The Ballroom Dance Team at the University of Michigan was originally founded in the fall of 1997 to provide students with an opportunity to compete in intercollegiate ballroom dancing competitions. Since that time, it has transformed into a social organization, a competitive team, and an organization that serves the community.
The team currently has around 200 active members, and has won the National Championship at the Ohio Star Ball (National Collegiate Championships) for 5 consecutive years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
We owe our success to Steve and Susan McFerran (our coaches), the Durbin family (providers of practice space) and the countless team members who have made sacrifices for the Ballroom Dance Team at the University of Michigan.
The President is ultimately responsible for overseeing all team operations, as well as long-term planning for the growth and improvement of the team. He or she is responsible for overseeing the timely execution of all team operations and making sure all other officers are fulfilling their responsibilities. The President leads board meetings and ensures the smooth functioning of team events . At the beginning of each semester, he or she is to brief board members on the upcoming events and allocate tasks accordingly.
Eligibility : At least 1 year on the executive board and a member of A/B team.
The Competition Coordinator organizes and facilitates the running of the annual Michigan Ballroom Competition. This includes managing and overseeing the Competition Committee, which will be in charge of scheduling judges, the showcase couple, sponsors, etc. It is the responsibility of the Competition Coordinator to ensure that every aspect of the competition is taken care of, down to the tiniest detail.
Eligibility: At least 1 year as an executive board or competition committee member.
The curriculum chair is in charge of lesson scheduling as well as setting up the DTS coaching schedule. He or she also oversees the running of mock competitions to make sure that competitors are ready to compete. The cirriculum chair will also be in charge of the fall and winter team workshop.
Eligibility : Current member of A/B/C or Pre-C team.
The Technology Chair is responsible for all technology-related issues of the team. He or she updates and maintains the webpage and the e-mail lists, including newcomer registration, Michigan competition registration, apparel, and donations. For OSB, MichComp, and Arnold the Tech Chair is responsible for the video taping of dancing and creating a DVD for distribution.
Eligibility : No requirements.
The Community Outreach Chair is to act as the facilitator to connect the UMBDT to philanthropic causes and organizations outside of the team. It is his or her responsibility to use the team's resources of talent and generosity to promote and contribute to the well-being of the community and of the art and sport of ballroom dance. The Community Outreach Chair will seek out meaningful relationships with organizations to which the UMBDT can volunteer its assets, such as teaching and performing. The Community Outreach Chair will work on a project-basis, choosing/creating a reasonable number of projects per semester that are longer-term in length and/or at a higher level of commitment than those that the PR Chair handles. This chair assumes responsibility over the Community High School Outreach program.
Eligibility : No requirements.
The public relations chair serves as the liaison between the team and other organizations. He or she handles the recruiting events on campus including organizing Festifall and Winterfest. He or she handles requests for the team to do showcases and to teach. The PR chair is also responsible for announcing the team at early club meetings, and distributing flyers at the beginning of each semester. He or she will work with in conjunction with the President and Recruitment Chair on welcome week events and distributing flyers at the beginning of each semester. Prior to the U of M competition, he or she aids the competition committee with canvassing. This person is also in charge of scheduling team parties and organizing apparel orders.
Eligibility : No requirements.
The Recruitment Chair helps newcomers have a smooth transition as they join the team. He or she has an intimate relationship with newcomer couples and addresses any of their concerns, both individually and as a group. The Recruitment Chair is to be present at all beginner lessons on Saturday and helps bring together partnerships, and helps newcomers prepare for competitions. He or she handles general e-mail inquiries addressed to the team (e.g. newcomer questions).
Eligibility : Current member of A/B/C team.
The Treasurer is responsible for balancing the team's SOAS and TCF Bank accounts. The Treasurer also pays for room rentals and instructors. He or she books rooms that are needed for lessons, parties, workshops, etc. The Treasurer submits funding proposals to MSA and LSA every semester. The Treasurer gives a financial report to the board every 2 months. He or she collects dues from team members and is in charge of monitoring if newcomers on the team have paid, as well as collecting registration money for the Michigan Competition. Treasurer leads the scholarship committee each semester.
Eligibility : Current member of A/B/C team.
The Away Competition Chair is responsible for promoting upcoming competitions and making attending competitions as easy as possible. This includes organizing accommodations and carpools prior to the competition. He or she is also in charge of the costumes that are in possession of the team. In the U of M competition, he or she is in charge of preparing a list of volunteers needed to run the competition.
Eligibility : Current member of A/B/C team.
The Practice Coordinator is responsible for all of the ballroom team's practice space, including but not limited to: DTS, the CCRB, and the Michigan Union/League. The most important job for this position is to maintain a healthy relationship between the team and the Durbins (owners of DTS) and the people in charge of any other practice space. He or she is normally required to oversee cleaning and close DTS two nights per week with another board member closing the other two nights. He or she is also responsible for reserving space at the CCRB, Union or League, and anywhere else desired.
Eligibility: No Requirements
