Salsa dancing adds some spice to campus life

Dancers move with high intensity as they glide across the floor. This is just a taste of the atmosphere created by GCSU’s Salsa and Latin Dance Club. The club meets each Thursday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Maxwell Student Union Lounge and attracts anywhere from 20 to 70 people. Being a part of the club allows individuals to walk outside of their comfort zone into an unfamiliar world.

“I just got into it because I figured it is something new and I love the Spanish culture, so why not?” freshman Klarissa Darnell said.

Anyone can be part of the club, no matter his or her level of dance experience; newcomers are always welcomed. There are instructors provided for beginners, who administer a crash course on the side.

Junior Parker Kempf was drawn in by a promotional event held by the club.

“I saw them dancing by the fountain and thought it seemed like a cool thing to check out. I didn’t know much about Salsa and seeing them sparked an interest,” Kempf said.

Here members are opened up to a world outside of their own, learning many aspects of the Latin culture. Co-president Rebekka Ragusa plans to bring this culture alive on Sept. 18 when Argentine Tango teachers will visit the school to provide a free professional workshop in the Magnolia Ballroom.

“Some other things that we are going to be doing as a club this year is possibly having a Masquerade Ball, going to the Fox Theatre (in Atlanta) to see a Spanish-themed play, having a Latino night in Sodexo, volunteering to teach Salsa in public schools, and to see Spanish culture by going to Salsa and Latin Club,” Ragusa said.

Aside from the Argentine Tango, members are introduced to dances such as the Bachata, Samba, Cumbia, Cha Cha, Mambo and Rumba.

Each of these styles can be done with or without a partner. One of the exercises for learning a new dance is done by forming a circle of dancers where the females stand in a circle and the males move along the inner part of the circle during each rotation.

Salsa serves as an outlet for self-expression as, on occasion, a male partner will step aside to allow the female to dance on her own. This is known as a “shine,” as it is their chance to shine in any style of Salsa dance they choose.

“Both (new and old) members show exuberance and excitement in learning Salsa, getting involved with the club and making friends among club members,” Ragusa said.

The club offers students more than dance lessons; it offers friendship, knowledge, a diverse community and, most importantly, a good time. The club encourages everyone to get a taste for the art of Salsa.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 4 2009. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry