University students say dancing is the answer to their troubles. Whether it's the fox-trot, the salsa, the hustle or the mambo, students say dancing keeps them physically and mentally on their toes.
"Dancing is like an art form," said LSA first-year student Tai-Hsing Chou, adding that his interest in dancing stemmed from his experiences with the martial arts. "Martial arts is the expression of self through combative movements, and dancing is the expression of self through rhythmic movements."
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| FILE PHOTO Two University students practice their steps together in the Michigan Union. They are members of the University Ballroom Dance Club, which meets every Sunday. |
Ballroom elegance
"Why did God put this feeling in our bodies? (And) that rhythm that makes us want to move to it?" asked Engineering graduate student Scott Vandenbergh. "He put this in me."
Vandenbergh said he feels a passion for dancing.
"I love to dance," Vandenbergh said. "I always enjoyed dancing in high school and college.
Karen White, a University alumna, is an active member of the University's Ballroom Dance Club. She volunteers as a teacher, coordinator and publicity organizer for the club.
"(It's) a place to meet people and make friends, a place to have fun dancing, an outlet for my creativity and leadership abilities (and) a way to serve the University community," said White, who works as a systems analyst for the University Medical Center.
White, who took her first ballroom dance class in 1989, said she still enjoys the dance form.
"Ballroom dancing is a social activity that can also be enjoyed as a competitive sport. I'm not competitive," White said. "I enjoy it because it provides exercise, ongoing challenges, rewarding friendships, fun and personal growth.
"Moving rhythmically to dance music is a very healthy, physically relaxing and energizing activity, a great stress-buster and a way to forget your problems for a while," she said.
The appeal of dance as a hobby can sneak up on people, though. Rackham graduate student Stephen Riley said he didn't liked dancing until two years ago, and now he is hooked.
"My father was taking dance classes and I thought it would be fun to join him. I took a few lessons at a local studio," Riley said. "Dancing just seems to grab a hold of you and you kind of just want to do it."
Riley described dancing as an addiction he can't kick.
"Mostly (dancing is) lots of fun. It's also good for the brain cause it makes you do things that you're not accustomed to doing. I find it kind of addictive," Riley said.
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| MARGARET MYERS/Daily A couple at the Diamonback Saloon off I-94 practice their country line dancing moves. |
"My New Year's resolution was to learn how to ballroom dance this year," Nechanicky said. "Ballroom dance is a great way to meet a variety of undergrads, grads, staff and local people."
Ballroom dancers said that although every dance has its unique pulse, some dances rely more on a strong beat and dancer's sense of rhythm than others.
"My favorite dances are swing and hustle," said Rackham graduate student Melissa Ng. "(I like it) partially because of the music, partially the tempo. They're both relatively fast dances that you can really work up a sweat with ... the dance frame is a lot more relaxed than some of the other dances, say waltz and fox trot."
Vandenbergh said his favorite pick is the waltz.
"It's elegant looking, and it's fairly easy to pick up. Yet there's still enough moves that it doesn't get boring," he said.
No matter what the tempo, dancers agree that they aren't ready to step onto the floor without their dancing shoes.
"Shoes matter," Chou said. "You want leather shoes, which make you slide on the dance floor."
"Bring good shoes, that's about it," Ng said.
Ballroom dancing has unique qualities and subtle benefits, its fans say.
"It has romantic potential, too. I enjoy ballroom dance music, which covers a wide range of periods and tastes, including current top 40 music," White said. "Because it requires the development of new skills, it's also a challenge."
"Dancing definitely improves the way you dress and the way you smell," Riley said. "If you're going to dance with someone, you don't want to smell. You don't usually wear usually grubby jeans, and you brush your teeth. That's not true for all people, unfortunately."
Founded in 1989, the University Ballroom Dancing Club currently has about 400 members. The club offers lessons in swing, fox trot, waltz, tango, samba, mambo, cha-cha, rumba, hustle, Viennese waltz and West Coast swing.
White said the club will offer nightclub dances next year, including the hustle, Lindy hop and salsa.
Rock n' roll style
Not everyone needs a ballroom, an occasion, a partner, concert music or leather shoes to have a good time.
"I don't feel as if I need to go to a party or a place where there's a great number of people to dance. I have fun when and wherever I dance, " said LSA sophomore Timi Hunt. "I dance the most in my place of residence and I enjoy it tremendously. I don't need a certain attire. I will dance in practically anything, it really doesn't make a difference."
The run-of-the-mill weekend party can be an occasion for breaking in new dance steps.
"If I go to a party I go to dance. I don't go to socialize. Whatever comes on, (I dance to). Whatever dancing people do, I just take it to the extreme. I have fun with it," said LSA junior Korrey Miller.
An evening with friends turned dance party can take some personal initiative.
"I don't go to parties expecting anyone to bring a good time to me. I go intending to have a good time, even if it means dancing by myself and I do - have a good time, that is," Hunt said.
| A new kind of dance club |
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| University Ballroom Dance Club |
| * Club meets in the Michigan Union Ballroom on Sundays from 6-10 p.m. |
| * For more information, contact Ballroom Dance Club President Julie Chilimigras at jlc@umich.edu or 763-6984. |
"I've danced in the Kappa talent show and in the Bursley show two years in a row. In the last Kappa show, I did an interpretive dance of the slow song 'It's hard to say I'm sorry' by Az Yet," Miller said.
Miller said her Michael Jackson impressions, which she began were well-received.
"I love Michael Jackson. I did an impression of Michael Jackson one year and won $100. I did it at South Quad. I was actually a lip-sync contest, but I danced too."
Dancing can serve as a stress reliever and exercise for mind and body.
"I dance to relieve the stress. I like to dance because it's fun and it's good for my exercise. I work out a lot," Miller said. "It's my expression with my body of how I feel about the song," .
Other students say they need the dance floors, dressy crowd and the loud music that dance clubs provide.
"The top 40 pop music that they play at clubs energizes me. (It) makes want to get up and dance," said LSA sophomore Kat Timberlake. "I usually dress up more than school clothes, but I just don't go right out."
Country Western in the Midwest
For lovers of country western style and dancing, there is also local answer.
Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon, located on West Eisenhower Parkway, is the place for a thematic evening of line dances, tender ribs and some country western music. Lone Star is unique in terms of music hangouts in Ann Arbor.
"There's not much in Ann Arbor as far as country western. I think it's important for their to be more diversity as far as music in the area," said LSA sophomore Andrea Lamothe.
Lone Star's goal is to emulate the atmosphere of an old Texas saloon. Employees dress in their most authentic country-style gear to make customers feel as if they are back in Texas hangin' with the good ol' boys.
Lone Star specializes in Texas steaks, but also offers chicken, shrimp and ribs in generous portions, as well as a full bar.
Every 30 minutes, employees perform two-minute country-western line dances. Customers clap and sing along to the rhythm of the country-western tunes.
Wayne Hancock and BR5-49 are among the country-western tunes accompanied by the Western Swing and the Two Step.
Customers are welcome to join along in the dancing as well.
"Dancing to country western is always a blast. It's just nuts," said LSA sophomore Scott Howard.
An average meal at Lone Star is about $18, but an appetite can be satisfied for $10-$15.
Chad Williams, WCBN's Director of Music and host of the country show says that country-western style can also be found in other locations in Ann Arbor and the Detroit area.
The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, Diamond Back in Belleville, Texas Tornado in Taylor, Diamonds and Spurs in Pontiac and Lucille's in Pontiac are among the few on the list.
"They're very very country and honky-tonk. They have a real rock-a-billy style," Williams said.
11-07-97
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