The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company will compete against some of the best dancers from throughout the Western United States at the Intercollegiate Showdown at 6:15 p.m. Saturday at the Rains Center, Pomona College. It is open to the public. Admission is $5.
The event features 120 dancers from as far as Arizona State University and the University of California, San Diego, among others.
“For the last ten years, The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company has ranked as one of the top two collegiate programs in the country,” said April Wong, a Scripps College senior and senior president of the ballroom dance company.
The dance troupe came in second at the USA Dance National Collegiate DanceSport Championship held last month in Columbus, Ohio.
“That was a huge achievement, considering that the majority on our team started dancing in college,” April said.
In addition, the company will perform at 10:30 p.m. Friday at its Black and White Ball. The free event is open to the public and will take place at the Platt Campus Center at Harvey Mudd College.
Before the dance troupe performs, faculty and staff of The Claremont Colleges will compete at 9 p.m. in the “Dancing with the Claremont Stars” competition. The audience will cast votes to pick the winner.
The 2011-2012 executive leadership board for The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company includes:
- Paul Roach, director, adjunct faculty, Pomona College
- April Wong ’12, senior president
- LeeAnn Allen ’12, vice president
- Maria Martin ’12, vice president
- Morgan Pepper PZ’11, secretary
- Stacey Wheeler ’13, chief financial officer
- Madison Williams ’14, public relations director
- Brian Fielder HMC ’14, volunteer coordinator