Ballroom Dance Club Among Entertainment Offerings at ‘College Shuffle’ Event

Want to see the fancy footwork of the Holy Cross Ballroom Dance Club this weekend?

Head over to Shrewsbury Street on Sept. 6 as club members perform swing, cha-cha, rumba, salsa, hustle, meringue, waltz, foxtrot, and tango at 12:40, 1:40, and 2:40 p.m. The performances, which will be held in the parking lot next to Caffé Dolce, are part of the second annual Shrewsbury Street College Shuffle, happening on Worcester’s famed “Restaurant Row” from noon to 3 p.m.

Sponsored by the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, the College Shuffle gives students the chance to sample foods from more than 20 establishments. Tickets are $10 in advance ($15 day of), and can be purchased in the Student Programs and Involvement office (Hogan 229) at Holy Cross. The event will be capped off with a special performance by the Improv Asylum at 4 p.m. at the Hanover Theatre. Featured on HBO, the Boston-based Improv Asylum has performed throughout the United States.

This won’t be the Ballroom Dance Club’s only performance during the fall semester.

Catch them at the Co-Curricular Extravaganza on Sept. 8; the “Edge” dance club in Hogan on Sept. 27; Family Weekend in October; and a “Dancing with the Stars: Holy Cross Style” event at the end of the semester. The club is also hosting an Intercollegiate Ballroom Social Dance on Oct. 3, open to area teams.

The sudden explosion in interest follows the success of “Dancing with the Stars,” the reality show on ABC that pairs professional dancers with celebrities in ballroom dance competitions.

The club, which frequents many nursing homes in the Worcester and surrounding areas, has become such a big draw that the executive board created a new position titled performance coordinator to handle the booking of events.

Just as the number of requests have increased, so too have the number of students eager to learn how to skillfully saunter their way across a ballroom. Last year, there were about 40 competing members on the team and nearly 100 members, according to Michelle Arata ’09, co-chair of the team. She expects the numbers to climb this year.

“Ballroom Dance is a very popular club on campus because it is a great way to have fun, meet people and learn something new,” she says.

Team members practice up to three hours each week, with instruction led by professionals from Arthur Murray Dance Studios.

Pictured: Brian Bergeron ’10 and Sara Green ’09 take part in ballroom dancing.

Related Information:

• Holy Cross Ballroom Dance • College of Worcester Consortium