We’ve all seen experienced dancers with acrobatic moves and almost extraterrestrial-like body contortions in shows such as “So You Think You Can Dance.” We’ve also seen the opposite on “Dancing with the Stars.” But, it doesn’t matter whether a person is as graceful as a swan or is born with two left feet because the Ballroom and L

atin Dance Club at San Diego State is for anyone who likes moving to the beat of cultural music or

appreciates the art of dancing.

BLDC has been an established club on campus for about 10 years now, offering various dance classes. By the way,

there is no experience needed to sign up.

“We have a lot of people who are beginners who haven’t danced before, so it’s an easy place to come and learn,” BLDC president and SDSU graduate student Jonathan Baskin said. “You don’t have to worry about the pressure of asking somebody to dance or being asked to dance because we rotate partners every 30 seconds or so, so you get to feel what it’s like to dance with many people. We always go back over moves we have done before so if you miss something or weren’t there then you could see it again…We try to encourage the social aspect as well.”

Baskin joined the club during his first semester of graduate school.

“One of my biggest interests right now is bachata and ballroom dancing, so I w

anted somewhere I could go on campus to do it and also to meet new people because I didn’t know anybody here,” Baskin said.

BLDC Vice President and aerospace engineering junior Josué Quiñónez had a similar reason for joining the club.

“Two and half years ago, I stopped by because I had heard about Latin dancing,” Quiñónez said. “Latin dancing is part of my culture so I wanted to learn more about it and when I came, I fell in love with the club. So many people were friendly and very approachable and they want you to come back.”

The club focuses on some well-known dances, such as salsa and waltz. Salsa has Cuban origins, but also contains a mixture of Latin and Afro-Caribbean influences. It’s upbeat and contains a lot of movement. For those who have ever heard the famous singer, and Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, they may have noticed the festive atmosphere of the music and probably moved their feet a little to it. On the other hand, the waltz is slower and more dramatic. It has origins as early as the 18th century from a folk dance in Germany. It’s a very common ballroom dance and is seen in many movies, such as Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

The officers understand that many people start out shy or embarrassed, which is why they try to create a warm environment.

“Dancing may seem difficult when you look at it, but really all it is is you having fun,” Quiñónez said. “No one critiques you here. No one tells you that you’re doing it wrong or yells at you. They’ll give you honest advice if you need it, but it’s more of a social thing than a competition type of deal so it’s really on a friendly basis. No one is here to criticize; everyone is trying to learn.”

There are several benefits that stem from dancing. It’s a known fact that dancing can match up to other conventional forms of exercising. It’s great benefits include losing weight, gaining strength and endurance, in addition to increasing self-confidence. But something else about BLDC that’s beneficial to SDSU students is it can help relieve stress.

“When I came to this club, I’d been going through a lot of stress…this was a great outlet,” Quiñónez said. “Not only that, you get a good workout just from dancing. You meet a bunch of great people and you connect with them. People I met two years ago, I still talk to today. You make friendships that last.”

Recently, BLDC has seen a decrease in membership because many members graduated. But the officers are moving quickly to mold a stronger future for the club. They are even working on bringing back the competition aspect of the club and creating a performance team. Meanwhile, the club offers a couple of performance opportunities throughout the semester for those who’d like to show off their new dance moves, but it’s not mandatory for anyone.

BLDC membership is $10 for the semester which goes toward social events, so the money paid goes back to the club’s members. Also, the members occasionally go out to venues such as Queen Bee’s Art and Cultural Center and Pattie Wells’ Dancetime Center on the weekends to join dance parties or events. It’s a way to continue the fun and practice dance moves.

Whether you want to impress your significant other with nifty new dance moves, release some stress or meet new people, it’s worth it to try the club out. The first meeting you attend is free, so there isn’t anything to lose.

BLDC meets from 7-10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Peterson Gym 241. For more information, visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/ballroom.sdsu or email them at ballroom.dance.sdsu@gmail.com.