Name: Marie Grap
Major: MS + BS Computer Science
Hometown: Simi Valley, CA
Officer Position: Alumni Team Member
Joined: Fall 2011 (Sophomore Year)
Syllabus Level: Silver/Gold
I came to Cal Poly with absolutely no dance experience. My Freshman year I joined CPSalsa (Cal Poly’s Salsa dance club) just to cross “Learn to Dance” off my bucket list, and ended up with a whole new lifestyle. Since then, I’ve branched out to Blues, Argentine Tango, West Coast Swing, and of course, Ballroom.
Dancing at CPSalsa’s annual SLOSX (San Luis Obispo Salsa Exchange)
Over the last two years I have come to love Ballroom Dance as both a form of expression and a competitive sport. A lot of times, you will find people on both extremes of this issue: some say that dance is purely an art form and cannot be judged while others argue that perfect technique is everything. I believe that there is a difference between good and bad dancing, but that there can be many expressive styles within a single dance genre that allow for creativity and expression. That being said, I am a big fan of social dancing when I feel like letting loose and grooving to the music, but I also enjoy competing so I can get feedback to improve my dancing.
Ready to compete in American Rhythm!
If somebody asked me if they should join the team, I would say “Absolutely!” Although it’s a big commitment and a lot of hard work, joining the team is worth it all. It’s great to have a group of people with a passion for dance who always encourage you to do your best and want to help you succeed. Not only that, but nothing feels quite as good as going to a competition and being rewarded for all your hard work.
Loved this competition!
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