Published: September 19, 2009 08:16 pm      

Kick up your heels with saucy ballroom dancing

Classes begin this week at EOSC in Wilburton and McAlester

“When people think of ballroom dancing, they think of the Tango, the Cha Cha, those showy, flashy dances they see on television,” said Justin Colvard, “and that is a form of ballroom dancing. But there’s also the social version, where people just get together to interact.”

Colvard, 22, is preparing to teach ballroom dancing through Eastern Oklahoma State College starting this week. A pre-med student who has been ballroom dancing since 2004, Colvard finds ballroom dancing teaches more than just dance steps.

Colvard began taking ballroom dancing classes while attending Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

“I was taking some communication classes at the same time I was enrolled in ballroom dancing, and I noticed we talked a lot about the same things in both classes, like body language, and the processing of both verbal and non-verbal messages,” he explained. “I really started exploring the different dances, and got involved with the Argentine Tango. It’s a little different than ballroom dancing, but that’s when I started really learning dance theory and its connection to interpersonal communication. The non-verbal communication style in ballroom dancing got me hooked.”

Traveling to Tulsa at least once a week, he’s been expanding his ballroom dancing repertoire, participating in the Argentine Tango Community, a social dance organization that meets regularly, giving lessons and public dance demonstrations. He’s also been attending a myriad of seminars and workshops in order to improve his technique.

Now having applied to medical school, Colvard, who grew up in Hartshorne, is taking some pre-med classes at Eastern.

“Word got around that I was involved in ballroom dancing,” he said. “So that’s how these upcoming lessons got started. There’s not a lot of ballroom dancing around here, so I’m really excited about the possibility of getting it started.”

Colvard is looking forward to teaching more than just choreography.

“I want to teach that ballroom dancing is about communicating. It’s very much a whole body experience,” he said. “That’s what is so unique about ballroom dancing — it’s physical, it’s healthy, but you must also use both sides of your brain, and use logic and creativity together.”

He added that in academics, students use their brains and logic for problem solving and sequencing activities, and creativity may figure in, depending upon the subject. Athletically, most events and activities require logic and physical exercise, but allow for very little, if any, creativity. Ballroom dancing combines logic and creativity to create a unique experience.

“It’s really a valuable skill to learn,” Colvard added. “It builds confidence, even off the dance floor.”

Classes start at the Wilburton campus on Tuesday and in McAlester on Thursday. The cost is $60 for eight classes, one class per week for eight weeks, but those who call to pre-register will receive a $10 discount.

Classes are from 6 to 8 p.m. On-site registration begins at 5:30. Participants are asked to register with a partner, and couples must be male/female. Singles may be placed on a wait list and partnered with other singles, if possible. Classes are available to participants of all ages.

For more information or to pre-enroll, call or e-mail Barb Gilbertson at

918-302-3642 or bgilbertson@eosc.edu.



Contact Mandy Carter at mcarter@mcalesternews.

com.