Dance Teams

The University of Chicago Competitive Ballroom and Latin Dance Team was founded in the Fall of 2007 to provide talented students the opportunity to compete at ballroom dance competitions at the intercollegiate level. The team currently has around 20 active members. Besides competing, the team also perform in campus events like the OLAS show, Dance Marathon, etc.

What are the competitive ballroom dances? The competitive dances in our level come mainly in two categories: International and American. A list of our dances and styles we train for are:

★International: Widely accepted style of competitive ballroom dance developed in Europe. We compete mainly in this category.
★Latin: Cha-cha, Rumba, Samba, Jive, and Paso Doble
★Standard: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, and Viennese Waltz
★American: This style of competitive ballroom developed from social dancing in the U.S.
★Rhythm: Cha-cha, Rumba, East-coast Swing, Mambo, and Bolero
★Smooth: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, and Peabody
★We also will be learning some Fun dances: Hustle, Salsa, Merengue, Argentine Tango, West-coast Swing, and Polka

Our achievements: In our first year of experience, we have participated in many competitions with great success. A list of achievements include:

★Annual University of Michigan Ballroom Dance Competition (University of Michigan)
•Newcomer ChaCha - 2nd
•Newcomer Jive - 2nd
•Bronze Jive - 4th
•Bronze Samba - 5th
★Arnold DanceSport Classic (Columbus, Ohio)
•Newcomer Rumba - 1st
•Newcomer Jive - 2nd
•Bronze ChaCha/Rumba - 3rd
•Bronze Jive - 6th
★Northwestern Ballroom Classic (Northwestern University)
•Silver Samba, Jive - 5th
•Bronze Jive - 3rd
•Bronze Rumba - 4th
•Bronze Samba - 6th
•Finals for Newcomer level

What are trainings like? We train under Matt Rivers, one of the best professional coaches in the Midwest. Matt is experienced in training Teams and he is also the coach of the Northwestern Ballroom Dance Team. He and his wife, Ula Rivers, own Studio Ulala. Trainings are typically 2-3 times a week (one of which is with Matt) and this is stepped up closer to competitions.

Who can join? All students (undergraduate or graduate) of the University of Chicago can become fully-fledged team members. If however you are a member of the community and are interested in improving your technique, you are welcome to join in our lessons with Matt. Quarterly membership for students is $60 and $70 for non-affiliates.

Salsa Performance Group

If you are interested in joining us, or want to have us for your event, please email to:

ballroom team ballroomteam at uchicago dot edu

SALSA group fmarinp at uchicago dot edu

We practice at

Ida Noyes Hall

1212 East 59th Street, Chicago IL 60637

Bartlett Dance Room

5640 South University Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637

Shoreland Ballroom

5454 S. South Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60615

Ratner Athletic Center in the Dance Room on the second floor

East 56th Street and Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Il 60637

Due to the great success of our programs and the interest of students in Salsa and Ballroom dancing, we have created two stable dance bodies: the Ballroom Team and the Performance Salsa Group. Our goals are:

★Offer a more complete dance instruction to the interested students.

★Provide affordable Coaching and Practice Space to interested students and members for Competition and/or Performance

★Compete in Different levels of University Ballroom.

★Perform and in that way publicize our group in our own events and parties, along with external events such as OLAS, RBIM, Dance Marathon, etc.

Ballroom Team

In the Fall quarter of 2008 we have decided to form (or better, formalize), our own Salsa Performance Group. It's an opportunity to learn new and more advanced moves, perfect and polish the known ones, and, most importantly, to showcase your talents to your friends and fellow students. The goal is to learn and prepare performances to be shown mainly on our salsa parties but also in events such as OLAS, ManosUnidas, Dance Marathon, where people can learn more about our club and join us in the fun of dance!

What is the format? We meet once a week to learn the moves, sequence them and getting them ready to be performed by the end of quarter salsa party and in the winter quarter. Also, more dedicated dancers can work in parallel performances.

Who can join? Since it is a more advanced class, the students that are interested will be evaluated in an audition which takes place at the beginning of the quarter. Since we will go in a faster pace and it is a group effort, you are expected to commit strongly to come every week.

How can I join? We will announce with at least a month in advance the dates for the auditions for new members. However, we'd like very much that you can tell us if you are interested in attending, so we can have an idea of how many people are involved. Let me know at salsa at uchicago dot edu.

In summary, write us (salsa at uchicago dot edu) if you are interested in participating with us, and whether you have completed Intermediate level, and if you'd like to start rehearsing during the summer.

Members of the 2008-2009 Salsa Performance Group

Director: Felipe Marin

Choreographers: Sheila Dias, Alex Cheskidov, F. Marin, Antonio Montalban.

Performers: Mary Caldwell, Antonio Montalban, Stephen Joy, Fanny Delebecque, Neal Corson, Ioana Marinescu, Konrad Koening, Melissa Mosier, Larry Mao, Milan Nealey, Alex Cheskidov, Joy Heafner, Scott Waitukaitis, Marilyn Volkman, David Clayman, Sarah Jankowski.