The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company

This week we introduce a new feature to the Claremont Ballroom Webspace - the Dancer of the Week feature. Each week we'll feature a different dancer, and hopefully get around most of the company by year end. This week we're meeting Kelly Hewitt, a senior at Scripps College and the 2007-2008 Senior President.

“So, Kelly, when did you start dancing with Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company (CCBDC)?” I ask her as we step out of the ballroom after our rigorous two-hour rehearsal on Friday morning. She looks impressively pulled together and energetic, but, then again, she’s a pro—“I started classes first semester of my freshman year, and then joined Campus team the next semester,” she replies modestly.

Since then, Kelly has moved her way up in the company contributing exstensive amounts of time, effort, quality dancing, and stellar ideas. She joined Tour team in her sophomore year, and her junior year became not only Secretary and Dancing with the Claremont Stars Coordinator, but also performed in the legendary Bond medley, helping CCBDC cement its 5th National Collegiate Formation Championship.

All of her accomplishments and dedication are added to the fact that now, in her senior year, Kelly has taken on the role of Senior President of CCBDC. But while her dancing accomplishments have been vital to her success, perhaps even more crucial to Presidential role is her personable attitude and cheery sense of humor – she’s never without a smile or a friendly word.
Which is why it is easy to say that the company missed Kelly dearly this past semester while she studied abroad in Seville, Spain. A dancer at heart, she added some Flamenco to her repertoire of Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Ballet during her time there. With all of her experience, it’s no wonder that, along with her dual major of Politics and Public Policy at Scripps, she is also a Dance minor.

To say that Kelly Hewitt is very involved at the Claremont Colleges would be an understatement—she is not only the President of CCBDC, but also the Head Manager of the Scripps Store, a student member of the Board of Trustees, the student coordinator for Campus Communities United for Justice, and staff for the Scripps College Summer Academy.

Somehow, with all of her responsibilities, she still finds time to be wholeheartedly enthusiastic about ballroom dance. “I’m most excited for the Claremont Dance Festival,” coming up in late November, “because it will be a great opportunity to meet other teams—and it will be just like a four-day dance party!”

And despite her already overwhelming commitment to the CCBDC, Kelly’s eagerness to dance for an entire four days is one of the reasons the CCBDC is so glad to have her back as President. And as she dashes off to conduct another meeting, the certain purpose in her step makes it seem obvious that she’s the right dancer for the job.