Sign the online petition to support a non-carpeted danceable floor at the Gordon Dining & Event Center. Please sign the online petition and leave a confidential statement, even if you have already signed a paper petition.
More information on Gordon Commons:
Background information, building floorplans, & print petitions.
View photos & videos to see the diversity of student dance organizations and understand why there is a high demand for dance program space on campus:
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Save Dance Space at Gordon Event Center
Statement by the Ballroom Dance Association Regarding the Gordon Dining and Event Center
The Ballroom Dance Association (UWMBDA) has enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Gordon Commons and UW Housing. Housing provides reliable space in Gordon Commons for dances; UWMBDA purchases food from Housing and, more importantly, provides an alcohol-free event for students and community members every week. This hinges on available space with an acceptable dance floor within Gordon Commons.
Based on our most recent interactions with members of Housing, there are no plans for the new Gordon Dining and Event Center to have a large, non-carpeted space. The dances in Gordon Commons have been well-attended, and a space of similar size, approximately 3000 square feet, would be necessary. It is important to note that such a space does not need to be hardwood; cork, laminate, and tile flooring can be acceptable as well.
UWMBDA feels that the lack of such a space limits opportunities for students in Housing, reduces the number of alcohol-free events on campus, limits the type of activities and events that can be held in the Gordon Dining and Event Center, and needlessly pushes the growing UW dance community off campus. Put simply, it would be detrimental to all parties involved.
For these reasons, the Ballroom Dance Association feels that a large, non-carpeted space is necessary for the Gordon Dining and Event Center.
What is UWMBDA?
UWMBDA is the Ballroom Dance Association at UW-Madison, pronounced "u-Wum-da". Founded in 1991, we are a UW student organization with a very active membership dedicated to social ballroom dancing. We teach weekly lessons and host or sponsor fun weekend social dances on or near campus. Would you like to learn to dance to latin, swing, ballroom, and nightclub music? Want to meet new friends at the UW? Then UWMBDA is the student organization for you!
Join UWMBDA's Facebook Group
Who can attend UWMBDA sponsored events?
You never need to bring a partner with you to a lesson or dance. You do not have to know how to dance. In fact, before most of our dances, we provide professionally-taught group lessons. Check out our Dance Schedule.
Attendance at UWMBDA sponsored events is limited to UW-System students, faculty, staff, and members of the club. If you are a student, faculty, staff, or member of the club, you are welcome to invite up to 2 persons to an event who do not fit those requirements. Anyone may join the club who is not a student, faculty, or staff. However we occasionally may have to suspend new non-student memberships temporarily to insure our UW student membership numbers remain above 75%.
What do I get by being a member?
The group lessons before our dance events are free for UWMBDA members. Additionally, you will receive a discount on the admission to every dance, significant discounts on the price of classes and workshops, and a free T-shirt, shoe brush, or shoe bag when you Join the Club.
If I don't know how to dance, how do I learn?
Before most of our dances, we have professional dance instructors teaching advanced and beginner level dance lessons. If you're interested in refining your skills, you can come to our weekly Practice or Lessons on Thursday evenings.
There are also many experienced dancers who are happy to show you some basic dance steps at the social dances. Just ask someone to dance or stop by the admissions table and ask the person at the table. They can usually introduce you to someone with dance instruction experience.
For the intermediate courses, check out Intermediate Lesson Expectations
