinese immigrant with a boring life. “Why not?” I said to myself. I found out that one of the founders was Jennifer Lopez’s trainer in the movie – hence the name of the studio. It was legitimate.

When I went to the free trial class I was a little disappointed to see mostly older people in the studio. At first, Maria, the studio director, asked me: “Who is the boss in a dancing couple?” Caught off guard, I did not know what to answer. “The man!” she continued insistently. “The man leads, the lady follows. The man is the frame, the woman is the painting. It was a bit beyond the education I had been raised with, including Chairman Mao’s famous quote: “Women hold half the sky.”

We started with a waltz. Maria first showed me the basics: the preparation steps, the natural turn, the change of pace and the stopping. Growing up in a family of classical musicians, it was easy for me to walk to the rhythms. Then we joined in a hug – the ‘frame’, while Maria counted, “One, two, one step… don’t push me… two, right, turn… don’t pull me…” Frustrated, I asked: aren’t you saying i was the boss?

Smiling, Maria replied, “Being a boss is more of a responsibility than a privilege. A true gentleman would lead the way, not lead someone. Like opening the door to the lady, while maintaining her balance and elegance. More intrigued than fully understanding what it all meant, I signed up.

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Fifteen years later, I’m still dancing: classes, showcases, competitions. People ask me why am I embarking on an expensive hobby with little practical benefit? What have I learned? Well, try the posture, the setting, the musicality and the style – Maria teaches dance as an art form. But there is more than that: beyond the steps, the numbers, the routines that we have to master, we learn to lead, to follow, to collaborate and, above all, to trust – in each other and in this partnership. .

Learning to dance doesn’t bring you career advancement, wealth, or fame (well, rarely). But it brings joy, raises us daily frustrations, banality or boredom. In our studio there are old couples like Jackie and Jimmy, who have danced together for over 50 years. Yet they still took the lessons seriously, often with separate teachers, detailing every move, polishing up every routine. When they danced together in studio windows, their grace, their mutual trust, their bond, were the envy of everyone. Last year Jimmy passed away but Jackie came back with the same gentle steps; she continues to dance in homage to her beloved husband. Another fun dancer to watch is Gil, a widower in the late ’80s with a hip replacement who lives in a nursing home. He learns to dance to keep moving his muscles. He might not be the sharpest dancer on the pitch, but his drive and humor always brings audiences to a roaring standing ovation. When I watch these dancers, I also feel their joy.

One of the studio’s major goals is to prepare students for dance competitions. Less than a year after my debut, I took part in my first competition in the “pro-am” category, with my teacher as a professional partner and me as an amateur. Despite intensive training, once on the pitch, I was totally overwhelmed by the number of couples competing. I felt like a novice driver on the freeway for the first time. With the crowd of flashy couples in long, shiny dresses and crisp tuxedos walking past me, I could barely remember the steps, let alone the setting, style and elegance. A simple 90 second number made me sweat. Maria did an amazing job making up for my missteps and getting me through the routine. It wasn’t until then that I realized how much stamina is required to complete.

When people hear that I’m dancing in the ballroom, an often slightly raised eyebrow tells me what they’re thinking. I’ve heard enough about ballroom dancing stereotypes to understand their drift. But I know what it takes to be a competitive dancer. Stepping into a ballroom is more like a knight engaging in battle than a leisurely stroll through a garden. When I’m on the ground, I navigate among many couples competing to find the best path and invite my partner to join me. While following me, she watches me, pinches me gently on the shoulder to avoid collisions when I back up; I empower her by supporting her with a strong framework and I guide her through the crowd, allowing her to show the best of herself, while being courteous to all the other competitors. I know I’m far from perfect, but these ideals drive me to keep trying, to be a better partner and a better leader.

As this period of isolation and physical distancing continues, the world is rapidly adjusting. Online services are a popular and essential way to connect now – even my dance studios have online classes. But what is missing is the warmth of two kissing people, the grace of moving in unison, the intimacy of human touch. Sometimes I take a few steps alone at home, and I long for when I can be back in the studio. And when that happens, will we all dance?

Fang Sheng lives in Markham, Ontario.

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Mandi Lopez, owner of The Indigo Ballroom, runs a pop-up dance and yoga studio.

Hometown: Phoenix
Occupation: Owner, The Indigo Ballroom
Maricopan since: 2020
Family: My partner Jasper and I have a beautiful puppy named Ella.
Pets: Ella, my baby, is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Hobby: Dancing, doing yoga, spending time with my family, exploring and enjoying life
The black beast : Kindness matters
Dream vacation: A life where I feel like I’m on vacation
Like most of Maricopa: Community and natural beauty
Like most of Maricopa: The 347

FAVORITE …

Delivered: “The four chords”
Movie: “Casablanca”
Actor: Daniel Day Lewis
Song: “Positively the fourth street”
Musician / singer: Billie Holliday
Food: Pizza
Restaurant: Roots Restaurant
To drink: Oat milk cappuccino
Meal: Anything with tofu
Go: My yoga mat
Quote: “… be nice anyway”, from a poem by Mother Teresa
Words to live: Wherever you are, it’s OK, just do the right thing and have faith.
To joke: When people tell me they are too old to learn to dance or not flexible enough for yoga
Anything else we should know? I run a pop-up style ballroom dance and yoga studio called The Indigo Ballroom by Copa Craze here in Maricopa. We offer weekly group lessons, private lessons and dance evenings! I am passionate about bringing people together and helping to share the joy of dance and yoga with our community. I am a professional instructor with over 15 years of teaching experience. I am so happy to be in Maricopa to share my love with this awesome city!

The ten teams of the Pacific Ballroom Dance (PBD) will perform in front of a live theater audience for the first time since the pandemic began almost fifteen months ago. The Renton Ikea Performing Arts Center will be filled to 50% of its capacity with tickets sold in capsules of 2, 4 or 6 for four screenings: Thursday June 17 and Friday June 18 at 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The entire company of dancers, ranging in age from three to adulthood, will perform a variety of Latin and ballroom dance pieces in the show. “I’m so excited to have a full concert in person,” said high school dancer Maryn Longhurst. “We had two virtual concerts and we just went to a place to dress up, film and change. Not much. But when we have in-person concerts, we have locker rooms, we’re performing in front of a live audience, and we’re backstage and backstage. These are some of the things that make the performance so exciting! Said Maryn.

After the shutdown in March of last year, PBD students began practicing virtually at home, then in the studio in small pods wearing masks, then outside in the rain, and finally back in the studio. “The most difficult thing for me during team lessons and in the program is that we didn’t have the opportunity to communicate with teammates like we did before,” said Maryn. “We had to be split into pods and if someone wasn’t in your pod you had to stay 6 feet away from them at all times. It has become very difficult to get to know people that I didn’t know before, which is one of the things that I always look forward to in the team.

Take the 4 minutes and watch the video below. Not only is it worth it, but it will give your brain a much needed break.

“August’s Rhapsody” – Pacific Ballroom Dance – Pacific Ballroom Dance Youth Show Team

“I am moved just to think of seeing dancers on stage again,” said Amberlyn Jones, parent. “It means so much to see ‘in person’ the fruit of all the sacrifice and hard work these children have put in this year. “

Jennifer Richardson, whose two sons dance at PBD, added: “Dance has been the only bright light and our only true social bond throughout this pandemic. I thank PBD for giving us a certain sense of normalcy and for maintaining the sanity of my boys. “

“’Simple + True’, the theme of our concert, was inspired by the experiences of a dance season like no other,” said artistic director Katie Mecham. As we dance our way through a year of change and adjustment, we were reminded that the heart of our program is the relationships we build by dancing together. It’s that simple. It’s about the people, the connections and what we go through together. We are excited to share this story with you as our dancers perform “Simple + True”.

About Pacific Ballroom Dance:

Pacific Ballroom Dance (PBD) started in 1994 as a small, local youth club with the aim of providing young teens with the opportunity to develop respectful social skills, self-esteem, fitness and work. team. In 2003, PBD became a 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to build character in young people by providing them with a positive ballroom dance experience. Today, PBD is a thriving dance education studio for young people based in Auburn, Wash., Serving over 1,000 students aged 10 to 18 per year from across the Puget area. Sound.

The above is a press release from Pacific Ballroom Dance. The Auburn Examiner has not independently verified its content.

GREEN MOUNTAIN FALLS • Vibrant and electric, dance performances by Antonina Skobina and Denys Drozdyuk have drawn audiences from all over the world.

After a year spent experiencing various forms of confinement at their home in Manhattan and a limited number of performances, the two are renewing their creativity in Green Mountain Falls.

“The first thing we noticed after arriving here was the calm. Hearing the cries of crickets and birds … It’s beautiful, ”said Skobina.

Artists in Residence for the 2021 Green Box Arts Festival, Dance Partners (and Married Partners) spend a month choreographing from the upper level of Church in the Wildwood.

“This place is very stimulating for us. We feel safe here, and at the same time inspired and creative, ”said Skobina. “There is so much space and it is also very spiritual. We just take all of that into account and put it into our new job. “

Known as the DNA ballroom dancers, the two have only performed a few times over the past year – once at the Belgrade Dance Festival in Serbia and another time in Houston.

For most of the year, however, they relied on Zoom to practice and teach at home when their dance studio temporarily closed due to the pandemic. “We didn’t leave our apartment for a month – we tried to stay in shape,” Skobina said.

Teaching and preparing for classes motivated them to continue, she said. “Even though it was on Zoom, it was better than nothing.”

Still, the format underscored the value of live performances while exacerbating the emotional and physical traps of staying behind closed doors. “The lockdowns have taught us that video is not the same as watching live performances and feeling that special energy of the artists,” Skobina said. “The artist’s mission is to give people emotion, to transport them to a different world.”

For the couple whose ballroom performances are dazzling, a video audience passively participates in the art. “Watching a video does not require any energy,” said Drozdyuk. “When you go to a social environment, you have to give your energy, to interact with people. And it’s a whole different feeling than just sitting at home and entertaining.

In Green Mountain Falls, the residency is an interlude, a moment of gratitude to the founders of the festival, Larry Keigwin and Chris Keesee. “The program gives us validity and confidence and makes us feel that what we do is important, that it matters,” said Drozdyuk. “Because we are supported and we don’t feel alone in the creation process. “

Keigwin’s dance group, Keigwin + Company, established the first residence at Church in the Wildwood 12 years ago. “Larry knows this firsthand because he’s a great choreographer and I think his understanding of what dancers go through is an important part of creating the residency,” Skobina said. “The creative process is physically and spiritually demanding.

The couple’s residence is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of New York City life. “As artists we absorb everything, the air we breathe, the nature we see, the sounds, the energy, the place, all of this influences our work,” she said. “And now when we create a new work, the energy of Green Mountain Falls will be there forever.”

To see DNA perform on Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” in NBC’s “World of Dance”, visit youtu.be/v3QxYktaxyc, and for their dance on Carl Orff’s “O Fortuna”, visit youtu.be/djVGKqKe3yA .

They are only at Green Mountain Falls for a month in the spring.

Jason Momoa Proves He Can Do It All As Muscular Actor Performs Ballroom Dance Moves On Set Of Slumberland Fantasy Movie

By Justin Enriquez and Christine Rendon For Dailymail.com

Posted: 2:23 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2021 | Updated: 2:40 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2021

He is one of the most beautiful actors in Hollywood.

And Jason Momoa showed another talent on the set of his latest project.

The Hawaiian native, 41, practiced his ballroom dancing steps before finding himself in front of a green screen while filming the movie Slumberland in Toronto on Tuesday.

Scroll down for video

Hunk: Jason Momoa practiced his ballroom dance moves before stepping in front of a green screen while filming the movie Slumberland in Toronto on Tuesday

He proudly showed off his prowess on the dance floor, including impressively diving his anonymous partner.

Momoa seemed very serious about descending the proper steps, as he kept a very straight face while remembering the steps.

He donned his signature style, including a green graphic t-shirt and red striped pants with a long silver chain hanging from the belt loops.

Dance with the star: The 41-year-old Hawaiian native proudly showed off his prowess on the dance floor, including impressively diving his unnamed partner

Looks great: He donned his iconic style, including a green graphic t-shirt and red striped pants with a long silver chain hanging from the belt loops

His long hair was worn down as he proudly sported his signature bushy beard.

Slumberland follows the adventures of a young girl, played by Marlow Barkley, in search of her missing father in a dream world alongside an eccentric outlaw (Momoa).

Netflix recently posted two photos of the actor to its Twitter account, where the star wore a decorative top hat as he hid in a closet.

Another backstage snap captured Jason and Marlow staring into the distance with an expression of shock on their faces as they clung to a blue vehicle.

Who is here? Netflix recently posted two photos of the actor in his character on its Twitter account, where the star wore a decorative top hat as he hid inside a closet.

“No you’re not dreaming, it’s Jason Momoa with a full set of horns,” Netflix tweeted Tuesday. “Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at SLUMBERLAND, a new adventure story about an eccentric outlaw (Momoa) who guides a young hero (Marlow Barkley) through a secret dream world.”

The upcoming sci-fi fantasy film is based on the comic book series chronicling the extraordinary dreams of a young boy, Little Nemo In Slumberland.

Also starring Kyle Chandler and Chris O’Dowd, Slumberland will air on Netflix in 2022.

Coming soon: Slumberland follows the adventures of a young girl, played by Marlow Barkley, in search of her missing father in a dream world alongside an eccentric outlaw (Momoa)

Publicity

The presidency and members of the BYU-Hawaii Ballroom Club said they were doing their best to virtually unite their club. They said they continued to motivate and serve each other during unprecedented times and called on students to join and participate.

Club president Abby Boswell, a junior from Canada who specializes in teaching physics and mathematics, said: “Students always strive to be a part of the university and its mission statement by learning secular things like dancing, but also sharing scriptures and testimonies.

“They are eager to be a part of something even when times are tough and are not normal,” she added.

Dancing virtually

Boswell said the club are planning exciting activities, including events with guests outside of BYUH, she said, which will be announced on the club’s social media pages.

She explained that the club stays active through weekly Zoom meetings where they hold dance lessons and tutorials and make video clips. They also share ideas and scriptures to motivate and build member testimonials, she said.

“Right now, as a club, we have dance lessons and tutorials and are doing a dance clip together, which will premiere in the next few weeks,” she added.

“I love to dance,” Gorham said. “I’m not good at it, but it’s something that excites me. During this pandemic, I have learned to appreciate the times when I can do things that I am passionate about. ”

Gorham continued, “We record ourselves dancing and then send it to our chairman, who edits and puts them all together. It creates [togetherness] within the group.

“These activities have helped us to feel welcomed, united, uplifted and strengthened,” he said.

Mission and purpose

Makaiah Gorham, a freshman from Canada specializing in business marketing, said, “From what I understand from BYUH’s mission, this club is fully correlated. It brings together nationalities of all kinds. It helps us get out of our comfort zones and do something better, and it prepares us for when we’re married and need to know how to dance.

Boswell explained, “The motto ‘Come in to learn, go forward to serve’ applies to your experience here on campus. Joining or being a part of chapters like this allows you to do just that.

Speaking of the club’s leadership, Gorham said, “This club is amazing. I’m not on the presidency myself, but our presidency is great. I have never felt so welcome to be so awkward to dance.

Boswell said, “This is a dance chapter that students can join to learn dances like jiving, cha-cha, waltz and more. It is designed so that students of all dance backgrounds, from no dance experience to very experienced, can join in and have fun.

“However, it is more than a club. It is a community that students can join and be a part of and learn from one another. This is where we strive to be like the Savior and serve those that we meet, to love those around us and to offer our help when needed, ”added Boswell.

Club member Gina Antonella Escalante Delgato, a first year student from Peru majoring in psychology, said: “I love everyone’s welcome and for me this ties into the purpose of BYUH.

“In our diversity, we find unity through dance. I would say we can contemplate the majesty of God’s creation through diversity, ”said Delgato.

Motivated to participate

Boswell said she understood the complexity of the current unprecedented time and added, “I think, in a way, everyone feels the struggle of being disconnected in a lot of obvious ways. This chapter is a good one. vehicle to keep us all socially connected.

“For me, being part of this club means being part of a community within BYUH, which means it is an opportunity to serve those I meet through this path and to meet new people and create new new connections. ”

Delgato added, “I promise you that by participating in these tutorials and dance activities in the club, you will feel the good energy and strength of others, and it can help you overcome the challenges and maybe the stress that you could have.”

Boswell said, “The advice I would give to anyone considering joining, starting or starting a club is the same as the Nike company statement, ‘Do it’.

“At first I was hesitant about how this semester would go if we were doing the ballroom. [virtually], but the members of the presidency were so supportive and excited to take up the challenge and provide this service [and] opportunities for new and current students. And so far it’s been great, ”she added.

Gorham vouched for Boswell’s advice and said the presidency was doing a great job. He also encouraged students looking for a good group of friends to join.

Boswell said, “Consult with us and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, event ideas or would like to join us. We’re always looking for suggestions, guest speakers, and involvement from the BYUH community.

Students can find the BYUH Ballroom Dance Chapter on Facebook at the BYUH Ballroom Dance Chapter and Instagram @byuh_ballrom. To register, go to byuh.campuslabs.com/engage/.

Entering Penfield Hall on a Monday evening, participants from the club stand several yards apart, hands and feet in position, while dancing with their partners. Although traditional ballroom dancing requires partners to touch each other, that won’t happen here.

It is the home of the Mercer Ballroom Dance Club, and the procedures are very different this year than they have been in the past due to the coronavirus.

Last March, when Mercer began announcing COVID-19 security measures, including moving classes to a virtual format, the club were forced to end their meetings for the remainder of the semester. This fall, they immediately got back to playing.

The club started the year with Zoom meetings.

“We’ve had all of our meetings on Zoom,” club president Bethany Newton said. “So we really thought it was important to keep the social aspect of the Mercer Ballroom Club in the Mercer Ballroom Dance Club. Because for us, mingling with new people has always been one of the most important parts. “

The meetings were structured to allow for one-on-one socialization so members could always make new friends, Newton said. During the first 20 minutes of each meeting, participants were sent to breakout rooms to introduce themselves to each other. Then they are brought back to the main hall to start learning their dance moves.

Although club management are doing their best to accommodate safety protocols with COVID-19 in mind, Newton admitted it was complicated to do so.

“It’s especially difficult on Zoom because it’s difficult to see someone’s hands and feet at the same time on zoom,” Newton said. “It’s important to see the hands and feet for ballroom activities. “

After a few weeks of meetings, the club carefully reoriented itself towards a face-to-face format at the end of September. The change follows discussions about security protocols between club management and several university officials.

“We’re so grateful to the Mercer administration because we went out and talked to a bunch of different advisors and supervisors to come up with a safety plan that would allow us to meet in person, as long as we don’t do the touch dancing. activities, ”Newton said.

Safety protocols include wearing masks, providing hand sanitizer, putting duct tape on the floor so each participant knows where to stand, and appointing a safety officer, who acts as a liaison between club and campus life, administration and administration of the sports club.

Mercer also hosts a competitive ballroom dance team, but Newton says for the foreseeable future the competitions are canceled. The team usually travel to Georgia Tech for the Helluva Dance Comp, but it’s unclear if the competition will continue.

Nonetheless, the team continues to train in case they are able to compete.

“If things happen and we can compete, we want to be ready and prepared if it’s possible,” Newton said.

Ultimately, Newton says safety is the most important consideration and the goals of the club and the team are to have fun and learn to dance.

“The purpose of the prom club is to have fun and teach everyone who is willing to come,” she said. “Mercer students, staff and faculty are encouraged to learn beginner dance steps in everything from waltz to tango to cha-cha to Charleston. “

The Mercer Ballroom Dance Club meets weekly every Monday at 8 p.m. at Penfield Hall.