Swinging its way into the hearts of Sinclair Community College students, the ballroom dance class (PED 148) was a course that was taught off campus, exclusively for senior citizens, until students wanted to participate in the fun.
“I kept having students that I knew from other contacts say, ‘well what do you mean you’re not teaching on campus? I want to do it too,’” said Jeanette Watts, physical education instructor. “I would get between zero to two audits and nothing but students.”
The class focuses on the foxtrot, waltz, tango, swing, cha-cha and rumba as well as other simple and easy short-sequence ballroom dance steps.
As a way to showcase her students’ skills, Watts’ goal is to form a club known as the Sinclair Ballroom Exhibition Team.
Auditions will be held on Nov. 15 and 17, near the gym area in Building 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. Students can bring dancing shoes or dance in their socks.
If the audition dates are inconvenient for students, Watts said that she will take auditions by appointment only on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Those who audition will be auditioning for ongoing events throughout the campus as well as other events in the Dayton area, according to Watts.
“There are so many venues on campus where a high energy fun group can provide some entertainment and make some people smile,” Watts said. “There are so many dances to be done and so many places to dance – we might as well put dancing and the campus together.”
Students who are interested can learn the dance sequences during the rehearsals or come in with some knowledge about ballroom dancing beforehand, according to Watts. But she suggests that students are comfortable with the basic moves or be prepared to put in the hard work to succeed.
“I want to know that you are comfortable with the steps. If the auditioning left you sort of frustrated and overwhelmed, getting through a rehearsal is going to overwhelm you,” Watts said. “It is sort of like a date, ‘Is this going to be a fit? Do we like each other?’ That is what the auditions are for.”
Watts stresses that the ultimate goal of her class is to keep a smile on her student’s faces.
“I just want everyone to come and dance their butts off. It will be crazy fun, a lot of energy and it is definitely not for the faint of heart. Anyone can try and even if you fail, you can always try again,” Watts said. “I find that the students who have to dig and claw their way through a routine often succeed in the end because they know the importance of hard work.”
So you think you can dance? Prove it.
For more information, contact Watts at Jeanette.watts@sinclair.edu or by phone at (937) 974-8730.