Issue date: 11/26/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE

University of Texas at Arlington students Jason Nadeau and Shauna Davis dance the cha-cha during the Latin Dance Series Tuesday night in the University Union.

Rock, step and cha cha cha were the first of many steps dancers learned before mastering the cha-cha last night in the University Union's Silver Eagle Suite.

The University Program Council brought students together for the Latin Dance Series to learn the techniques of Latin dance.

The Council has put together free dance lessons for about three years. The Latin Dance Series is the third this fall, following ballroom dancing and western dancing earlier in the semester.

Emergency Management junior John Hall is vice president of arts for the organization and coordinated the free dance class.

"Basically, it's a free dance class that would normally be expensive and hard for students to pay for," he said.

University of Texas at Arlington dance director Blake Elder has taught these dance lessons for a year at NT.

"I like bringing my students with me to NT," Elder said. "They all have the same struggle with school, and they all like to dance."

Elder has also owned a dance studio in Fort Worth for 22 years, giving young people something to do other than go out and party, he said.

"Dancing forces people to interact with others," Elder said. "If guys can dance, most girls want to hang out with them, not the guy just shuffling his feet around."

Elder paired up the guys and girls, taught them the cha-cha, and after the students got into the swing of things, he turned on the music and gave the students a chance to let loose.

The next Latin Dance Series event will be Tango Night on Feb. 10.

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