HPER offers inexpensive, fun dance classes for non-majors

As a student at IU, finding interesting and fun classes to take might be a difficult venture. \nBecause students are expected to declare a major by the second semester of their sophomore year and must take classes that fulfill particular requirements, finding fun, low-credit courses can be a challenging task. But the different variety of dance classes offered through the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation achieves the "fun" requirement for the four-year plan.\nAfter senior Clara Julien's friend recommended Beginner's Ballroom Dance to her, the Spanish major decided to enroll immediately. \n"This is the first dance class I've ever taken," Julien said, "and I've already learned the basics of the rhumba, waltz, fox trot, jive and tango. I went from absolutely no prior knowledge of ballroom dancing to some actual proficiency."\nLike Julien, freshman Savannah Payton was a novice to ballroom dance until just six weeks ago. Payton, a sports communication major, decided to take the class to practice for her upcoming wedding. \n"I just got engaged, and I figure that this class will help me prepare for the big day," Payton said. \nAlthough Payton enrolled in the class by herself, she recommends taking the class with a friend. \n"If you take this class with someone else, you will have a steady dance partner," she said. "This would also make it easy to practice outside of class." \nPayton said after experiencing ballroom dancing, she would definitely consider taking another dance class. \nBallroom Dance Instructor Erika Ventura said most students, like Julien and Payton, come into the class without prior ballroom dance experience. \n"Some students have never even taken a dance class before but want to try something new and different," Ventura said. "I love teaching ballroom dance because I love getting young people involved."\nAnd the popularity of ballroom dancing and other dance classes is soaring. Ventura said she finds more students taking interest in the class, especially after hearing good things about it from their peers. \nAfter taking the class, many students have enrolled in Intermediate Ballroom Dance and have actually gone on to join the Ballroom Dance club. \n"I even ended up competing against one of my beginning students from last year," Ventura said with a laugh. \nBesides ballroom dance, other classes in the dance department offered to non-majors include Latin, tap, swing, Irish, ballet, modern, folk, jazz, Middle-Eastern and even hip hop. \n"After taking ballroom dance, I would definitely consider taking another elective dance class," Julien said. "This class has been fairly easy and requires no extra practice outside of class, although I do enjoy trying out the moves on my own."\n-- Contact staff writer Aliya Levinson at alevinso@indiana.edu .