Prep Step
(An introduction to BAM)
Constitution
Want to dance?
Since our founding in 1994, Ballroom at Maryland's (BAM) main focus has been ballroom and latin dancing for fun, whether it be social dancing or competition. The DC collegiate ballroom scene primarily focuses on International style ballroom dance, as does BAM. The International style ballroom dances include:
Standard Dances:
The Modern Ballroom (Standard) dances travel around the ballroom in a counter-clockwise direction called the Line Of Dance (LOD). They are danced an a closed position, in which the man's left hand holds the lady's right, the man's right hand is on the lady's left shoulder blade, and the lady's left hand rests against the man's right arm.
- Waltz :: A swinging dance with a gradual rise over the counts 1 2 3.
- Tango :: A dramatic dance, danced without rise and fall, with a special hold.
- Quickstep :: A lively and energetic dance requiring quick movements.
- Foxtrot :: A smooth and elegant dance in 4/4 time.
- Viennese Waltz :: The fastest Standard dance, in 6/8 time.
Latin Dances:
- Cha Cha :: A fliratious and cheeky dance with the characteristic "4 & 1" accent.
- Rumba :: A slow and sensuous dance, considered the "vertical expression of a horizontal desire."
- Jive :: A Lindy/Swing-type dance adapted to ballroom. It is fast and lively. Picture the GI's last night before being sent off to war.
- Samba :: Pumping and rhythmic, this dance has the most simultaneous rhythms.
- Paso Doble :: A theatrical dance representing the man represents the matador and the lady will often represent the cape or the bull.
There are also descriptions of these dances here: about the dances .
Social Dances:
- Salsa/Mambo
- Bolero
- Merengue
- Hustle
- Lindy Hop
- West Coast Swing
- Argentine Tango
BAM is one of the many SGA recognized student groups. We are also registered as a sports club with CRS and we help coordinate the ballroom classes offered through the Art and Learning Center in the Stamp Student Union. Experienced members teach workshops throughout the semester. Each year we host the largest collegiate ballroom dance competition in the Midatlantic and southeastern United States, DC DanceSport Inferno (DCDI).
Ballroom dancing attracts men and women of every major, ethnicity, and age. BAM is open to the undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral and alumni population of our campus.
With the current popularity of ballroom dancing, sparked by several blockbuster hits like Shall We Dance, Take the Lead and Mad Hot Ballroom and shows such as Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, our club has grown tremendously. We have over 50 students competing for our competition team and hundreds of students taking classes every semester. Our list serve reaches 1500 people every week. We would love to have you join our growing community of ballroom dancers!