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Spring Concert 2009: Made Modern
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The Ballroom Dance Team, comprised of about 90 dancers and five staff, puts on the spring dance concert each year in the beginning of May. This year, 35 routines showcased international latin and standard dances, as well as some of the more well known street dances including salsa, lindy hop, and west coast swing. This year’s concert theme, "Made Modern," started as a way of connecting the experiences of the audience and the dancers – the opening section of the concert featured 1920’s-era ballroom pieces alternating with solo pieces in the modern style. "I wanted to give both dancers and audience a sense of history and perspective, and also to let each into the shoes of the other as much as possible," said Paul Roach, director of CCBDC. "In the process, I ended up creating a historical perspective that I decided to run with and expand into a theme with skits and references to origins of American social dance." Jenny Lin, Pomona ’07, thought it worthwhile to see the two styles contrasted, even while connecting more with the current style of ballroom dancing. "It was cutesy," she said of the older style of dancing, which in her opinion required less refined technique and execution. Another Claremont Colleges student who came to see the concert shared Lin’s preference for the contemporary routines. "I thought it was well done, and showcased how ballroom dancing isn’t just the dead pomp of the dancing world, and is very much alive today," said James Tran, Pomona ’07. "I enjoyed how they incorporated modern dance and some hip hop aspects into the choreography." Both Lin and Tran are active members of Claremont’s dancing community, and regularly attend social dance events put on by CCBDC. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the older demographic of concert viewers derived more amusement from watching the older style of dancing, as well as from the dancing puns that were liberally scattered throughout the opening skits. According to Paulina Sanchez, Scripps ’10, any method of engaging the audience is desirable. "Whenever they’re here clapping, that’s good," she said. Sanchez danced in a waltz routine in the concert. One part of concert remained the same. Despite the stress and lengthy rehearsals of the week leading up to the performance, once the time arrived "it was more of a ‘let’s enjoy this’ feeling," Sanchez said. Perhaps this, even more so than the "Made Modern" theme, was instrumental in captivating the audience. "A show isn’t made by the choreography, but by the enthusiasm of its dancers, and it really showed in the concert," Tran said. "They enjoyed dancing, and it was enjoyable to watch." 
Ballroom Dance Concert 2009
The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company proudly presents its annual Spring Concert. This year, we explore the contrast between our roots as Ballroom dancers and the modern context we find ourselves in: "Made Modern." A 90 minute dance spectacular, this concert features our award-winning performance and competition routines from the entire year, including classic and beautiful Ballroom pieces, steamy Latin pieces, and a few cute Swing, Polka, Disco, and Two-step pieces to round out your experience. A company of over 90 dancers, the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company prides itself on quality performances and routines you'll never forget. The 2009 Concert will be held for 3 days only at Big Bridges Auditorium on Pomona College:
Tickets are $10 for seniors, students, and employees of the Claremont Colleges, and $15 for general admission. Group ticket prices are also available. Tickets can be purchased from ticketmaster.com, the Big Bridges Box Office, or from a member of the dance company. We hope you will join us for what promises to be an amazing event. For more information regarding this event feel free to email concert@claremontballroom.org. If you wish to invite friends or family using Facebook, please visit our Facebook event. If you are interested in commemorating a dancer or purchasing an advertisement in our Concert Program, view our advertising information. Lab Competition Spring 2009 ScheduleThe semi-annual Lab Competition will be held Wednesday, April 15th in the Edmunds ballroom from 7pm-10pm. The schedule is as follows: 7:00
8:00
9:00
Submitted by Paul Roach on Tue, 2009-04-14 22:00. categories [ ]
Claremont Spring Dance FestivalThe Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company is proud to present its second dance festival of the year! After our successful Claremont Dance Festival in the fall we were overwhelmed by requests to do something similar this spring. The event will take place April 3rd and 4th with classes during the day and events at night. Friday night will be a SALSA NIGHT, featuring a lesson from 8-9 and dancing from 9-12, including some salsa in the rueda (circle dancing) style which will be taught earlier that day. Saturday night will be the annual SWING JAM, featuring a LIVE BAND and a lesson at 8, dancing 9-12. The weekend will have a bigger focus on the classes and parties and less on performances by the company. For those, come to our spring Concert May 1st-3rd! The tentative class schedule (SUBJECT TO CHANGE): April 3rd:
April 4:
Note: All events will be held at Platt Center (HMC) unless noted otherwise. Classes: $2 each Bring money to the parties for the raffle where you can win CCBDC concert tickets, Motley coupons, and a dance shoe bag! CCBDC concert tickets will also be on sale!
Submitted by Paul Roach on Wed, 2009-03-25 14:05. categories [ ]
Salsa Party this Friday 1/30/2009Join the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company and the 5C social dancing community Friday, January 30th for the first Salsa Party of the semester! The party will be in Edmunds Ballroom at Pomona with FREE First-Timer, Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced lessons from 8-9 followed by dancing until midnight. Meet new people (no partner needed), learn about the upcoming tryouts for the dance team, and dance the night away! Visit the Facebook event for more information!Questions? E-mail salsaandsocial@claremontballroom.org.
Submitted by Paul Roach on Mon, 2009-01-26 11:30.
Claremont Dance Festival!The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company cordially invites you to the second annual Claremont Dance Festival! This highly anticipated event (much anticipation generated from the many different ways it has been publicized, and it's finally getting around to here - better late than never!) will happen this upcoming weekend and will be primarily located at the Platt Campus Center at Harvey Mudd College. The event will feature a wide variety of dance lessons, for people of all levels, taught by both students and renowned professionals in many different styles, including International Latin and Standard, swing, blues, salsa, and argentine tango. In addition, the festival will feature 3 full scale evening events. On Thursday, December 4th (yep that's tomorrow!) the festival will open with a special night of dancing at the Hip Kitty Jazz and Fondue in Claremont (their webpage). As a special promotion, if you email festival@claremontballroom.org with your intention to come at 7pm, you will get a free swing lesson (normally $5)! Paul Roach will be teaching the beginning lesson, and we'll have special guest instructors teaching an intermediate lesson. Following the lesson, there will be live music, food, drinks and dancing from 8pm-12am - come celebrate one of the hippest and coolest placest to listen to live music in Claremont! Friday night features Dancing with the Claremont Stars (cheer on Claremont staff, faculty, and administrators as they compete for the annual title!) followed by a formal black and white ball. Paul Roach will teach a complimentary Social Waltz lesson starting at 8pm, and this will be followed by performances, games, and dancing for the rest of the evening (until midnight). Our intercollegiate night takes place on Saturday and is an evening full of dancing and so many fun games (like quickstep freeze tag and endurance Viennese waltz) that people drive from as far away as Santa Barbara to attend. What's the secret? Why is it so much fun? Maybe it's something in the water...or maybe you should come find out for yourself! The night will also contain performances from the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company. For more information (to get even more excited about!), including locations and a complete schedule, please visit our festival page. Note: Students of Harvey Mudd College can go to one of the two events on Friday and Saturday evening for FREE. If they would like to attend both nights, they will only need to pay for one.
Submitted by Paul Roach on Wed, 2008-12-03 13:47.
Fall 2008 Lab Comp ScheduleThe schedule for the lab competition, which will be taking place Wednesday, November 19th, has been released. More information on lab competitions can be found here. Announcement: The Lab Comp has been moved to the Rains Gymnasium (just east of the ballroom - there are signs up now).
8:00
9:00
And finally, last but certainly not least, please stick around to see the premiere demonstration of the 2008 National Collegiate Championship Entry by the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company - a Harry Potter International Standard Medley (9:50 pm)!
Submitted by Paul Roach on Mon, 2008-11-17 14:34.
Dancing with the Claremont Stars
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2008-10-22 19:56. categories [ ]
Audition ResultsAfter a fantastic audition night with an incredible turnout, we want to thank everyone that tried out. After a very tough decision process, we are offering dancing positions to the following people:
Follows:
We would also like to congratulate Jackson Brebnor on receiving a spot on our tour team.
Submitted by Paul Roach on Thu, 2008-09-18 17:17.
Salsa Party this Friday 9/12/2008
Visit the Official Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company Facebook group for more information. Questions? E-mail the Salsa and Social Dance Coordinators. |
