Ballroom Dance Team in Limbo

Thomas Nelson has all the parts needed for a successful ballroom dance team. Pam Roberts, who works in the business office, is an enthusiastic adviser for the student organization. Students have expressed interest. A time and place for practices has been secured. The College has a great ballroom dance tradition.

The only thing missing is a list of events. Unfortunately, there is nothing on the horizon, either.

"With the covid guidelines, there have not been any college competitions," Roberts said.

However, she is not discouraged. She's hoping the team can return to action, at least practices, next month.

"I'm not sure yet what's going on with ballroom dance," Roberts said. "We are going to try and at least start lessons back in February. I don't think we'll be competing this year because all the colleges are still under covid restrictions."

The most recent competition the team attended was the Big Apple Dancesport Challenge in New York City. It was a memorable experience, not the least of which was because team members earned two first-place awards, one third, one fourth, three fifths and two sixths.

Roberts tried to restart the program at the beginning of the 2021-22 academic year.

"With the kids not at school, we couldn't get anyone to participate," she said.

However, that is not the case now.

"I have a list of 10 to 12 students so far that have contacted me saying they will be interested if we get it back," she said.

When the team is able to practice safely, the practices will be held Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in Wythe Hall near the library.

"We can do some things apart, but eventually you have to be together," she said of dancing. "It's really difficult because you have to be in close contact. Some of how you're judged is your contact with your partner and how well you all move together as one."

She realizes it's out of her hands.

"We just need covid to settle down," she said. "We'd love to get back to competing."