DANCESPORT

The UC San Diego Dancesport Team is a competitive Ballroom and Latin Dance Team. Our mission is to provide an inclusive and welcoming community that provides opportunities to gain technical, social, and competitive Ballroom and Latin dance skills. All UCSD students are welcome to join at any practice throughout the year! The team welcomes members of any experience level, and you do not need a partner to join. In fact, most members start with no partner and little to no dance experience. We seek to provide these opportunities with as little student financial contribution as possible, so don’t be scared to come out and dance!

Our team focuses on learning International Style Ballroom dancing. Latin dances include Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive. Standard dances include Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, and Viennese Waltz. Additionally, we learn Social or “Nightclub” dances such as Salsa, Bachata, West Coast Swing, Hustle, and more! There is also an opportunity for additional practice in other styles of dance such as American Smooth and Rhythm.

Our International Latin dances are taught by Marcus Johnson, a professional dancer who offers 20+ years of coaching experience and is an Ohio Star Ball Rising Star Latin Champion. The International Standard dances are taught by Selena Johnson, a professional coach, choreographer, and competitor holding championship titles like the World Masters Rising Star Smooth Champion. Additionally, our more experienced members form the Command Staff and lead weekly practices to better support our new members. We work to ensure that members of all levels have a meaningful and rewarding dance experience.

Every March, we host our own competition at UCSD called Dance by the Shores. In addition, we travel throughout the year to various other collegiate competitions, including those held by Cal Poly SLO, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Berkeley. These competitions are a unique opportunity to test your newfound skills against other pairs on the dancefloor. On top of showcasing your technical skills and style, you also form meaningful bonds with your fellow danceport members as you explore the world of dance in different cities. See upcoming competitions on the Collegiate Dancesport Association website: http://www.collegiatedancesport.org/.

We meet Monday - Thursday evenings in RIMAC Rooms 1-2, starting the Monday of Week 2 in the fall quarter. Email our 2023 - 2024 President, Aparajita Pranjal, or connect with us on our socials down below! We look forward to seeing you on the dancefloor!