Ballroom dancing may have been founded in the 16th century, but Bradley Ballroom keeps it, as well as other forms of dance, alive on campus.
“Ballroom is a place where people can come and learn dance,” senior Kaia Wolfe, the president of Ballroom and a social work major, said. “You don’t have to have prior experience. We aren’t competitive, but the goal is to just reflect what people want.”
Bradley Ballroom tries to adapt to students’ interests in a variety of ways. As dance clubs at Bradley have shut down over the years, Ballroom members have made an effort to integrate the other styles into their teachings.
“We’ve absorbed their dances and the people who attend,” Cathryn Loy, the advisor for the club and a Bradley graduate, said. “For instance, there used to be a swing club, but now we’ve incorporated West Coast Swing into what we teach because they shut down.”
The adaptability of the club makes it a welcoming environment for new and returning members. These efforts have paid off, as both Chloe Blackwell, a freshman animation major, and instructor Cade Naylor, a junior game design major, described Ballroom as a safe place for them.
“Even when I’m scheduling and overworking myself, I will always make space for Ballroom because it’s just a breath of fresh air. It’s a chance to be free [and] to not have to worry about what others think of me,” Naylor said.
Several trainers are dedicated to explaining and demonstrating dance moves, creating a friendly and warm environment.
“Sometimes things are going to be a little challenging, but you’ve got a group of people who are ready to help you,” Wolfe said.
Even though the club is for learning dance, there is extra time built in for play. Ballroom has breaks in between dances, and a game is typically played before the last 30 minutes, which are left free for socializing.
“It’s very silly. We go off-topic at times,” Naylor said. “It’s very rare where we have meetings that people don’t end up laughing at.”
Bradley Ballroom meets from 7 p.m to 9 p.m in Markin 017 on Mondays and Markin 030 on Thursdays. More information can be found on the club’s Instagram.
