Events on the UCT Ballroom Calendar!Socials | Medal Tests | Intervarsity | Formal
SocialsSo this is the part where I get to tell you how much FUN we're going to be having this year! Socials are something you don't want to miss out on. These are times when we put music on, get dressed up (for the braver ones) and dance until we drop!This year we're giving you more (rather than less) and are planning a social for almost every 2nd week! Aside from being a break from all the hard work that comes with being a UCT student, it also gives you an opportunity to get know all the lovely people in this asylum... I mean, society. Which is exactly what you signed up for! You also get the chance to practice, show off all the new moves you've learnt in class, and even to learn more from other dancers. MOST OF ALL, however, socials are there for you to have an insane amount of fun dancing the night away! This year's themes include 'Leather and Lace' and 'Ikey Superheroes'. There will be prizes for the best dressed - so get that wardrobe ready! Some socials include extras such as food, and thus there is a small cost involved - but only for some of them. Some are free too (I know how much you love free stuff)! Last (but definitely not least) are the semi-formals, where you get to dress it up a bit more smartly (although not as much as the end-of-year formal). There will be two during the year. Food and drink is supplied, which adds to the fun of a slightly different atmosphere. A pull-out calendar giving the times & dates of this year's socials can be found in the centre of this magazine, so don't miss out! - Clair van Eyssen 
Medal TestsMission: Medal TestsNow before you hyperventilate because you've just been given a multiple choice question and lectures haven't even started, relax! This is the one test that is actually fun! This is the event where all dancers in the society from different levels come together in Jameson Hall and dance with everything they've got. At the end, each person is given constructive feedback on their dancing which really helps you to figure out what you are doing right or wrong.Mission BasicsSometime after you have had a chance to get settled into classes, I will make an announcement that Medal Tests are coming up. After a few months of dancing, hopefully you will have found a few people whose names you can remember.This is your chance to approach them (yes, that includes the girls out there, don't be shy) and ask if they would like to do the test with you. It's not a marriage proposal, so don't be so nervous. Repeat until someone says yes. If you can't find a partner, breathe. We, the Ballroom Committee, will come to your rescue! Speak to us (timeously) and we will come to save the day! Either we will help to find a partner at your level, or a more advanced dancer will gladly help out. Finally, the day of the test. There will only be two couples on the floor, so you won't have to worry about traffic control and dodging other people. It's a bit like musical statues: the music starts and you dance until the music stops. The judges will then furiously scribble down comments about your dazzling performance. Then the music starts again and you dance… until the music stops. At the end of the day you will receive a sparkly certificate that you can show off to all your friends and family, as well as an evaluation of your dancing from the judges. The constructive criticism is helpful in improving your dancing so you can be at your very best for your next challenge: Intervarsity!
Formal 2010: RivendellLadies and Gentlemen,A night of beauty awaits you. The Formal is always the highlight of the ballroom calendar, and this year will be no different. Not only is it a chance to dress to the nines and have a great party in celebration of a fantastic year, it's also a perfect opportunity to show off those moves that you've learned. It will give you an opportunity to see what a real-life fairytale is like; beautiful sweeping ball gowns glittering, as handsome men lead their partners around the floor. This year we will find ourselves in the world of JRR Tolkien... Rivendell is a city of elegance and magic. A refuge hidden away in a deep valley in the foothills of the misty mountains; amongst woodlands, rivers and waterfalls. Flowing beauty and faded grandeur. Hear the voice of hurrying water in a rocky bed, smell the scent of trees in the air, and see a light on the valley-side across the water. For me, last year, the Formal was really the moment when I realised "I've done it! I learned how to dance! And here I am..." Looking forward to seeing you there! - Claire Hanley |
The theme for this year's Medal Tests is Havana! Feel free to dress up in all your favourite Cuban gear (think Dirty Dancing) especially for the social beforehand. It makes the atmosphere a lot more fun and works amazingly for getting rid of those pre-test nerves. So that's about all there is to tell you for now. Good Luck!
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