10A
KULTURE
THE UNIVERSITY BABY KANSAS
WEDNESDAY
Lawrence studios step out to expose students to international dance techniques and moves
BY ALISON CUMBOW
Dance studios across Lawrence are working to bring an international flare to their curriculum.
Candi Baker, dance program director at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St., tries each semester to engage her students in dance as an art and to help her instructors do the same.
"I have been directing here for 20 years and I would like to expose people to other ways of dancing, to train dancers not just technically, but as artists as well." Baker said.
To keep up with her goals, Baker is constantly looking to bring new classes and fresh moves.
"Last summer, we had an African dance class, and we are hoping to have it again this summer for both kids and adults," she said. "Finding space and time for everything is sometimes the challenge, but I always try to make sure we have something going on for everyone."
Latin dancing is also a popular choice and almost all of these classes are taught by people with multicultural backgrounds.
"We offer Mexican folkloric classes for the youth and Latin ballroom classes for adults," Baker said.
Some KU students take classes at the Lawrence Arts Center, but most use their stages to practice and use the performance space.
"Most of the students that take classes here who go to KU enjoy the nice and very welcoming atmosphere." Baert said, adding that an estimated 100 to 200 KU students take classes at the center.
Lawrence Arts Center is a nonprofit organization that allows people the opportunity to express their creativity through theater, music and even yoga.
Wade Quandi, owner of Camelot Ballroom II, 1117 Massachusetts St., expressed a similar appreciation for the various international influences brought to his studio.
"Our instructors bring their experience in dance from other countries, especially when teaching international folk dancing and the Argentine tango," he said.
Quandil noted that one of his instructors spent a lot of time in Argentina studying dances, especially the tango. Camelot II specializes in the Argentine tango and offers the class every
Monday night
"Many of our students are also from different countries, like England, Poland and even Russia," he said.
Adding that many of his students are KU students, Quandil mentioned some unique opportunities that are offered at his studio. There is an group session Thursdays for anyone who wants to come; the instructors don't pay attention to attendance, he said, so it doesn't matter who shows up and who doesn't.
"We also offer a public dance party one Saturday night a month with live music and it always attracts a large number of people," he said.
"About 90 percent of what we focus on is ballroom dancing and even still we see so much international influence," Quandil said.
Camelot II also offers couples-only ballroom dancing, specializing in the waltz, swing and fox-trot. Quandil teaches ballroom tango, which is a type of American tango dancing.
"Right now, I'm rehearsing to do a Latin piece for a senior's final performance," she said. "It's more on the reggae ton side, and it definitely has a Mexican aspect to it."
Aside from the various dance studios in Lawrence, many KU students practice the art form on campus. The Robinson Center is the most popular spot for the dance majors at the University of Kansas.
Libby also mentioned her personal goals and reasons for keeping up with dancing.
Edited by Stacey Couch
Nina Libby, Santa Fe, N.M., sophomore and a dance major, stressed the importance of bringing more worldly steps to her stride.
"I would like to take more classes in different types of dancing," she said. "I like the physical activity and dancing is a passion for me. I enjoy it. It's something I want to do, not something I have to do."
Dance is way for people to understand and practice other cultures. Throughout Lawrence, people are learning how to do the jig a little internationally, and how to put a little "oo-la-la" in their steps.
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