The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company

In conjunction with the Pomona College Office of Advancement, the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company can now accept donations to support and supplement current funding.
If this page does not in your browser, please visit Pomona College Advancement. For "Designation" select "Other," and then put "Ballroom Dance" in the designation field. Thank you!

I am excited to announce that CCBDC Alumnus Daniel Fielder (HMC '11) and CCBDC supporters Jim and Ginny Roach have come forward to provide CCBDC $4000 in matching funds for our first-ever fundraising effort! We kicked off our adventure at the 6th Black and White Ball in December, and CCBDC alumni and friends have already donated $1500 towards our $4000 matching target! Interested in connecting with this wonderful program and giving us an opportunity to send you fun collectors items and swag? Give below!

The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company is pleased to announce its Spring 2013 Program. We are a proud supporter of the Partner Dance Project - inquiries may be directed to leadership@claremontballroom.org.

Public Events in Claremont

• 2/1: Kickoff Salsa
• 2/4: Auditions Review Session
• 2/6: Spring Auditions!
• 2/15: Vintage Valentine's Day Dance
• 3/30: Collegiate Showdown
• 4/5: Spring Fling Swing Jam (in collaboration with Claremont Colleges Swing)
• 5/3: An Enchanted Evening: Formal Gala and Fundraiser
• 5/4-5/5: A Vintage Pop Review: Popular Music from 1910-Presnt. Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company in concert!

Public Performances in LA

• TBA

Traveling!

• 3/2-3/3: San Diego
• 3/14-3/19: New York
• 4/19-4/21: Denver

Find out more about the following members of the Claremont Community who will be joining us Saturday December 8th for the Fall 2012 Season of Dancing with the Claremont Stars!

• Elizabeth Connolly (Visiting Professor of Physics at Harvey Mudd College, Cha Cha)

Elizabeth Connolly has been in the physics department of Harvey Mudd College since 2007. She loves bringing exciting, often intuitive theories of physics to life for her students. When asked if she has a favorite color, Elizabeth replied that she does not have one, she loves them all. However, if she were to let her four year old pick, she would tell you it was pink! When she was in elementary school, Elizabeth wanted to be an Olympic Figure Skater. If she could go anywhere in the world for a month, Prof Connelly would go to Thailand. She says, “I love the people, food, culture, and natural beauty.” If she could learn any dance, Elizabeth would learn to swing dance because of how fun it looks! A figure skater in her youth, she trained by doing ballet. She has loved to dance since she was a little girl. She became interested in DWTCS because it sounded like a fun way to get to know students in a non-academic setting, not to mention that she would get to learn a style of dance that she had never done before! When asked why she deserves to win, Elizabeth replied that she isn’t sure that she does! She just wants to have fun with all of the other dancers and coaches. Her favorite part of this process so far has been getting to know her student-coaches in a fun, outside classroom setting. She remarks that they have had a great time and it has been a blast learning and practicing a new dance routine. This process has been a nice change of pace!

• Robert Escobar (Assistant Director of the Scripps College Academy, Waltz)

Robert Escobar is the Assistant Director at Scripps College Academy. The program focuses on helping first generation young women prepare for college. They offer tutoring, help with college applications, financial aid, and mentoring along with other programs that expose them to new experiences. His favorite color used to be blue, but just recently he has been really liking green. But he promises that he started liking it before he started working at Scripps! As a kid, Robert wanted to be a pediatrician because he thought that he could do better than his own pediatrician, who wasn’t the nicest. If he could travel anywhere in the world for a month, he would travel through Europe. He would like to visit gothic architecture and churches. He imagines that in person, they would be magnificent. If Robert could learn any dance, he would learn salsa because the people who dance it look like they’re having a great time! When he was younger, he grew up with parents who loved to dance but he has never had any previous dance experience. He became interested in competing with DWTCS because it sounded like a great opportunity to have fun, meet people within the community, and challenge himself. When asked why he deserves to win, he answered that he doesn’t know that he deserves to win, but he really wants to win because dancing is the last thing that he ever thought he would compete in. The journey alone has been extremely fun, so winning on top of that would be icing on the cake! Robert's favorite part of this process so far has been learning the individual steps and then putting them all together into one piece. It reminds him of the satisfaction of putting a puzzle together.

• Sharon Gerbode (Professor of Physics at Harvey Mudd College, Cha Cha)

Sharon Gerbode started as an assistant professor of physics at Harvey Mudd College in January 2012, and since then has been learning from her students what Mudd is all about. Her enthusiasm for physics knows no bounds, and she hopes that her students have enjoyed the learning process, thus far. When asked about her favorite color, she replied that currently it’s aqua blue, like the color of her office, although it changes frequently! When she was in elementary school, Sharon wanted to be a paperback writer. Currently, Prof. Gerbode would love to travel to Southeast Asia (maybe Thailand?). She also would love to learn Capoeira; she knew a few people in college that practice Capoeira and was amazed by what they could do. When Sharon was young, she used to do tap dance and jazz dance. And as all young dancers exclaim, “Yay scrunchies and sequins!”. Sharon became interested in competing in DWTCS back in the spring when she watched several of her physics students perform in the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company Spring Concert! She was totally inspired! When asked why she deserves to win, Prof. Gerbode says, “Because Nicole and Bo have worked so hard to help me learn ballroom dancing.” Her favorite part thus far, has been learning how to notice “cues” and dance with a partner for the first time.

• Scot Gould (Professor of Physics at Keck Science, Waltz)

Scot Gould is a professor of Physics at Keck Science Center. His role is to cause students to question their perception of the universe - particularly the myths they were "taught" in science. In this process he hopes they will construct a model of reality that will allow them better predict the outcomes of experiments. His favorite color is sky-blue-pink because it was his father’s favorite color. When Professor Gould was in elementary school he wanted to be a college professor. He hopes that he will never grow up. If he could travel anywhere in the world for a month, he would go to The atoll Fakrava in French Polynesia. Especially the far southern end, at least 2 hours by boat from the airport at the northern end. He would bring books (electronic format), eat great French food (local seafood), walk on the beach, snorkel and pray to the god, Sol. There he could think and contemplate reality without having to deal with college administrative responsibilities. He would want internet so that he could download more books to read, but other than food, he wouldn't need anything. He hopes that his partner would join him. If he could learn any dance, it would be one that would help enrich his relationship with his life partner, Karen. He has competed twice before in Dancing with the Claremont Stars, both in Waltz and Cha-Cha. He hopes to relax and be less tense while learning waltz this time around. When asked why he deserves to win, Professor Gould replied that he doesn’t feel that he deserves anything. His goal is to learn and have fun. His favorite part of this process so far has been being able to dance!

• Andrea Morseburg (Regional Director for Advancement at Pomona College, Cha Cha)

Andrea Morseburg is the Regional Director for Advancement at Pomona College. Her role at the college is to fundraise, including for the Ballroom Company. Her favorite color is red. When she was in elementary school, she had no idea what she wanted to be when she grow up and that holds true for today, although she does love what she does now for Pomona. If Andrea could travel anywhere in the world for a month, she would go to Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana. This is on her "Things to do before I die" list . She would like to go on safari and experience the differences between the three countries. If she could learn any dance, it would be Paso Doble because it looks like fun and she has not learned it yet. She was raised by a father who was a great dancer, giving her previous experience in dance before this competition. In 2007 she, without knowing what she was exactly signing up for, was in DWTCS competing in Waltz. She says that she learned so much about herself, the waltz and performing which, until then, she had never done before. Now, 5 years later she has danced with two studios, been in several showcases and even in one competition. She says that being in DWTCS in 2007 has truly changed her life. When asked why she deserves to win, Andrea told us that she has worked very hard to become a better dancer these past two years. She has also conquered many of the challenges of being in a formation dance team. This time, dancing with just one person doesn’t seem as tough. She says that she is working very hard to win. She says that her favorite part of this process so far has been working with the students and learning from them and giving them a chance to be good teachers.

• Laura Trombley (President of Pitzer College, Waltz)

Laura Trombley is the fifth president of Pitzer College. In the eleventh year of her presidency, she is known by the Pitzer community for her extraordinarily high level of energy and devotion to the College. During her tenure, Pitzer’s faculty and student excellence has become nationally recognized and its progressive ideals highly regarded. President Trombley’s favorite color is blue, the color of her son’s eyes. When she was in elementary school, she wanted to be a mother. If she could travel anywhere in the world for a month, she would go to the Grove House so that she could eat cookies all of the time! If Laura could learn any dance, she would learn Quickstep because it looks like so much fun. She has never had any previous dance experience before DWTCS. She joined this competition because she wanted to learn how to dance and it sounded like a great way to get involved. When asked why she deserves to win, President Trombley responded that all the competitors are winners just to be participating! She remarked that her favorite part of this process has been learning how to dance and having great instructors.

• Peggy Waller (Professor of French at Pomona College, Cha Cha)

Peggy Waller has been a professor at Pomona College for 26 years. She teaches French Language, Literature, and Gender and Women’s Studies courses. When asked if she has a favorite color, Peggy replied that she loves color. Period. The brighter the better, but you’ll often find her in black. She says, “too much time in Paris and New York.. and at the Black and White Ball.” When she was in elementary school she wanted to be a ballerina and a teacher. She used to teach graduate students at Berkeley as a visiting professor but says that she is much happier working with undergraduates. She loves knowing that they are going to put into practice what she is trying to teach in a variety of ways, places, and careers, some of them surprising. If she could travel anywhere for a month, she would go to Russia. This stemmed from watching an old 1930’s film of the life of Catherine the Great. She finds the subject incredibly fascinating, especially in comparison with the 18th century of France, which she knows far better. She loves dancing for the way that it puts her in a different space: connected to a partner, to the music, to the moment. But she prefers watching dances that are wild like salsa, jitterbug, and west coast swing. When asked about previous dance experience, she told us that her mom taught her how to dance swing when she was little. She ended up teaching everyone she knew, which caused her to become a terrific lead and not such a great follow. Everyone in her family loves to dance but she has had no formal training except for in waltz. About four years ago she competed in waltz after seeing one of the DWTCS flyers. She loved that it was an incredible challenge, all elegance and formality, great exercise, and a huge amount of fun. This year, she was invited to compete by student Latina Vodolova. Though she didn’t seem to have time, she still signed up. Peggy says that she deserves to win DWTCS because she just spent too much money on dancing shoes at Very Fine, but also if her partners do a better routine than the competition and they get the loudest cheers. Her favorite part of this process so far has been getting to be the student of a student, not their teacher. She likes the camaraderie that she has developed with her coaches and the fun routine they are making up together. She enjoys the chance for creativity and group work, two of her favorite things.

Schedule and more information for the Black and White Ball.