Students, professors and staff put the final touches on their best moves for the fourth annual Dancing with the Professors fundraiser
By Leona Baker | March 28, 2011
They’ve been practicing for months, and now the ballroom beckons. Well, not exactly the ballroom…the Batten Student Center, but still the pressure is on for nine couples who’ve been burning up the floor in preparation for the fourth season of VWC’s “Dancing with the Professors” fundraiser on Saturday, April 9 at 7 p.m.
The annual event is presented by the Student Government Association and pairs students with faculty and staff members in a ballroom dance contest, proceeds benefiting the Hofheimer Library.
With less than two weeks until show time, student Dominique Fowler and his partner Dr. Sara Sewell are hard at work in the dance studio. Dance teacher and choreographer Jon Green is putting them through the paces.
“One, two, three, cha, cha, cha,” Green chants. “Heads up! Bigger!”
Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” kicks in on the stereo, and they’re cha-cha-cha-ing like champs: a turn here, a pose there, and a final flourish.
“Yes!” Fowler yells excitedly. “That was so close!”
“We’ve been having a really great time,” Dr. Sewell says after a few more practice runs. “I’ve known Dominique since he first arrived here. He was my advisee. We spend a lot of time laughing. If we mess up, we just laugh and keep going.”
They’ll have stiff competition. This year’s lineup includes:
Ksera Dyette ’11 and Shawon Reyes ’09, Village Coordinator/Residence Life (Tango)
Ryan Wade ’11 and Dr. Mavel Velasco, Professor of Spanish (Chicago Style Steppin')
Heaven Bunting ’12 and Kyle Williams, Admissions Counselor/Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach (Salsa)
Christine Markham ’12 and Leon Taylor, Sous Chef/Dining Services (Foxtrot)
Rachel Calkins ’13 and Mike McFarland, Head Men’s Soccer Coach (Rumba)
Katie Giwa-Osagie ’14 and Drew Weaver, Call Support/Physical Plant (Bachata)
Jordan Bondurant ’12 and Dr. Tina Aldrich, Assistant Professor of Recreation & Leisure Studies (Merengue)
Dominique Fowler ’12 and Dr. Sara Sewell, Associate Professor of History (Cha-Cha)
Luke Wade ’14 and Denise Wilkinson, Associate Professor of Mathematics (Waltz)
There is still time to reserve your tickets. Tickets in advance are: $5 for students, $10 for faculty & staff and $15 for campus guests. Tickets at the door are: $5 for students, $15 for faculty & staff and $20 for guests. E-mail or call Jenn Mitchell at 233-8785 or jemitchell@vwu.edu.
This year’s event also includes an additional fundraiser for a former VWC student who lost his life serving in Afghanistan. Sean Cutsforth left behind a wife who is currently expecting their first child. Donations are separate from those for the library and will go straight to a Babies R Us gift card for Sean’s wife. His mother and brother will be in attendance at the event to receive the card.
“It was a story that touched all of our hearts,” says SGA President Nina Ruiz.
Be sure to arrive early as the event will begin promptly at 7.