By LAURIE FISHER
Leaving their comfort zones to try their coordination in a dance class has become a social grace rather than a disgrace for some male BYU students.
There is always a need for more male students to enroll in dance classes, said Alicia Long, a teaching assistant for a dance class.
“In the social dance classes there are usually two girls to one guy, sometimes a little better than that. It’s always been that way,” Long said.
Male students often enroll in beginning classes such as social dance, although there is actually a closer ratio of girls to guys in international classes which are more technically involved, Long said.
Females enrolled in dance can often be found leaving the Richards Building at the beginning of the semester with the intent of recruiting male friends to join their class so that they have more partners to dance with. Some say their male friends are hard to convince because they are afraid of feeling inadequate.
“I guess I don’t know how to dance very well because I got a ‘B,’ but I was way out of my comfort zone,” said Jeff Redmond, a sophomore from Claremont, Calif., majoring in zoology.
For students like Redmond, dance classes at BYU offer the chance to dance with the opposite sex who may also feel self-conscious about sweaty palms and big feet.
“A lot of guys just aren’t very comfortable with it or just feel stupid,” said Chris Witt, a senior member of the ballroom dance team and social dance instructor.
Other male students say dancing has become an etiquette of dating and weekend activities in college. However, most men grew up learning that sports is more culturally acceptable for males.
“I took Dance 180 because my mom loves to dance, and my dad hates to dance. When I get married I want to be able to take my wife big-band dancing,” said Matthew Bates, a junior from Seattle, Wash., majoring in English.
Other males respond that their mothers have told them to learn how to dance now so that when they are married they can enjoy dancing with their spouse. Many couples on campus enjoy taking dance classes together.
“A guy is more likely to take a weightlifting class or swimming before they take a dance class because of social pressure,” said Austin Allgaier, a freshman from Brookfield, Wis., majoring in electrical engineering.
Allgaier took an introductory ballroom dance class because he always thought he would enjoy it. He was looking for variety and appreciates artistic talent, he said.
Women students said they take dance for exercise and balance — and regardless of the number of guys in the classes, they still have fun learning how to dance.
