Hi Team,
Happy Sunday! Today Steve and Susan taught more American Waltz, Samba, and Quickstep. If you need additional help, come to DTS. In addition to the normal WAG, please read all about your fav C team members this semester below!
Announcements for Everyone:
- No DTS This Thursday: DTS will be closed on Thursday, 10/26. Pre-Purdue rounds will be held in the IMSB Multipurpose A 9-11 p.m. Please come to rounds to practice instead!
- Purdue Rooms and Rides: If you are going to Purdue keep an eye on your emails for the R&R from Jacob in the next few days!
- Ohio Star Ball: If you are interested in going to the Ohio Star Ball, Jacob sent an email out with the sign-up information earlier today! We can’t wait to see you all there
- Board Games Night! We will be having a team board games night on Wednesday, November 8th from 7-10 pm location to be announced. Come play some board games and socialize with your favorite people in the whole wide world before going to DTS!
- Halloween Party: We are having a super spooky Halloween Party on Friday, November 3rd! Come prepared in your best costumes! Alan will be dressing up as a ~sexy~ spoon!
- Liability Waiver: We are now requiring all team members to sign this liability waiver. THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS THE ONE FROM AUGUST! If you have any questions or concerns, email ballroomexec@umich.edu.
- Ballroom Black Tie Formal Event: We are planning a black tie ballroom dance party with the Ballroom Club. However, before we can make it happen we need to know if you would be interested in going. It will be December 10th from 6-9 pm. Tickets will likely be $15 for students but this is subject to change and will be purchased in advance. Please let us know if you are interested in coming! If we do not have enough interest we will likely not be doing it :'( so fill out the form!!
- Comp Interest form: Thinking about competing this semester? Fill out this form so we can get an idea about how many folks will be going to each comp this year. This helps us make sure we have enough rooms and rides for everyone who wants to go!
- Merch Orders Coming Out Soon: We will be sending out a form to order team merch in the next few days. You will be able to pick it up at lessons or DTS.
- MichComp Committee: We host an amazing competition during the Winter semester, but in order to organize it, we need the help of you all! If you’re interested in joining the committee, please sign up here!
- Practice Space Schedule: The spreadsheet for space availability can be found here. It includes availability for IMSB Multipurpose Rooms A and B as well as the Ballroom Club schedule. The schedule can only be done two weeks in advance due to IM policies, so check back regularly. If the schedule is out of date, you may need to call and confirm specifics but the general availability is the same.
- Extra merch sale: We have a limited amount of extra merch from prior semesters that we are offering for sale! If you’d like another chance to drip yourself out in UMBDT gear for the start of the semester, please check out this spreadsheet to see what we have available. Email our treasurer, Owen Hoffend (ohoffend@umich.edu), if you’d like to buy something or if you have any questions.
Meet the C Team
Noah Barr and Celeste Forester
Noah (he/him) is a senior in his third semester on the team. He studies Computer Science (LSA) and is working on a social media startup. He is president of a club called Panel for Your Thoughts, and his favorite dance is International Foxtrot. He is not pictured :(
Celeste (she/her) is a senior studying Biomedical Engineering and this is her first full semester on the team. She has a minor in Material Science and enjoys backpacking, weight lifting, and playing the piano in her spare time. She also spent her summer abroad in Bhutan. Her favorite dance is the Swing.
Max Chappell and Anna Vogel
Max (he/him) is an Aerospace Engineering and Public Policy grad student. This is his third semester on the team, and his favorite dance is the Viennese Waltz. His (not so) fun fact is that he almost died in a sailing accident four years ago.
Anna (they/them) has been with the team for three semesters. They are a senior studying Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, and they often obsess over bacteria and the viruses that infect them because they are cool and tiny. Their favorite dance is the Quickstep.
Nathaniel Hodgson and Nicolette Kleinhoffer
Nathaniel (he/him) is a senior in Chemical Engineering who has been on the team for three semesters. His favorite style of dance is Standard, but his favorite dance is the Swing. He attended his first ballroom lesson ever because he bumped into Nicolette while walking home and she invited him to come with her.
Nicolette (she/her) is in her third semester on the team. She is a senior studying Chemical Engineering with a minor in Polymer Chemistry. Her favorite dance style is usually Standard, but lately, she’s been enjoying Rhythm. Her fun fact is that she has the same Myers-Briggs personality type as Barack Obama.
Som Phene and Ava Renfer
Som (he/him) is a grad student in his third semester on the team. He is a Mathematics PhD student with a co-adviser in the Physics department. Fittingly, his favorite dance is Calculus. This summer he spectated at the Blackpool UK Championship, where he ran into Steve and Susan.
Ava (she/her) is a junior in her fifth semester on the team. She studies Communication and Media and her favorite dance is the Tango.
Johny Daniel and Emma Zink
Johny (he/him) is a senior in his fourth semester on the team. His major is Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and his favorite dance is the Jive. His fun fact is that he keeps a sword that he made in high school propped up by his bed.
Emma (she/her) is in her third semester on the team. She is a sophomore studying Public Health. Her favorite dance is either Samba or Smooth Viennese Waltz. She plans on running a marathon someday.
Miguel Retto and Tola Kilian
Miguel (he/him) is a junior in his fourth semester on the team. He majors in Industrial Engineering and has a Music minor. His favorite dance is the International Foxtrot, and his fun fact is that the university hires him to wave his hands at people.
Tola (she/her) is a senior studying Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience and Classical Archaeology. This is her fifth semester on the team. Her official favorite dance is Latin Cha Cha (but it’s secretly Bolero). She is a Polish spy and she believes Milk Duds are America’s greatest treasure.
Adama Diagne and Reiah Jaffer
Adama (he/him) is an Automotive Engineering grad student. This is his third semester on the team, and his favorite dance is the Samba. His fun fact is that he has hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back out again.
Reiah (she/her) is a sophomore in her third semester on the team. She is majoring in Psychology, and she has unhealthy addictions to caffeine and the band Måneskin. Her favorite dance is Latin Rumba.
Gerardo Sierra Reyes and Jennifer Guo
Gerardo (he/him) is a junior in his third semester with the team. He studies Mechanical Engineering and loves salsa dancing in his spare time. His favorite competitive dance is the International Rumba.
Jennifer (she/her) is a junior in Psychology and Organizational Studies on the Cappo Sales Track. She also minors in music, and has been with the team for five semesters. Her favorite dances are the International Rumba and Waltz. Next semester she will be studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain.
This Week’s Schedule…
Monday 10/23
9:30-11:30 pm: Open Practice at DTS
Tuesday 10/24
9:30-11:30 pm: Open Practice at DTS
Wednesday 10/25
10:00 pm -12:00 am: Open Practice at DTS
Thursday 10/26
9:00-11:00 pm: Rounds @ IMSB
NO DTS
Friday 10/27
Leave for Purdue, if you are going!
Saturday 10/28
Good luck to our Purdue competitors!
Sunday 10/29
3:00-5:00 pm: Newcomer lesson @ IMSB
This week I loved hearing about your fall break. Also, shout out to Andrea H. for being so enthusiastic to tell me about her break! This week please tell me about your Halloween costume plans! Please reach out if you have any questions.
Love,
Erika
MBDT President
Please enjoy this screenshot of Julia and I’s same-sex rumba from Purdue 2021
