Dance Classes Take Off Among Students

Dance Classes Take Off Among Students

Rice Dance Theatre performers from left are Kimberlee Benn, Katy Busworth and
Kristina Ranierie. The students performed last fall in a performance of "Cajun
Grass," choreographed by Rebecca Valls.

BY PHILIP MONTGOMERY
Rice News Staff
Sept. 3, 1998

Rice students taking ballroom dancing classes for their Human Performance requirements
may not exactly flow across the floor like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, but
they do reflect a growing interest in how to put their best foot forward.

Of course, dancing like Astaire and Rogers takes hours of practice. Gene Kelley
did not just step out on the street on a drizzly evening and spontaneously erupt
into dance and song in the rain. He rehearsed. And he probably took a few dance
classes himself.

Dance classes in a variety of styles including country, ballroom and Latin
ballroom are taught at Rice through Human Performance and Health Sciences (HPER)
101 and 102, which are required for most freshmen. Of course, dance is not the
only type of activity offered. HPER classes include everything from badminton
to tai chi. Dance just happens to be one of the more popular courses, according
to Linda Phenix, an instructor in dance at Rice for about 14 years and the director
of Rice Dance Theatre.

"I’m so happy to see students dancing together," Phenix said. "The
interest in ballroom dancing started about six years ago. We’re hooked on it."

Phenix speculated that people are becoming more solitary. For example, individuals
can acquire lots of information and services through the Web without leaving
their homes. The dances of the ’60s and ’70s discouraged people from dancing
together. Times have changed.

"For whatever reasons," Phenix said, "this generation of men
and women want to dance together."

Watching a ballroom class is far removed from a Hollywood musical, she said.
Students wear the typical Rice-issue shorts and T-shirts. The students appear
awkward at first.

When two beginning dancers in a class approach each other, there is that moment
when there seem to be too many arms and the hands do not quite fit. Then music
begins. Each dancer has the temptation to look at his or her feet. Forget gazing
into a dance partners eyes. "Cool" comes with practice.

But students do love it, Phenix said. So much so that in the early ’90s Rice
students started their own ballroom dancing club, which is now thriving.

Phenix works with dance instructors Rebecca Valls and Christine Lidvall, who
both are lecturers in dance. The dance program has offered ballet, modern, jazz,
tap ballroom and country western. Despite all those varied styles, the instructors
are always looking for new dance forms to introduce to the students. This year,
Latin dancing is being offered for the first time. Students will learn the rumba,
salsa, merengue, cha-cha, even the tango.

The interest in dancing has long been strong at Rice. Students created the
Rice Dance Theatre in 1979. Members take non-credit modern dance technique classes
twice a week. About 30 students participate in the program and they give an
annual performance at Rice. In addition, they usually attend the annual South
Central Region of the American College Dance Festival, where the troupe has
won numerous dance competitions.

For related information visit the following Web site:
Human Performance and Health Sciences: www.ruf.rice.edu/~hphs/