{"id":81166,"date":"2017-10-20T18:41:37","date_gmt":"2017-10-20T16:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=81166"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:52","slug":"ballroom-dancing-like-good-relationship-counselling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/10\/20\/ballroom-dancing-like-good-relationship-counselling\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Ballroom dancing is like good relationship counselling\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dansleraar Ramsley Alexander doet voor hoe het moet. <\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJack Parker<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u2018Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow\u2019, is the repeated instruction. Dance teachers Ramsley Alexander and Renate Moesker direct their pupils around a room in the Erasmus Sports Building. Six weeks ago, the group embarked on their \u2018bronze\u2019 beginners\u2019 level of ballroom dancing, consisting of \u2018standard dances\u2019 like the waltz, and Latin variants like the chachacha.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sweaty backs, reproachful looks and hands floating above the shoulders: this Wednesday evening\u2019s ballroom dance at EDS isn\u2019t all plain sailing. While one person effortlessly picks up the subtle hip movements, another resembles a prancing ostrich.<\/p>\n

Romantic<\/h3>

\u201cWe\u2019ve had better days,\u2019 puffs econometrics student Rogier Blokland (20). The participants are learning some new steps for the quickstep. \u201cI found it rather difficult. After the turn, I\u2019d no idea where I was.\u201d<\/p>\n

His girlfriend and dance partner Veroniek Visser (19), who is also studying Econometrics, had already tried ballroom dancing and dragged him along to an introductory class. Blokland wasn\u2019t immediately sold, but he gave it a chance. \u201cI like it more than I thought I would, and it\u2019s cheap.\u201d He particularly likes the tango: \u201cThat\u2019s the most romantic dance, with your legs close entwined.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJack Parker<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Reproachful looks<\/h3>

Nevertheless, they frequently give each other reproachful looks as they dance. \u201cI\u2019ve got exams next week, so I\u2019m a bit stressed,\u201d Visser explains. \u201cIf something doesn\u2019t go right while we\u2019re dancing, I tend to take it out of my boyfriend. I see dancing as good relationship counselling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brent Rundberg (21), Psychology student, also glides smoothly through the room. In a short space of time, he\u2019s totally got the taste for dancing. He took part in all the dance try-outs during Eurekaweek and then decided to keep dancing. \u201cI now do salsa, kizomba and ballroom dancing. That\u2019s how much I love it. Ballroom dancing is a real challenge, particularly because the footwork is so technical.\u201d<\/p>\n

Going out<\/h3>

Even EDS president, 26 year old Corinca Zwijsen, gets some good hip rotation going during the class. \u201cFor me, the best part of ballroom dancing is that you know exactly what dance goes with what track when you go out,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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EDS-voorzitter Corinca Zwijsen (rechts) geniet met volle teugen van het stijldansen. <\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJack Parker<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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