Waltzing the long night away

The Ballroom Dance Society offers many styles of dance to a growing number of students. They swing, they tango, they waltz -- and they are growing larger as an organization with each passing year. They are the University of Pennsylvania Ballroom Dance Society, an organization comprised of hundreds of members, including undergraduate students, graduate students and community members alike. Wharton junior and Penn Ballroom Dance Society President Tara Fallon attributed the group's recent climb in membership to the popularity of recent movies such as Swing Kids, Swingers and Evita in which swing dancing and tango dancing are all the rage. Fallon explained that to meet the public's thirst for swing, tango and other dances, nightclubs like the Five Spot in Philadelphia have opened their doors to the increasingly-trendy styles of tango and swing dancing. Ballroom dancing will also be an exhibition sport in the 2000 summer Olympics for the first time. The society -- which teaches moves such as the cha-cha, fox trot, rhumba and tango -- focuses on international styles of dancing. Interestingly enough, Fallon herself knew nothing of ballroom dancing before coming to Penn -- although as a little girl she always wanted to learn the waltz. But she did know that while at Penn she "wanted to participate in a sport while being social, not necessarily athletic." Fallon's curiosity eventually led her to ballroom competition and the presidency of the society. Her responsbilities currently include coordinating the social aspects of the club, ranging from Sunday afternoon dance classes for club members to Wednesday night open dances. Fallon revealed that it is always fun to clear the dance floor at a wedding to show off her moves -- without overshadowing the bride and groom, of course. She works hand in hand with team captain and Wharton junior Jeff Pochowicz, as well as William Sherman, the team's former captain, whom Fallon credits with helping to lift the society off its feet. Sherman, a Physics graduate student, is a towering figure in the society. Upon arriving at Penn seven years ago, he said that he found that the ballroom dance society existed in name only. Sherman, who danced in his undergraduate days at Brown University, said he was shocked to see Penn's almost invisible ballroom dance club when he arrived on campus. Determined to change the club's status, Sherman -- along with Medical School student Kim-Anh Nguyen -- set out to build up the organization, he added. Sherman then began to take on more administrative responsibility in the society, shortly becoming its official president. In his new role, Sherman was instrumental in strengthening the competitive sector of the club, the Penn Ballroom Dance Society Team, as well as establishing formal dances for the Society, including the annual fall dance festival and spring formal. Due in large part to Sherman's work, U.S. adult Latin dance champions Eugene Katsevman and Maria Manusova were able to participate in last semester's fall dance festival. Sherman -- who declined to serve as the club's president this year -- said he had "high aspirations for the team," although he still maintains realistic goals for its participants. Team members may be technically skilled enough to compete in the higher levels. But to compete in open competition -- where competitors are judged on artistic expression as competition regulations are removed -- team members must have the drive to "take the next step" in developing their artistic and competitive skill, he added. Like Sherman, Pochowicz, the current team captain, has invested a considerable amount of time in the society. Pochowicz is responsible for coordinating the administrative end of the competitive team and registering couples for dance competition, as well as a handful of other duties. His obligations differ from club president Fallon's obligations in that Pochowicz manages a small, competitive sector of the society -- the team -- whereas Fallon oversees the whole society. Pochowicz said that the team practices between 10 and 12 hours each week, including Sunday dance classes in King's Court College House, open dances in Hill College House Wednesday, as well as Friday and Saturday night excursions to dance clubs around the Delaware Valley. College sophomore Jesse Goldstein, an active club and team member, is frequently stopped on South Street by admirers who have seen him swing dancing at the Five-Spot. Goldstein recounted how he was originally drawn to ballroom dancing. "It was a complete fluke," he said, since his friends dragged him to a society dance class during his freshman year. He found that he was improving his skill in record time and was quickly roped into the ballroom dancing scene. Sophomore Dalia Feldman also said she was enthusiastic about the club, explaining that the society "gives you the technique. All you need is the will to dance.