FAQ

A: A valid RUID or Recreation Membership card is required to enter the gyms.
Then just come to a practice. Club dues are $30 per semester, and your first practice is on us!
Dress casually, to be comfortable while dancing. Ideally, bring dance shoes, or shoes you’ll be comfortable with. No partner needed, no experience required, just get ready to have fun!

A: Of course! Probably the number one reason we have a Ballroom Club here at Rutgers is to introduce and teach ballroom to any and all students and affiliates who want to learn.

A: Nope, we use a rotational system so everyone gets the chance to dance. Of course if you know someone who is interested feel free to invite them to go with you!

A: You should wear something light and comfortable that won’t restrict your movement.
We don’t recommend you wear jeans, shorts, or sweatpants.
As for shoes, Ballroom and Latin dance shoes work the best but they can be fairly expensive, so for newcomers, we suggest other types of dances shoes (such as jazz or character), flats, or even sneakers. Try to avoid shoes without backs or with super high heels.
Deodorant and breath mints will score you brownies points with your partners 🙂

A: Your first lesson is free but to attend subsequent practices you’ll be expected to pay dues.
Club dues for beginners are $30 for a semester. For competitive members, the club covers part of competition registration fees to encourage members to compete.

A: Of course, as long as you have a valid RU ID or Rutgers Membership Card you can join us at any point during the semester.
Your first lesson is free but to attend subsequent practices you’ll be expected to pay dues.

A: Nope, while you will get the most out of the club by attending all of our lessons, you are by no means required to do so, you have the ability to pick and choose as you please.

A: Not at all. While competitions are a ton of fun and a really great experience for all who participate, there is absolutely no pressure on anyone to compete.
One thing to keep in mind though is competitions are split between level (Newcomer, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Pre-Champ, Champ) so whether you’ve been dancing for 10 days or 10 years, there’s a category at every competition just for you!

A: That’s awesome! It’s lots of fun! So here’s how to prepare:

• First, talk to the team captain or other eboard members to check out which competitions we’re going to, and see if you’re available.
• Decide which style you want to dance, and check with eboard or our coaches in which level you can compete for each style. The styles are: Smooth, Standard, Rhythm, Latin. Levels are: Newcomer, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Pre-champ and Champ (or sometimes just Open).
• We recommend that you try to find a partner at your level for each style as early as possible. You don’t have to, and eboard will match you at the last minute if need be. But do it if you can, that way you can start practicing ahead of time. Ask eboard for help if you don’t know who to ask!
• It doesn’t have to be the same partner for all styles. Actually, it’s very common to have different partners for different styles.
• If you don’t have a partner for a style, you will be signed up as TBA. That’s ok, as soon as you get a partner (even at the last minute, literally) you will be able to dance. Competitions offer waiting lists for TBAs, and eboard can assist you with finding partners even after registration.
• A couple of weeks before each competition, eboard will email everyone about it. They’ll ask if you want to register, for which styles, if you have preferred partners, etc. Make sure you’re on our Mailing Lists !
• Transportation and accomodation are organized and  by eboard.
• Ask eboard if you have more questions!

A: In the Ballroom World there are 2 styles, International and American. As their names suggest, the International Styles are danced all over the world, whereas the American styles are seen almost exclusively in the US.
The International style is split between Standard (Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep) and Latin (Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive).
The American style is split between Smooth (Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz) and Rhythm (Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing, Bolero, Mambo). Although some of the dances appear in both the International and American styles, it’s the technique used that separates them from each other.