Ballroom Dance Team

The Yale Ballroom Dance Team is for individuals and couples who are interested in competitive dancing. The lessons are designed for motivated people who want to move in a fast pace. You need not come with a partner, and no prior experience is required. There are lessons for all levels of dancers.

Team dues are $86 for the semester for weekly lessons, daily practice space, professional coaching, and 2 or 3 fully sponsored competitions. More details are available below. If you are interested in joining us, or have any further questions, please e-mail our wonderful Captain.

Beginners

For beginners, fall lessons are twice a week (usually Tuesday and Thursday, 7:30 - 9:00 pm). These lessons are taught by the Newbie Captains who are advanced dancers of our team with a lot of experience. Also, it's highly recommended for all begineers to attend the Sunday Club Lessons as well, where they will learn different dances in which they can compete. Partners are assigned by the Newbie Captain early in the fall, so that the couples can alsopractice on their own, if they wish.

In the spring, lessons are generally taught once per week by the Newbie Captain and once per week by one of our Professional Coaches (see below for more details).

Advanced / Returning Dancers

For returning dancers there are weekly lessons taught by our professional coaches(alternating every week between Latin and Standard). Our current coaches are Jennifer McCalla (latin) and Wendi Davies (Standard). Privates with them are available and encouraged. Moreover, there are weekly practices led by advanced team members which focus on technique, style, and drills. As for partnering, there are always dancers available, so talk to our captain if you do not have a partner.

Competitions

The team fully sponsors 2-3 competitions per semester (registration and transportation). Other competitions will be sponsored every now and then, if there's a lot of interest in the team.

Practice

Practice space for team members is available almost daily. Also there are scheduled team practices every week for all team members, both beginners and advanced.

Prefessional Coaching

Our Standard Coach is Wendi Davies. Wendi began dancing while at Princeton studying architecture. A competitive swimmer for many years, she was looking for a new competitive outlet. The daughter of dancing parents, she soon learned of the competitive and athletic nature of Ballroom Dancing. In her amateur career she was ranked third in the United States. She turned professional in 1991 and went on to be ranked second at the United States Championships, and was the winner of “Championship Ballroom Dancing” the popular show on PBS. She was the UK Rising Star Champion, Blackpool Rising Star Runner-up, US Representative to the World Championships and Blackpool Team Match, a finalist at the French Open and the US Open Championships and was ranked 13th in the world.

Our Latin Coach is Jennifer McCalla. Jennifer has been on the Fred Astaire National Dance Board since 1997. She holds the highest levels of accreditation from both FADS and the ISTD. As a competitor she was four-time United States Amateur Champions and represented the US in Latin, Standard, and 10-Dance Championhsips. She was undefeated Fred Astaire National Champions in Smooth from 1995-1997 and won many Rising Star Championship Titles at Eastern US and US in Standard, Latin, and Smooth, along with Smooth Rising Star Titles at Ohio Star, Breakers, and the Texas Challenge.

Other Proximal Coaches/Studios

Gabriella Takacs Fabry in Oxford/Derby, CT
Ballroom DanceSport in Westport, CT
Let's Dance in Rhythm in Branford, CT
Individual veteran team members are also available for private lessons and custom choreography.
Please inquire by emailing our Business Manager.

Useful Links - National Regulatory Organizations

United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (USISTD)
United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association (USABDA)
National Dance Council of America (NDCA)