top of page
FAQ
Q: What does "Historical Ballroom Dance" mean?
What does Historical Ballroom Dance Mean?
A: Historical Ballroom Dance Club has produced/co-sponsored 175+ Free Admission Saturday Night Theme Dances on the UCLA campus, since HBDC club founding,
during the 1997-1998 school year by James & Cynthia.
Historical Ballroom Dance generally means dances prior to the 1930s.
HBDC aims to produce events that introduce UCLA students, faculty, alumni, and community members to social partner dances and performing arts of the past, as well as the social and historical contexts of these dances. Many of the styles of dance we teach and practice in HBDC are rarely learned today, and our theme dances aim to recreate unique social dancing cultures of the past.
HBDC Celebrates 500 Years of Ballroom Dance by
presenting 13 Saturday Night Theme Dances each year.
An opportunity to learn Dances from the 15th Century to the 1950s.
Learn dances from the Renaissance, Baroque, American Revolution, English Regency, Early California, Civil War, Ragtime Era, WWI, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s
Dances includes Branles, Galliard, Minuet, Quadrilles, Set Dances, Waltz, Polka, Mazurka, Galop, Tango, Hesitation Waltz, One-Step w/Animal Figures, Two-Step, Original Fox-Trot, Charleston, Lindy Hop, The Shim Sham, The Madison & other lines from the mid 20th century.
HBDC Officers bring to campus professional bands
specializing in music of the 1920s, 1940s, 1950s/1960s, Classical, Baroque, Renaissance Music.
HBDC Officers invite many other campus clubs to help celebrate history including Shakespeare Club, renamed Shakespeare Co. at UCLA, MIST (Magic & Illusion Student Team), Quidditch Teams, Fencing Club, Kron Martial Arts, plus several A Cappella singing groups from UCLA have performed during band intermission.
1920s & 1950s Dance Parties featuring Live Music
Renaissance Ball features LIVE MUSIC!
In addtion to club events,
Club Officers/Members regularly attend special events off campus.
Annual Field Trips:
-Santa Barbara French Festival & other Festivals
-SDI Victorian Grand Costume Balls
(followed by late night dinner in Chinatown, Downtown L.A.
-English Regency/English Country Dances (Culver City)
-Contra Dances (Brentwood...)
-Ticket to the Twenties (1920s Festival), City of Industry
-1920s Festival at Griffith Park Carousel
-Viennese Waltz Night at Oxy
-The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire
-Vintage Fashion Shows
-Vintage/Silent Films
-Vintage Car Shows
-Field Trips to Swing Dances/Jazz Clubs
(including Cicada Club, PBDA, Rusty's Rhythm Club
-Musicals/Plays/Lectures on and off campus
-Free Summer Concerts/Movies
-Dance Downtown on the Plaza of the Music Center, DTLA
-Costume College Market Place & Costume Exhibit Room (Free)
-Ragtime Festivals (Sacramento, >)
-Folk Dance Festivals
-Vintage Films & Documentaries at Mayme Clayton Museum
-Annual Tea at Bel Air Hotel Piano Lounge (with officers of other campus dance club: Ballroom Dance Club at UCLA)
-Annual Sunday Brunch: Chinese Dim Sum at The Palace
(with officers of other campus dance club: Ballroom Dance Club at UCLA)
Anchor 2
Q: Can I come if I've never danced before
I don't know what I'm doing/I have two left feet?
A: Absolutely! We welcome dancers of all skill levels, and every event includes a free beginner lesson. The purpose of HBDC is to
introduce you to vintage ballroom dance and costuming events.
Q: Are your events free? What is this membership thing?
Anchor 3
A: HBDC on-campus events are free! However, we do very much need and appreciate donations in order to continue producing our events.
Please come prepared to become an Annual Member or bring a generous donation to support event costs.
HBDC pays ASUCLA for 12 Saturday Night Room Rental/Catering Fees.
Rental Fees for student groups, as of Spring 2019 is $1200-$1300 for Ackerman-AGB, $685 for Kerckhoff GS.
Professional Bands with 8-10 Musicians are generally $1400-$1500 per night.
ASUCLA Catering Fees (to provide water/lemonade/cookies/brownies)
often adds up to $500.
Any contribution you are able to make helps.
Annual Membership has many Benefits
including eligible for Officer Position, Performing Dance Group,
Carpooling Assistance to Special Events including
Ticket to the Twenties (1920s Festival)
and Santa Barbara French Festival
Dance Lessons: 13 Saturdays with HBDC
& 37 Mondays per year with members of dance club coalition at UCLA
Annual Events
include
Two 1920s Parties (feat. professional bands)
Two 1950s Swing Dance (feat. professional bands)
Four 1940s Swing Dances (3 feat. pro bands) w/dance club coalition partners
Ren Ball feat. Live Music with professional musicians
Theme Dances feat. Guest Speakers/Performers/Guest Teachers
Performances by campus Theater Clubs, Singers, Musicians, Magicians,
and experts of historical martial arts....
Complementary Refreshments
at both on-campus events and at Special Club Traditions
including
Tea at the Bel Air Hotel (2X per year)
Sunday Brunch: Chinese Dim Sum (2X per year)
Dinner in Chinatown following Annual Field Trips
Membership in the Dance Club Coalition at UCLA,
led by Ballroom Dance Club & International Folk Dance Club is very much appreciated, though it is not required for entry to our events.
Please consider a supporting membership! It would really help us out, and you would receive some pretty cool benefits too
including 200 Hours of Lessons/Programming per year.
Annual Student Membership is $100 supporting 50 Nights of Fun.
That comes to only 50 cents donation towards each hour of room rental fees/programming.
Annual Membership Benefits include 12 Saturdays w/HBDC, 1 Saturday w/BDC, 37 Mondays w/BDCIFDC, 1 Sunday with GDC
For more information on membership,
got to www.ballroom2.wix.com/BDCIFDCatUCLA/Membership
Off Campus Events/Lessons are not sponsored/funded by campus clubs.
Off Campus Events have various prices. Email an RSVP to off campus organizers for event prices/details.
Anchor 4
Q: Is there a dress code/Do I have to wear a costume?
A: No you don't! We don't have a set dress code for any event, though we recommend you stay away from stiletto heels, which are not much fun to dance in and can scratch the wood floors.
Costumes and formal wear are greatly admired, but they are not necessary.
Anchor 5
Q: Do I have to bring a partner?
A: You can if you like, but it is certainly not necessary. There are plenty of partners to go around at each event, and we highly recommend changing partners throughout the night! There are always plenty of new people to meet.
Anchor 6
Q: Do I have to RSVP?
A: Please RSVP to HistoricalDance@yahoo.com
RSVP to wix is not considered a reservation. Only RSVP to yahoo.
Current Annual Members have 1st priority followed by non-members that have made a reservation. You will want to have a RSVP for our club's more popular dances (the rooms can only hold so many people!) and makes it a whole lot easier to order enough water/food/chairs if we have an idea of how many people will be attending.
Q: How do I get to your events? Where do I park?
Anchor 7
A: Our events are usually in either Kerckhoff Grand Salon or Ackerman Grand Ballroom-Room 2400. (Although we have held events at UCLA Powell Library 2nd Floor Rotunda, UCLA Ackerman BRR (Bruin Reception Room-2414), Bruin Plaza, UCLA Pauley Pavillion, and off campus at Westside JCC Auditorium
and at UCLA URC.
Off Campus Lessons/Events are not sponsored by student groups.
There is Free Parking on Hilgard Ave. (East Border Street of UCLA)
UCLA Parking Lot P2 at Hilgard/Westholme (East side of campus) is the most affordable on-campus parking lot, usually $8 per night. Other on-campus parking lots are usually $12
Campus parking fees vary. P2 is usually $2 per hour.
See map below. Ackerman Union and Kerckhoff Grand Salon circled in red, Parking Structure 4 in yellow.
Driving directions: once you get to campus, get on Charles E. Young Drive North and head for Parking Structure 4. Once there find the Pay by Space station to pay for parking.
Walking directions: Kerckhoff Hall and Ackerman Union are next to each other. If you can find Bruin Plaza (the square with the big metal bear in it), Ackerman Union is the big building up the cobblestoned hill from the bear. Ackerman Grand Ballroom is on the second floor of Ackerman Union (actually 4th floor of building).
If you continue walking up the hill past Ackerman Union, you will reach Kerckhoff Hall. Kerckhoff Grand Salon is accessible from the outdoor patio next to Kerckhoff Coffee House, on the second floor level of Kerckhoff Hall.
From UCLA Campus Map
Q: Wow! This is really cool!
How can I help you make these events happen?
Anchor 8
A: Wow! We're excited that you're excited! There are all sorts of ways to make yourself useful and share your talents at HBDC. We are always looking for artists, musicians, teachers, dancers, money people, publicity people, cheerful people, people with clubs who'd like to collaborate... the list goes on and on! And don't worry if you don't fit into any of those categories. We'd love to have any kind of help you can give!
Please email HistoricalDance@yahoo.com
if you're interested in getting involved with HBDC!
Guest Performers/Teachers/Guest Speakers/DJ/Bands
​have included
James, Club Founder 1997-1998 (Instructor/Performer/DJ 1998-2020)
Cynthia, Club Event Co-Founder April/June Spring 1998
(Instructor/Performer/DJ 1998-2020)
Chester Whitmore (May 2012-2018) (Sun. May 12, 2019)
at Hollywood Movie Magic Ball at UCLA
(Swing/Tap Dance Legend/Historian Performer/Teacher w/Video Presentations)
Ron Parker (May 2012) (UCLA Alumnus)
at Hollywood Movie Magic Ball at UCLA
Ballroom Dance Performance/Video Presentation/Historian
Producer of History of Black Dance in America show
Emma Lewis Thomas, Ph.D (UCLA Emerita Professor of Dance History)
Inspiration for Annual Romeo & Juliet Italian Renaissance Ball at UCLA Powell Library
Irene (Dance Teacher/Historian) (and also is an Lifetime Alumna Member)
John Hertz (Dance Teacher) (Volunteer April/June 1998-)
Regular instructor for Jane Austen Ball at UCLA
Myles Kreuger (Historian, President Institute of the American Musical) Guest Speak/Rare Video Presentations
(May 2005-2009 Hollywood Movie Magic Ball)
UCLA Extension Teacher https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Kreuger
Dr. Demento (Celebrated Radio DJ/Historian/Recorde Producer/UCLA Alumnus)
(May 2011 Hollywood Movie Magic Ball)
(National Radio Hall of Fame 2009, Comedy Music Hall of Fame 2005)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Demento
Thomas Axworthy (Evolution of Musical Instruments) (Feb Ren Ball)
http://larohome.org/bios/Axworthy.html
Michael Espinoza (Argentine Waltz Workshop/Performances Nov. at Waltz Night)
(Feb. each year with BDC at annual Argentine Tango Night)
(Michael has also performed in April at Spring Latin Culture Night/Salsa Party)
Conductor Jorge Luis Uzcátegui (Music Contractor/Grad Student/Waltz Night at UCLA)
Myles & Lacey Cupp (S. Coast Swords/Kron Martial Arts)
(Demo/Lecture at Feb. Ren. Ball and sometimes also for June Jane Austen Ball)
Shakespeare Club/Shakespeare Company (Feb Ren Ball, June Jane Austen Ball sometimes & Nov. 2018 Waltz Night at Pauley Pavillion)
Coach (Fencing Club at UCLA)(April/June)
Andrew, Club Leader (Fencing Club at UCLA) (April/June)
Club Leader (Fencing Club at UCLA)(April Baroque Ball & June Jane Austen Ball)
Quidditch Team Leaders at Fantastic Beasts Ball (Mar. 2017)
MIST (Magic & Illusion Student Team) Magicians (Mar. 2017, 2018, 2019)
at Fantastic Beasts 1920s Ball
Sherman Grancell (President of Pioneer Bruins) (Jan./Kerckhoff Anniversary Party)
http://dailybruin.com/2010/02/08/love-ucla-still-strong-100-years/
Joe Lanza (Choreographer/Author) Creator of Bossa Nova Dance (Jan./Guest Speaker at Kerckhoff Hall Anniversary 1930s Swing Dance)
Hunt Brothers (Club/UCLA Alumni Members) (Jan./Guest Speaker at Kerckhoff Hall Anniversary 1930s Swing Dance)
Grandson of Bing Crosby (Guest singer with Dutch Newman Musical Melodians at Ackerman-AGB) Spring 2019 Great Gatsby 1920s Ball
Roscoe Farnsworth (Special Guest Teacher/Performer)
Michael Espinoza (Special Guest Teacher/Performer)
​
HBDC Live Music Events have included
several campus A Cappella Groups: (Nov/March/Apr/June)
some times 2-3 vocal groups per night
Voctet A Cappella (June Jane Austen Ball, Nov. Waltz Night)
Signature A Cappella
On That Note A Cappella (several performance recently including March 2019 at Fantastic Beasts Ball)
Pitch, Please! A Cappella (Nov. 2018 Waltz Night at Pauley Pavilion & March 2019 Fantastic Beasts Ball)
Resonance A Cappella (1st Performance: March 2019 Fantastic Beasts Ball)
Tinig Chorale (A Cappella) (1st Performance: June 2019 Jane Austen Ball)
Moniker Brass (1st Performance: June 2019 Jane Austen Ball)
Professional Bands:
Mikal Sandoval & her Time Travelers Band (1920s Music) (Oct. Valentino Ragtime/1920s Ball in Powell/KGS) (and also is an Annual Alumna Member that has performed with her band at WJCC Nov. Ragtime Ball)
Dutch Newman Musical Melodians (1920s Music) (April Great Gatsby 1920s Ball at KGS/Ack-AGB)
Burt's 1950s Rock & Roll Band (Oct. 2018 w/BDC); Feb. 2019 Back to the Future 1950s Ball)
Cornelius Rock & Roll Band (1950s Music) (Feb. 2015/16/17) (Oct. 2016/2017 w/BDC)
w/Eric Scerri (Guitarist & UCLA Chemistry Professor/Author)
Dennis Kaye's Swing Inc. w/ballroom@ucla.edu (Nov or Dec, Jan, June, July)
Performing for on campus Swing Dances for Ballroom Dance Club Oct. 1998, Jan. since 2001?, in Nov. or Dec. for 14 years, and in June for about 14 years. July-one time.
Royce String Quartet (May/June Jane Austen Ball)
Amarus String Quartet (May/June Jane Austen Ball and other theme dance: March Presidents' Ball?)
Bridget Risemberg (Guitarist/Music Librarian)
Thomas Axworthy Renaissance Ensemble (Feb. Ren. Ball several years)
Wessex Consort Dir. by Bruce Teter (Feb. Ren. Ball)
Melody Horner (Harpsichord Performance in Powell)
Student Harp Performers (Duo) (at Powell)
Student Officer sings/performs w/1950s Bands (at KGS)
Summer International Students perform sax with professional swing band (in Ack-AGB)
Notes to remember Annual #'s of Club's Theme Dances 1998-2020 & various locations
April 1998 at Ackerman 2nd Floor Lounge (1st Club Event: Jane Austen period dance workshops
June 1998 at Bruin Plaza (2nd Club Event/1st Jane Austen Ball)
June 1999 Jane Austen Ball at KGS or URC
June 2000, 2001, 2002 Jane Austen Ball at URC (3 years?)
5 years discussion with library staff then Lib. Eleanor Mitchell approves historical dance workshops at Powell Library Rotunda under the supervision of Lib. Catherine Brown
June 2003? Events moved to Powell Library & expand to 12-13 Saturday Night Events per year over 12 year period
1st Victorian Cotillion Ball was held in Powell Library than moved to WJCC
Cervantes Baroque Ball at Powell Library (part of campus 400th Anniversary Celebration)
Librarian Catherine Brown retires: Events moved to KGS/Ack Bruin Reception Room/Ack-AGB
July Revolutionary Ball held in Kerchoff GS for several years at $400 ASCULA rental fee
July Revolutionary Ball moved outside to Bruin Plaza
Aug. L.A. Ball moved outside to Bruin Plaza
CMRS co-sponsors/funds live music for annual R+J Italian Renaissance Ball
Mr. Krueger presents rare film collection from NY Broadway shows
Waltz Night Nov. 2018 moved to Pauley Pavillion, due to campus conf. in student union
Fall 2019 Quarter 2 Theme Dances & Winter Quarter 2020 3 events (& BDC 1 Event) moved to A
Spring/Summer 2020 Quarters Covid Campus Closures
Fall Qtr. 2020, Winter/Spring/Summer 2021 Quarters Covid Campus Closures
Fall 2021 Valentino 1920s Ball (18th Annual) moved to A (10/30/2021) new 30 Foot Floor
Fall 2021 Waltz Night (20th Annual) moved to A (but postponed from 11/20 to 12/11/2021)
new 36 by 24 Foot Floor
Club Officers help with off campus events at WJCC (Nov. Ragtime Ball, Dec. Victorian Cotillion Ball, Feb. Havana Nights Salsa Party)
Club Instructors provide free dance instruction to arrange
free admission to Santa Monica Vintage Fashion Expos (3X per year),
Discount to Cicada Club, Downtown L.A.,
performance opportunities for club members at the SB French Festival.
bottom of page