WELCOME TO UCONN BALLROOM DANCE
We are a ballroom dance group located on the UCONN campus in Storrs, CT that provides affordable ballroom dance lessons to any and all who are interested!
Our LESSON DAYS for the Fall 2024 semester will be MONDAYS at 7:00 PM at the Parish House of the Storrs Congregational Church with Open Practices on Thursdays in the Student Union!
For more information about who we are and what we do, feel free to check around our website or contact us!
For everyone's safety, please follow our COVID guidelines:
Do not attend lessons or practice if you are experiencing any symptoms. At this time, masks are optional at UConn, and because of the close contact and rotational teaching style at our club, we take this rule very seriously.
If you test positive, remember we will still make videos of the lesson content available for you so you can stay on track.
If you test positive during the first 3 weeks of ballroom that are free, we will still grant you three free weeks, excluding the week you were sick.
After following the CDC recommendation for the isolation period, it is recommended to wear a high quality mask for at least 10 days from the onset of your symptoms of first positive test result.
Never danced before? Don't know what ballroom dance is? Don't have a partner?
That's exactly how most of us started!
BEGINNER FRIENDLY LESSONS
Our lessons are heavily geared towards absolute beginners, since that's how most of us started our own ballroom journeys! Our instructors are professionally taught and passionate about sharing what they know and love about ballroom!
ROTATIONAL INSTRUCTION
A big concern for a lot of us was coming in without a partner, but we've got you! Our lessons are taught using a rotational system that makes sure everyone has a partner and can meet lots of new people. And of course, we more than welcome any friends you'd like to bring with you!
SOCIAL EVENTS
We wouldn't be a proper ballroom community without hosting events for us to hang out and dance together, so you can be sure there will be lots of opportunities to do just that! Ballroom is a uniquely social hobby that is based on meeting and connecting with people of all walks of life, so if there's anything we like more than ballroom, it's making new friends!
Okay, but what is ballroom dance?
To give a brief introduction, ballroom dance encompasses a variety of partner dances that are used in both social settings and competitive sports. Ever heard of Salsa, Hustle, or Country Two-Step? These are popular social dances, along with ones like Tango, Cha Cha, and Swing. And while each dance has it's own set of steps and flavor, ballroom dance's overarching theme is the ability for people to dance with others, with or without a planned routine!
If you've never seen ballroom dancing before, here are a few videos of how it looks in both a social and competitive setting!
WANT TO START DANCING? Become a Member of UConn Ballroom Dance!
Sign up within the First 3 Weeks of the Semester to get our EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT!
($40 for Students and $55 for Non-Students)
(Please note: Early Registration for the Fall 2024 Semester will be ending after the Monday, September 23rd lessons.)
Not sure if you're ready?
We offer a THREE WEEK TRIAL period where registration is not required!
Our Lesson Days are MONDAYS starting at 6:30pm at the PARISH HOUSE of the Storrs Congregational Church!
The weekly schedule for lessons and practices this semester is shown below, but see our SCHEDULE page to stay updated with any changes!
LESSONS
MONDAYS 7:00 - 10:00pm
Parish House of Storrs Congregational Church
2 N Eagleville Rd Suite 204
Storrs, CT 06268
OPEN PRACTICES
MONDAYS 10:00 - 11:00pm
Parish House of Storrs Congregational Church
2 N Eagleville Rd Suite 204
Storrs, CT 06268
THURSDAYS 6:30 - 8:30pm
Student Union Ballroom 330
2110 Hillside Road, U-3008
Storrs, CT 06269
Whether you're a student or non-student, use the buttons below to REGISTER and JOIN OUR MAILING LIST if you'd like to stay updated with UConn Ballroom Dance news!
Registration is non-binding, so there's no commitment required until after the 3-week trial!
Have more questions?
Do I need to register before going to the lessons?
Not at all! Our first three weeks of the semester are a trial period for all members, so no commitment or registration is required! Just stop by for the lessons, and, if you are interested in joining, we will let you know how to register afterwards! (Note: Now that our trial period is over, please don't hesitate to contact our Board (board@uconnballroom.com) if you have any interest in taking lessons with us!)
Do I need prior dance experience to join?
Not at all! We are open to anyone from a complete beginner to Open level dancers and everyone in between. Most of our dancers have started with little to no experience. If you have some prior dancing experience of any sort, you will certainly be at an advantage, but you will still find that our newcomer classes move at an appropriate pace.
What is ballroom dance?
Ballroom dance refers to a variety of partner dances across several different styles and speeds. Partnerships consist of a leader and a follower, so that skilled couples can dance together without planning routines in advance. Each dance has its own unique mood, style, appearance, and dance moves. If you'd like a more thorough introduction, feel free to check out our "A LITTLE ABOUT BALLROOM" page!
Do I have to come with a dance partner?
Not at all! In fact, all of our classes (at all levels) rotate through partners so you can have the experience of dancing with different partners.
Do I need to compete?
Not at all! We offer the opportunity to compete to any and all of our members, but it is not a requirement. If you have any questions about competitions, though, make sure to ask any of our Instructors! More than 90% of our members started with absolutely no dance experience, but those who do compete have still found it to be an exciting experience!
What kind of clothes or shoes should I wear?
The dress code for lessons is more casual. What you would feel comfortable moving in, like gym wear and sneakers, is appropriate.
What if I can't afford membership?
We don't want anyone to stop dancing because of financial issues. Please come talk to a board member privately if you need assistance.
WE'RE ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Follow us on our social media accounts for announcements and a bit more of what UConn Ballroom Dance is like, on and off the dance floor!
So, Why Choose Ballroom?
For most of us at UConn Ballroom, ballroom dancing was an unknown. We knew very little about it, and had little to no general dance experience. So, why try it out?
On paper, the benefits of ballroom dancing include things like: providing a creative outlet, being a way to socialize with friends or meet new people, being a fun option for exercise, etc.
However, we thought it'd be fun to hear a few of the reasons why our own members gave ballroom a chance and what they found along the way!
"I started with UCBD as a Freshman at UConn in 2015 and have loved every minute of it! I started with no prior experience, and with the resources and opportunities of this club, I've been able to enjoy an amazing journey of self discovery and development. Dancing has always been a great stress relief for me, and I will be forever grateful for the connections and friendships I've made through our organization."
- Steven
"UConn was a very new and stressful experience for me. I decided to take a chance and went to see what UConn ballroom was like. I was so happy to be welcomed like I was, even without any dancing experience, and am so glad to meet so many kind people who later became wonderful friends. Ballroom really helped me come out of my shell and help me come to terms with who I am. I would definitely not be the same without the club."
- Alyssa
"Having moved from out of state, I didn't know anyone in CT and needed something to recharge from the work and home routine. By chance, I ran into UCBD members when I was still very new to the ballroom scene. Their energy and excitement about dance inspired me to join - a decision I consider, to this very day, one of the best I've ever made. I made friends, found an incredible passion, learned about myself, and grew the courage to try a variety of dance styles for the first time (even though being some years out of college). I can't imagine my life without dance now, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity that UCBD gave me to try something new in a supportive and fun environment."
- Victoria