Bristol University Latin American & Ballroom Dancing Society

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Bristol University Latin American & Ballroom Dancing Society (BULABDS) is a student society affiliated with the University of Bristol Union. It has two main functions:

the society lessons, where large groups of students (often more than 300) are taught basic steps for a number of Modern Ballroom and Latin American dances.
the team, which represents the university at national competitions such as SUDA and IVDA.

1 History
2 Society
3 Team
4 Notable Members and Teachers

[edit] History

BULABDS was founded in the late 1960s, and was affiliated to IVDC immediately. The society was firmly established by 1970, when it hosted the eighth Inter Varsity Dance Championships.

Until 2003, the society was known as Bristol University Ballroom Dancing Society (BUBDS).

[edit] Society

The society is one of the largest currently affiliated with the University of Bristol Union, with arounf five hundred members each year. Furthermore, it has the highest active membership, with a large proportion of its members participating in events organised by the society (typically lessons) at least once every fortnight. However, its size has been criticised as giving a less personal feel.

[edit] Team

BULABDS typically fields two branches of competitive dancers at regional, national and international competitions:

the Beginners' Team, consisting of those dancers who have never danced previous to that year
the Main Team, generally consisting of four teams ('A', 'B', 'C' and 'D') of four couples each, with each couple trained in one of the IVDA team dances (currently Waltz, Quickstep, Cha Cha and Jive).

In addition, the society often fields an 'offbeat' team which performs a set dance routine.

Bristol's 'A' team won the 2005 IVDC.

[edit] Notable Members and Teachers

Diane Barron, President of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing in 2005 [1]
Bryan Isaac, President of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing in 1995 and 1996