STEPPING UP EFFORTS
Oklahoma group aims to promote ballroom dancing
Accomplished dancers inspire others, whether it’s watching the late Fred Astaire in an old movie or the glamour and glitter of television’s “Dancing With the Stars.” An effort is underway by several award-winning Oklahoma ballroom dancers to promote ballroom dancing, especially to the youths of Oklahoma. Amateur Dancesport athletes from throughout the United States and the world will compete in a ballroom dance competition Aug. 10-12, at the Embassy Suites, 741 N Phillips Ave. in Oklahoma City.
Dancers competing in the national qualifying event will display their artistry and athleticism as they hope to qualify for a chance to compete at the USA
Dance National Championships in 2019.
Jessica Dobey, a 17-year-old student at Edmond North High
School, began ballroom dancing in January, and though she is not yet ready to compete, she will be at the event to learn and cheer other dancers.
Dr. Pamela Craven, an Oklahoma City cardiologist, and her husband, Stephen F.
Hamilton, professor emeritus atthe University of Oklahoma’sCollege of Pharmacy, are awardwinning competitive ballroom dancers who are among those instrumental in bringing the event to Oklahoma. They are board members of USA Dance of Central Oklahoma, the sponsoring chapter for the competition. USA
Dance Inc. is the national sanctioning body affiliated with the U.S. Olympic
Committee.
“It is hoped that ballroom dancing will become a medal sport in the Olympics,” Hamilton said. “Ballroom dancing will be a demonstration sport in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.”
The mission of USA Dance is to increase the quantity and quality of ballroom dancing in the United States, and this first event in Oklahoma City is expected to further the goal. One of the aims is to bring attention to ballroom dancing as a healthy lifetime sport for all ages.
“I am new at ballroom dancing,” Jessica said, “but I am a very goaloriented person. I have fallen in love with dance, and I want to achieve. Dance has opened a lot of doors for me and given me confidence, and I want to continue in college.”
Sometimes it takes an invitation to try something new. Social dances under the direction of Joy Summers-Able, director of the OU Health Sciences Centerlibrary, and Daryl Green, professor at Oklahoma Baptist University, are held every second Saturday at Oklahoma City University in the Great Hall. Newcomers are invited. Free lessons begin at 6:30 p.m. before the dance, and partners are not required. Amateur dance hosts are available to guide beginners.
The OKC Dreamcatcher DanceSport Championships begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 10, featuring World Dance Sport Federation Senior II Standard and Youth Standard Open Championships, Championship Rhythm and Latin events. Saturday night will host the WDSF Open Senior I Standard, Youth Latin, Championship Standard and Smooth events. Spectators are welcome, and tickets may be purchased at the door.
For more information, go to http://centralokusadance.org/, or follow USA Dance of Central Oklahoma on Facebook.