The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company

Excitement was in the air. Nothing but fun and good-will filled Edmunds Ballroom as couples competed in the semi-annual Lab Competition hosted by the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company. The competition—designed specifically for Claremont Colleges ballroom dance students—gave over 100 students an opportunity to show-off the dancing they’ve learned in classes while experiencing the thrill of friendly competition. The evening unfolded with three hours of dancing, including 10 competition events and demonstration performances from the CCBDC.

With a range of dance styles and skill levels nobody lacked a smile or a dance partner. Furthermore, the multiple heats and events happening during each hour meant no one was ever off their feet for long. Some particularly ambitious dancers even competed in back to back events, switching partners (and often shoes!) in the thirty seconds between heats. The first hour brought an exhilarating line-up of a rapid-fire Fast Lindy, a suave Foxtrot, an energetic Cha Cha and a funky, polyester-filled Open Hustle. Not to be outdone, the second hour’s competitors brought another mix of dances to the floor, including a lively Quickstep, swinging Rock Jive, a sultry Rumba, and a passionate Paso Doble. In the final hour, dancers competed with random partners in the unpredictable, yet exciting Jack and Jill and finished the evening with the ever-popular Salsa.

And what fun would competitions be without big-name judges? Dancers were graced by the presence of Neil Gerard and Rita Stachniak, who fearlessly took on the role of guest judges. Competitors pulled out all the stops to win the attention of the deans-turned-judges and earn personality points. Dancers also brought their best technique, as the Director and top members of the company also judged each pair on its winning combination of great technique and star-quality performance.

Though the competition was at times fierce, the encouragements shouted by spectators and friends were by far fiercer. Crowd favorites drew the attention of the judges and admiration of fellow dancers. There was unanimous celebration during awards ceremonies, when partners saw the fruits of their labors with first place wins, friends congratulated each other in their fine efforts of the evening, and all agreed on job-well done. With a successful in-house competition behind them, students now devote the remainder of the semester in perfecting technique and performance for Medal Exams in May.