2/20/22 Week at a Glance – Michigan Ballroom Dance Team

Throwback to the Victors of the 2020 Arnold Dancesport Classic!!

Hi Team,

I hope everyone had a great time at the lesson on Sunday learning 3 awesome new dances, the Waltz, Samba, and Quickstep! This is the last week before we all get a well-deserved spring break, and I look forward to seeing many of you at DTS and rounds this week, and of course the Arnold at the end of spring break! This week’s WAG features lots of important reminders and updates as we head into break, so read on for all the important ballroom news this week!

Announcements for Everyone:

SAPAC Training Make-Up: Anyone who was not at SAPAC training last tuesday will have to do a makeup SAPAC activity. Please be on the lookout for an email from your awesome PR Chair Manasi with more information! To anyone who showed up to the SAPAC meeting late, or did not stay in the meeting for the full duration, we are cross-checking zoom attendance duration and the google form, and you will have to complete the make-up activity if your attendance was not satisfactory! Reminder: doing SAPAC training for a different organization or campus position does not count, you will still need to complete the ballroom-specific SAPAC training. If you do not complete the training you will not be allowed at social events for the rest of the semester!
Shoe Vending: Our shoe vendors VEdance will be open for our team on Wednesday from 1-5 pm and Friday from 1-5pm! Please see the email which I sent out last week on shoe vending for all the important information! Reminder: if you are planning to compete at the Arnold you must have dance shoes!
Rounds: This Thursday we will be hosting rounds leading up to the Arnold during the normal newcomer review lesson time (9-11 pm) in the CCRB! During rounds we will go through each of the dances in all 4 styles, just like we will at a competition. We’ll practice walking onto the floor, and dancing for a whole ’round’ (~1.5 min of music) with everyone in your heat on the floor at the same time. During this time you can work on moving around the room to make sure your number can be seen by judges standing around the floor, as well as practice doing moves all on your own without the structure of a set routine! Please feel encouraged to wear your costumes/what you will be wearing at the competition to practice! Rounds will be starting at 9 pm so don’t be late!!
March 5-6th: Arnold Competition! Our biggest competition of the winter semester is less than two weeks away! The Arnold Youth Dancesport Classic is on the last Saturday and Sunday of spring break, and you don’t want to miss it! The points we earn from Arnold contribute towards our score at next year’s nationals, thus making it essential for defending our title for the seventeenth consecutive year. Be sure to save the date and plan to get back early if you’re travelling so you can dance for the Terminator himself, who makes an appearance every year in the ballroom!!! Important Arnold Action Items (also see Lauren’s emial for more info):
- Arnold Guide: Check out the Arnold Guide for answers to all your questions regarding the competition!
- Rooms and Rides: Don’t forget to fill out the Rooms and Rides form ASAP if you are planning to attend the Arnold! This is essential so that we can ensure everyone has a room and is paid for the competition!! Late fees will be charged if you miss the deadline!!
- Registration: At the Arnold you can register for two consecutive levels! For example you can dance both newcomer and bronze in all 4 styles, and everyone is encouraged to dance as much as possible! Register at this link!
- Pay the Team: The comp fee for the Arnold is $75. Make sure to pay the team by Friday (2/26)! Late fees will be charged if you miss the deadline!!
- Team Closet: If you need to borrow something from the team closet please let Tiffany know ASAP!! Check out this document for all the team closet information 🙂
- Partner Search: Still looking for a potential partner for practice or to take to the Arnold over spring break? Check out our partner search spreadsheet! Reminder: it is up to you to contact potential partners from the sheet, and please remove your information if you are no longer partner searching!
Apparel: Apparel orders will be available for pick-up this week on Thursday during rounds at the CCRB!
Lesson Etiquette Reminders: Please, please, please remember to be respectful of all teachers during lessons! This means that when an instructor is speaking, you should not be! Noise echos very badly in the CCRB mirror room, and even a few side conversations can make it very difficult for your fellow dancers and instructors to hear. Side chatter makes it very difficult for instructors to get across the information they need, and slows down the lesson for everyone! Whenever an instructor is speaking you should STOP, WATCH, and LISTEN!! Please be respectful and considerate of our coaches, our instructors, and our fellow teammates time, and remind those around you that they should be too if you notice someone being distracting!
Teaching Reminders: If you have any dance questions, like how to do the basic, a move, or count a dance you should be asking an instructor from the upper level teams!! At the beginner levels it is very easy to pick up bad habits that will be very hard to break later, so if you have questions always ask someone who is authorized to be teaching!! Members of A and B teams are instructors and are the only folks allowed to teach other than Steve and Susan! If you have questions please find one of these team members at DTS and ask them, if someone asks you a question and your aren’t on A or B team, direct them to someone who is! Don’t know anyone on A or B team, ask a board member, we are all members of A or B and are happy to help!
Lessons and DTS This Week: There will be no more newcomer lessons until after spring break! This Thursday will be rounds in the CCRB and Sunday there will be no lesson due to the break! There will be no DTS Thursday night due to rounds.
Team Intros: Every week we will be introducing members of each of our upper level tryout teams! This week is the A team, scroll to the bottom of the WAG to see all our awesome A team dancers 🙂All members of A team are instructors, so if you have any questions about dance they are the folks to ask!!

Looking Further Ahead…

March 11th: Dance Mix! It’s your favorite spectacular end of year dance show, and some of your very own teammates will be performing a Latin formation again this year!

This Week’s Schedule…

Monday 2/21

9:30-11:30 pm: Open Practice at DTS

Reminder: Masks must be worn at all times at DTS and only wear dance shoes or socks in the studios!!

Tuesday 2/22

9:30-11:30 pm: Open Practice at DTS

Wednesday 2/23

1:00-5:00 pm: Shoe vending at VEdance (see shoes email for more info)

10:00 pm – 12:00 am: Open Practice at DTS

Thursday 2/24

9:00-11:00 pm: Rounds in CCRB 3275!

No DTS come to rounds instead! Don’t forget to pick up your apparel!

Friday 2/25

1:00-5:00 pm: Shoe vending at VEdance

Saturday 2/26

Enjoy a well deserved Spring Break!!

Sunday 2/27

No Newcomer Lesson due to Spring Break!! See you all at the Arnold 😉

Meet the Teams: There’s a lot of people on this team, to help you get to know everyone we’ve made a handy guide to who’s on which team, so you know who to cheer for at the Arnold! Check out A-team below! Everyone on A team is an instructor for our lessons so if you have questions about anything dance related, these are the folks to ask!!

Can and Madeline

Can is a 4th year PhD student studying Computer Science and Engineering.

Madeline is a recent graduate who studied Education and is now a teacher.