Stepping into Competitive Ballroom Dancing

Ruojia Sun (‘16)

Currently a junior at Cornell University, Ruojia Sun participated in many ballroom dancing competitions at Stuyvesant and continues to compete at the collegiate level. She was introduced to ballroom dancing through StuySquad, where she was a part of Latin dance during her freshman and sophomore years. She recalled, “I always thought ballroom dancing looked super impressive but never thought I would be able to do it. It was a really fulfilling experience because I learned something I'd never done before and had a great time doing it.”

However, Sun did not learn the expansive range of ballroom dancing until her senior year at Stuyvesant. StuySquad Latin had exposed her to “one dance, the cha-cha, out of the 19 [possible] dances in competitive ballroom,” she said. StuySquad Latin did not “focus on leading and following, which is integral to partner dancing,” she added.

During Sun’s senior year, Physical Education (P.E.) teacher Silvana Choy helped Sun gain a more comprehensive view of ballroom dancing. “Ms. Choy showed us the great variety of ballroom dances and taught us how to connect with our partner while dancing,” Sun said. Unlike her peers, who were timid and afraid of how they would be perceived in class, Sun took the class as an opportunity to be fully engrossed in an art form while having fun. “I went into the class with an open mind and internally committed myself to being fully engaged rather than just trying to get it over with,” Sun described. “With that mindset, I think it's very easy to just have fun with it and enjoy the music because when else am I going to have the chance to dance during my busy day?”

Sun pursued competitive ballroom for a few different reasons. For one, she enjoyed her experience with ballroom at Stuyvesant and wanted to expand her experiences beyond what Stuyvesant offered. “If I didn't have the opportunity to learn ballroom at Stuy, I don't think ballroom dancing would've been on my radar when I entered college nor would I have believed that it was possible for me to pick up ballroom dancing, since I don't have a background in any dance style,” she said.

Sun was also inspired by previous Stuyvesant alumni who went into the professional ballroom world. “In the P.E. class my year, we also had demonstrations from two other alumni, Yimeng [Xu (‘11)] and Danica [Chan (‘11)], and I was really impressed with their dancing. They started their ballroom journey in Stuy's P.E. class too, so that also gave me the encouragement that it wasn't too late for me,” she explained.

Sun also hoped ballroom would give her an opportunity to experience being part of a team. “Coming into college, I wanted to be in a close-knit group, and the ballroom team at Cornell has been my family since. I've been mentoring team members individually since my sophomore year, and I've been teaching the advanced standard class for the ballroom team since the beginning of this school year,” she added.

The first competition Sun attended with her collegiate ballroom team was during her freshman year in October 2016. “Most of my best memories at competition actually come from hanging out with my team and friends from other universities. I've gotten to know a lot of people through ballroom all over the Northeast, and every competition is like a reunion,” she described. “The atmosphere is very supportive and energetic, from girls on the team helping me do my hair to me losing my voice cheering for my friends on the competition floor to food runs with my dance partner—eating after you finish dancing is the best feeling—to open dances in between the competitive rounds where anyone can jump on the floor.”

Of course, Sun loves the competitive side of ballroom dancing too. “I do feel very rewarded when I get a good placement, but the best part is the people,” she said. Furthermore, Sun admitted that she was particularly attracted to ballroom for its camaraderie. “When I dance, I'm competing against all other dancers in my level, not going one-on-one against another couple or school, so it's very easy to form relationships and root for dancers from other schools. I think it's the right balance between competing as an individual and as a team, because it allows me to work really closely with one person and grow together [while] having the support and resources from a college team,” she said.

Sun spoke of her longtime dance partner, James Chin (‘16), and how their relationship has strengthened after dancing together. They have known each other for seven years and “being friends with your partner helps a lot [when] working together,” Sun said. The biggest challenge they face is finding the time to practice together, considering that they attend schools two hours apart. Despite this challenge, Sun is grateful for their partnership and friendship.

For those who are interested in pursuing competitive ballroom, she stressed the importance of finding the right partner and instructor. “Competitive ballroom may seem like a really esoteric activity, but it's actually very easy to get into,” Sun revealed. “Despite what society often tells us, it's never too late to learn something or invest in a new hobby.” She recommended joining a college team even if you are only remotely interested in it. As ballroom dancing is competitive, “it can be easy to get too caught up with results, but always be grounded in the reasons why you enjoy dancing and just have fun with it,” Sun advised.

James Chin (‘16)

James Chin, who currently studies at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), was introduced to ballroom dancing at Stuyvesant. Through the advice of upperclassmen friends on his robotics team, Chin decided to take the P.E. Ballroom class as an opportunity to explore the world of dance.

“There were two alumni who used to go back [to Stuyvesant] all the time,” Chin recalled. “One of them used to be on the robotics team, and I happened to be wearing my robotics shirt that day. And in the beginning of [the ballroom] class, he pointed at me and [said], ‘Yo, I was president of that team.’ I sat there, flabbergasted. I was so excited. I don’t remember anything they said or taught or showed that day because I was [thinking], ‘What? This person did robotics.’ Afterward, I talked to him, and now we're really good friends. He taught me a bunch of stuff and so after my senior year, since I took a gap year, he suggested I join the Columbia ballroom team.”

Chin’s interest in competitive ballroom is related to his familiarity with competing in robotics. However, ballroom, unlike robotics, is more subjective. “I think ballroom is less about being super competitive and more about enjoying yourself on the floor,” Chin said. “Judging is so subjective, unlike ice skating or ball sports. I think there’s more freedom to get better without trying to be super toxically competitive.”

Chin has participated in competitions all across the Northeast. His first tournament was at Princeton University, and since then, he has competed at a wide range of universities, including the University of Maryland and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Chin also competed in the 2017 and 2018 Nationals in Baltimore, Maryland alongside Sun.

Like Sun, Chin explained that finding time to practice together is challenging. However, they have overcome this challenge by traveling to each other’s school once or twice a month in addition to practicing on their own. He further stated, “When we do get a chance to meet up, we ‘re-calibrate’ to each other.”

His favorite memory from his whole ballroom dancing career was at a low-key event at a large competition. “I danced a ‘fun dance,’ [a random event] that happens at competitions sometimes in which you do a modified version of a ballroom dance and it’s supposed to be this fun thing you do with a friend,” Chin said. “I did Straight Leg Jive with my friend, and it was quite hilarious.”

Chin strongly encourages others to give ballroom a shot, even if they are almost done with their time at high school. “The thing I love most about ballroom is actually the really special connection you form with the person you dance with,” he said. “It’s like communication without words. Also, it’s just a lot of fun!”