Friday, April 28, 2000 The University Daily Kansan Section A · Page 5 Students get 'Loco' at local dance contest By BriAnne Hess writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer It's Friday night at Coco Loco Mexican Cafe. The tables and chairs have been pushed aside to make room for a dance floor. People wait in a line to get inside while bump-n-grind music blasts outside. It's dirty dancing night, and there's money uv for grabs. On Friday nights this month, dancers at Coco Loco, 943 Massachusetts St., have competed for club techno, dirty dancing, merengue and salsa dance titles. Ashley Bowen, Augusta senior, and Amy Konrath, Leawoid senior, entered the dirty dancing contest by chance and ended up winning third place. Bowen's friends signed her up for the competition as a joke. "I'm sort of notorious among my friends for dirty dancing, so we went down there and had a few drinks.' Bowen said. Konrath said she ended up in the competition with Bowen because she'd had the most to drink that night and Bowen hadn't found a partner. She said she had a hard time keeping a straight face on the floor. "When I was on the dance floor, I said. 'You know, I can never run for public office because they're taking pictures.'" Konrath said. Dancers were doing handstands in odd positions and grabbing their partners' body parts. Bowen and Konrath said that they were the cleanest dirty dancers on the floor, so they were impressed that they got third place. They were also one of two couples composed of two women. The competition started with about 20 couples on the floor with bouncers walking through and tapping people who didn't make the cut on the shoulder. "Once we'd gotten past round one, we couldn't back out because we'd gotten that far," Bowen said. The winner of the contest, decided by crowd participation, won $200 — second place won $50 — Bowen and Konrath got recognition for third place. "I guess it was a blessing that we didn't win because I wouldn't want to be the dirtiest dancer in Lawrence." Bowen said. Jenni Valadez, Kingman junior, has competed in the salsa and meringue dances. She never took formal lessons but learned the moves by watching other dancers and getting out on the floor. "It's a learning-friendly environment, but you have to be willing to get out there and not be shy." Valdez said. Valadez dances for fun, but she said that some dancers got pretty competitive. A small dance floor and frenzied dancing don't always mix. "The salsa contest was pretty intense," Valadez said. "There were a lot of couples, and there was some pushing going on. People were using their elbows and had their legs out too far." Kelfel Aqui, owner of Coco Loco, said he wanted to do something a little different than the typical Lawrence dance scene so he created a club that's music was heavy on Latin rhythms — and boasted a dance competition. He said that most of the crowd on dance-competition night consisted of KU students, but that there also were people who traveled from as far away as Omaha, Neb., Kansas City and Wichita. "They've heard about it and then they come and see the small setup for a restaurant," Aqui said. "We move the tables, set up the booths differently and they always leave happy." The Coco Loco competition tonight is free-form dance. Clubs provide diverse alternatives for students By Ryan Blethen writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer Ericka Morris said people often stared at her when she walked into a bar or shop on Massachusetts Street — but that's not the only reason she feels uncomfortable at many downtown hang-outs popular with other students. The Philadelphia senior, who lives in an apartment on Massachusetts Street, is one of many minority students at the University of Kansas who say such locations do not meet their needs. Tremors, 729 New Hampshire St., draws a diverse Lawrence crowd. While many minorities feel uncomfortable downtown, Tremors has appealed to minorities for events such as hip-hop Fridays. Photo by Crain Bennett/KANSAN "When you have your free time, I choose to be around people like me," said Morris, who is African American. Alex Morales, Kansas City, Mo., senior, said he sometimes went to Massachusetts Street after a day on campus but there were very few places he liked to frequent. Morales, who is a member of Sigma Lambda Beta, a historically Latino fraternity, said he preferred to stay at home with his friends and fraternity brothers and drink. The place students hang out is not necessarily a racial issue. For Sheri Johnson, Shawnee junior, it is a religious issue. Johnson is Muslim and does not drink. "I go back to Kansas City" she said. "If you love me, I am nothing to do." The sultry sounds of Salsa music pour out of Coco Loco Mexican Cafe, 943 Massachusetts St., attracting a number of area Latinos every weekend. However, the diversity of two downtown clubs make them popular among minority students. Morales said the club was one of the few places downtown that catered to minorities. "That's pretty much the only place I go," he said. Nick Fulton, manager of Coco Loco, said Latinos would come from as far away as Kansas City for Saturday night entertainment. "It brings people together," he said. "They dance, and it's always a good time." Ronald Ruiz, a disc jockey at Tremors, said the club management did a lot for people who might not feel welcome at the average college hangout. The unique nightly themes at Tremors Night Club, 729 New Hampshire St., make it more minority-friendly. For example, Friday nights at Tremors have been designated hip-hop nights for a little more than a year. "We cater to a lot of different crowds that other people don't," he said. Dennis Steffes, the club's owner, said he did not start hip-hop night with the intention of targeting African Americans. It was more of a format decision, he said. Wednesdays are alternative lifestyle nights at Tremors. Saturdays are reserved for London House, a music and dance trend that is similar to a more intense, energetic rave. Morris said she went to Tremors on Fridays because there usually was a more diverse crowd. "That's the only place in Lawrence to go." she summer internship, with a twist. Working on the Kansan advertising staff this summer will give you real-world experience without the real-world pressure. Have a great summer in a relaxed student environment, and learn about advertising,sales strategy and ad design. Application Information: Applications can be picked up in 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall. Please submit applications as soon as possible to 119 StauFFER-Flint Hall. attn. Jenny Weaver . Any questions? Please call Jenny Weaver or Cecily Curran at 864-4358. Recycle your Kansan SLIAFILMS STUDENT UNION ACTIVITIES SUA 864-3477 · 864-SHOW www.ukans.edu/~sua The Beach "R" Wed, Fri. & Sat. 7 & 9:30 p.m. One Nation Under God "NR" Fri. and Sat. Midnight One Nation Under God All Shows Only $2 * Purchase Tickets at the SUA Box Office Level 4, KS Union We have great gifts & cards for your loved ones' graduation Downtown Lawrence • 8 West 81st Street Lawrence, KS 60044 *783-845-1099* Hollywood Theaters SOUTHWIND 12 3433 IOWA 822 0680 BARGAIN MATINEES INDICATED BY ( ) STADIUM SEATING * ALL DIGITAL 1 28 Days *$^{14}$ (1:50) 4:25, 7:05, 9:40 2 Return to Me *$^{14}$ (1:55) 4:25, 7:05, 9:45 3 The Road to Dorado *$^{14}$ (2:00) 4:50 ———— also. 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EVERY TODAY ONLY The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Lied Center Swarthout Chamber Music Series presents Swarthout Chamber Music Series presents EmerSon string quartet "Regarded for more than a decade as one of the hottest quartets..." - The New York Times Performing works by Haydn, Shostakovich, and Debussy saturday april 29 All tickets half price for students. 2000 8:00 p.m. For tickets or more information, please call the Lied Center Box Office (785) 864-ARTS or Ticketmaster (785) 234-4545 or (816) 931-3330 www.ukans.edu/~lied The University of Kansas, School of Fine Arts Department of Music and Dance presents... May 4 & 5 2000 8:00 p.m. UNIVERSITY DANCE COMPANY with Cohan/Suzeau & guest choreographers Brian Brooks & Krystyna Jurkowski-Hilding Lied Center Tickets on sale at the Lied Center, Murphy Hall and SUA box offices: $7 public, $5 students and senior citizens. Call 864-ARTS for tickets Funded in part by KU Student Senate activity fee. STUDENT SENATE