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.”