In this series of articles, Kent sport Marketing volunteer Tana Navaratnalingam, will interview a range of sport players from the variety of different sports offered at Kent Sport, all at different ability levels. The interviews will consist of questions surrounding the reasons they chose their desired sport, what their ultimate sport goals are and how Kent sport has helped them be successful in their sport, along with other questions.
Read the interview below or watch the interview by clicking here.
Ballroom and Latin Dance
Ballroom dance is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film and television. The categories of Ballroom dance in the international dance sport competitions consists of Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slowfox and Quickstep. Latin dance refers to the types of ballroom dance and folk dance (with a few exceptions) from Latin America. The categories of Latin dance in the international dance sport competitions consists of the Cha – Cha – Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble and also the Jive of the United states origin.
The UKC Ballroom and Latin dance provide a variety of dance classes under the disciplines of Ballroom and Latin American dance including Waltz, Quickstep, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba and Jive, as well as getting a taste for Rock ‘n’ Roll. They welcome anyone regardless of experience as they provide an environment suitable for people of all levels and abilities to learn, perform and compete. Joining UKC Ballroom and Latin dance is a good way of meeting new people and helps to improve your confidence but there’s also opportunity to compete against other universities around the country, including the home of Ballroom dancing, the Blackpool Winter Gardens!
Other highlights of the academic year are the competitions, including the aforementioned Blackpool, but the club also travel around the U.K. to dance against other Universities at places such as Leicester, Nottingham and Cardiff. But don’t worry if you don’t want to compete – you don’t have to! One of the club recent highlights was winning the offbeat category at the Inter Varsity Dance Competition 2013. The Club gives members the opportunity to perform by holding their own performances such as ‘Strictly Kent Dancing’, the University of Kent’s version of Strictly Come Dancing, and by taking part in events held by other clubs and societies.
In this interview, we hear from Hannah Lennox, the competition secretary of UKC Ballroom and Latin dance, share her sports background and her ultimate Ballroom and Latin dance goals along with other question. Read the interview below:
Tana: In today’s series, we are interviewing Hannah. Hannah currently plays… What do you play?
Hannah: I dance in Kent Ballroom and Latin dance club.
Tana: Perfect! Where abouts is your home location?
Hannah: My home location is now Canterbury
Tana: Why did you choose the University of Kent?
Hannah: They had the course that I was looking for and the campus was really nice when I came to view it. The staff seemed really friendly. They offered me a place and I accepted!
Tana: How many years have you playing this sport?
Hannah: I have been dancing Ballroom and Latin dance for 12 years
Tana: Wow! And before that or during this time, have you been playing any other sports as well?
Hannah: I do other styles of dancing and throughout my school life, so we are talking about a few ago now, I played Netball, Hockey and football and quite a lot of team sports.
Tana: Why did you choose Latin and Ballroom dancing?
Hannah: When I was in primary school, there was an after school club one evening and I just went along, joined in and it is something that I have stuck with ever since.
Tana: What has been your biggest accomplishment within the time that you have been playing Latin and Ballroom dancing?
Hannah: The real highlight for me was that I was a finalist at Blackpool, which is the major university dance competition each year and that was two years ago now.
Tana: What has been your biggest challenge or setback while playing?
Hannah: Um, probably all the partner swapping because when you get to university, people have degrees and then they move on with their lives, unless they are me. So you have to start again with new partnerships, with new people and building from there.
Tana: How easy is it to get used to you dance partner?
Hannah: It depends on the person. I have been pretty lucky with the people I have ended up with. We form good friendships. Each year or every two years, you have start building up from the bottom.
Tana: What would be your ultimate sports achievement?
Hannah: I would like to probably win Blackpool at a different competition, instead of a university one, one on the open circuit.
Tana: Who would you recommend the sport to and why?
Hannah: Everyone. It really is a sport that everyone can join in with and they don’t have to be a competitive dancer if they don’t want to. It is great for personal development, in terms of picking something up and sticking at it. You learn skills just to show off on a Saturday night, if you want to. There is also the team atmosphere that you get with the university club and we form great friendships.
Tana: Do you have any sayings or mottos that has inspired you throughout the 12 years that you have been dancing?
Hannah: Not really. The saying that always sticks in my head is ‘let him lead you’, because in Ballroom and Latin dance, it is really important for your follow to make sure that they are following their guy. Something to remember but it’s but is not really a motivational thing.
Tana: Is there anything else you would like to share today?
Hannah: Ballroom and Latin dance is just a great sport to be involved in and there is so many opportunities to get involved throughout the year. So just tell people to come along and join whenever they get the urge to.
Tana: Thank you Hannah! That is our fourth interview of the Sports Interview Series.