Put down the chemistry books and slip on those dancing shoes – Los Angeles has got the fix you need to shake your groove thing.
Some students answer the call to dance by combining books and movement at UCLA, majoring in world arts and cultures with a concentration in dance. The WAC major focuses on modern and postmodern dance, and students gain knowledge in both body identity and cultural perspectives.
The WAC route works for many students on campus, but a handful choose to leave dance as a hobby. Whether you pop’n lock or study classical ballet, there are many options available to shake what your mama gave you.
“Dancing is just fun. Who doesn’t want to dance?” said Mark Sy, a second-year undeclared student. “There are so many opportunities here on campus; it’s pretty cool.”
Interested students can decide whether they want to participate in cultural dance, hip-hop styles, traditional ballet, jazz or even musical theater.
On campus, the student group Majoring in Hip-Hop offers students with no interest in choreographed dance a way to truly express themselves.
“(The group) is welcoming enough to join if you’re interested,” said David Hoang, a club member and second-year English student. “If you’re flexible and energetic, and you want to move your body in ways you’ve never moved before, come out.”
Majoring in Hip-Hop, which meets every Friday in front of Covel Commons, mainly focuses on break dancing, with Pop’n Lock sessions on Sunday. The group also hosts events during the year, like Hip-Hop Week in the spring, and invites members to events off campus.
Though the club is more for the experienced breaker looking for a supportive group to share their interest in hip-hop culture, anyone can attend meetings.
“If you want to do it, you just go up and do it and have fun,” Hoang said. “Nobody’s there to judge you, and that’s the best part. Because nobody has to be perfect.”
Dancing clubs aside, the Wooden Center also provides opportunities for dance, hosting instructional classes including ballet, modern dance, African dance, salsa, ballroom dance, hip-hop and a handful more.
With the low price of $17 for an entire quarter, Sy said enrolling in a Wooden dance class is well worth your money.
“It’s a lot of fun, especially when you do it with friends. Last year, I had some of my floormates do the (hip-hop) class with me,” he said. “The teacher taught us just basic stuff, but it’s relaxing and it’s for you to just have fun a little bit. It gets your mind off of school.”
Cultural dance is also popular on campus. Groups such as Samahang Pilipino, the Association of Chinese Americans, and the Indian Students Association give students the opportunity to learn more about their culture and learn traditional dances.
“Culture shows made me think about what (my ancestors) did or how they did it, and I can learn more stuff about their type of dance,” Sy said.
For Sandee Vo, a second-year economics student who participated in Nikkei Student Union Modern in 2005-2006, learning the dances was challenging, but the long hours of dance practice paid off in the end.
“My favorite memory was when we did our performance at NSU Culture Night because we put in so many hours practicing for that performance,” Vo said. “When we were done performing and the audience cheered, it made it all worth it.”
For ballet buffs, there are also local dance studios in the L.A. area.
Masterpiece Dance Theater, which is located on Westwood Boulevard, is a close venue for dancers without cars. Levels range from beginning to professional, so students looking for a way to continue their training can expect to satisfy their hunger at the studio.
The Westside School of Ballet, located in Santa Monica, also offers students the chance to continue training in classical ballet. Classes are offered in bulk, making tuition affordable for college students.
Directed by Yvonne Mounsey, the Westside School of Ballet is strictly ballet-based, offering classes for adults in beginning basics, pointe and pas de deux.
For those interested in the hip-hop scene, the Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood offers classes in all types of dance, but their specialty is jazz and hip-hop. Well-known faculty members have bumped elbows with and choreographed for many popular entertainers today such as Destiny’s Child and Britney Spears.
“The Edge has the best deal for the (half hour) classes,” said Monica DeLateur, a third-year psychology student. “It’s totally worth it because you’re taking a class who has been taught by someone who has been on tour with Janet Jackson. It’s really highly talented people.”
Whether students choose to dance on campus at UCLA or in the surrounding community, dancing itself can be fulfilling.
“Some people I met have been dancing for years since high school. I never had that opportunity,” Sy said. “But now that I can dance here, I feel complete.”