Well, I must apologize as I missed today's meeting, and hence these minutes are compiled from what I've heard was discussed (Thank you, Abby and Darren!) practices were discussed. They will remain the same as last semester for the time being, until the question of tuesday v. thursday is settled. competitions were discussed, particularly OSU v. Arnoldsport. Currently OSU is winning, due to a suspicious lack of information on the part of the Arnoldsport website. there was a sculpture made of silverware. this concludes my knowledge.
Minutes 1/21/08
This week on Ballroom Theater, we meet the new players on the scene. Here you
see Jen, Cloie, Abby, and Jack. Jack is channeling himself through himself.
Jen says "why don't you channel the salt over here?" The victor of the obvious
battle is fiercely debated, result unknown. Also debated is teh quality of
today's cheeseburgers. Also: the bizarre watery applesauce and Jack's prospie.
The new player is Maya, arrived to announce that Andrew won't be at teh meeting.
Immediately following her are Ben and Anneke. As the afore mentioned prospie
was being weird in his quesitons about the dating scene at Kenyon ("I only date
Asian girls...are there Asian girls here?"), Ben mentions a creepy townie who
used to come to ballroom. He asked "Are all the girls here legal?" He was
later banned from being on campus. Brendan and Emma enter, to hear that we
were discussing creepy dating stories. Brendan immediately guesses which story
Bed told and is granted the victory flag, regardless of who had it before.
Gavin enters as the meeting is about to begin, to be told "Sit yo ass down."
With this, we get down to business.
MONEY FOR UMICH is due THIS WEDNESDAY, Jan 23. Pay or you're not going.
There is discussion of a boy dancing newbie, so that the newbie girl interested in competing can dance with a club member. This digresses into a general discussion of dancing down. Anneke is working on contacting Melanie about getting more drivers registered. It is declared that Jeff Force uses the Force, and Emma will break your knees if you don't pay Brendan by Wednesday. There is yet another digression, this one about the kickboxing guy. Remember him, from those times down in the KAC? yeah, him. We don't know where he went. There is a rumor passed that he's dating or seeing a girl in Norton. It is said "she's a ho, but she's a good ho." Someone points out that Gavin's plate contains a small salad and four cookie bars--or is it three? The "Unhealthiest Eater in the Club" torch is passed for sometime between Ben and Gavin, settling on Gavin when it is revealed that he'd eaten four *more* cookie bars earlier today... With that, we get down to business. REHERSAL TIMES! This is important. This week practices are MWRS. Next week and for some weeks after, practices will be MTWS, to see which is better, T or R. Ben suggests MTWR, but we all like S and he is shot down. GREEK DANCE: Tuesday (that's tomorrow) from 9pm to 9:30pm. SNOWBALL is NOT this Saturday (...what?). There were some scheduling conflicts. Jen makes a Harry Potter reference towards Jack "Are you Rita Skeeter or something?" Snowball is now FEB 16. Someone is working on contacting Svetlana and the professionals who were going to dance. Svetlana is mysteriously absent, and it is proposed that perhaps she is in labor, though sources say she is still preggers. There is a Rhythem and Blues...event this Sat. It is proposed that perhaps there will be swingish music and it might be fun to go to? Maya leaves for dessert for about four people. Jack's roomie steals whole pies. UMICH is Feb 9. This is also Trustee Weekend, so vehicles will be harder to come by. PACK LIGHT. For some reason the Victory Flag is passed to Maya. I'm sorry, I don't remember why.... Also, Darren has arrived. I apologize Darren, for not noting the time of your arrival. "Gavin smells bad." Practice in Gund this Wednesday. Relay for Life Ballroom team? The date is not on the posters, but according to this webpage (http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeOhioDivision?fr_id=7201&pg=entry) it is April 11, starting at 6 pm. The Webmistress declares that if you are going to give her comp pictures, please filter out the ones that are blurry or dark. Also don't send them to her if you can't tell who's in them.... There is a short battle between Gavin (who is taking the dog) and Jack (who is keeping the house). All depart. Thank you for attending Ballroom Theater. We apologize for the length.
Minutes 1/28/08
Let me get the important stuff out of the way first: Practices for the next
week will be on the following days, with the pattern slightly changed up due to
Michigan.
Tues (tonight): asst. competition music for practice.
Weds (1/30): Svetlana!
Thurs (1/31): asst. competition music for practice.
Sun (2/3): form review before comp.
at this time, let me remind you that starting the week of Sunday Feb 3, practice
will be on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Also, on behalf of Brendan, I'm putting in a note here that dues for this
semester are...due. 10$ for social members, 15$ for competing members.
Alright, on to the fun stuff.
Caleb begins onstage, followed by myself, Abby, and Cloie, who is the first
person of interest, as her lunch seems to consist only of dessert. We are
followed by Jen. Here there is a pause. 5:30 comes and goes. Andrew enters,
sharing jokes with Cloie about naked baby seals. He is followed shortly by
Allison and Thomas, and then Emma, who does not find throwing salt a safe or
effective manner of its tranport. Enter Maya, and Ben, who can't get over the
foul smell of the dining hall, followed by Brendan and Susannah.
There is silence. Ben attempts to fill it, and fails. With such a vote of
confidence the meeting starts, while Jack's absence is generally lamented.
STARBALL: is in the works. The request for supplemental funds to pay for the
professionals was turned down. Brendan is going to talk to the people in
charge of Fun Funds and Gund Funds. Also, the date is very tentatively Feb 16.
Andrew is in contact with Svetlana about the professional couple.
ArnoldClassic: Investigation has shown that registration simply wasn't up the
last time we looked. However, the forms are confusing. Allison deems them
"wierd", after extensive inspection. Maya is looking into it, just incase
anyone is interested (no one seems to be...).
There was no practice last night. Sorry for the late notice... but there was
an email about that last week, so I'm not too sad.
The food is agreed to be awful, especially the Orange Manderin Chicken which is
like hash? I'm not sure.
Svetlana will be back this Wed. Baby Andrew was born Dec 31. Several theories
are put forward about Svetlana and the baby.
1) it already walks and dances better than us.
2) Svetlana has a home...or does she live in a dumpster? or on a cloud in the
sky (which she gets to on the wings of a unicorn...a pegasus-unicorn)? or
maybe at the Dance Centre?
3) the baby will jump onto our backs to serve as a posture aid, helping Svetlana
teach.
PRACTICE INFORMATION:
Competitor Practice: if you're missing practice, let your partner know. If
you're missing more than one, maybe work outside of the official practices? If
your partner is a no show, talk directly to them. Andrew asks that you not set
Maya on the absent member (he can't pay for bail or the other person's hospital
bills...) Maybe swap cell phone numbers.
General Practice: we need guys!--where have they gone? maybe casually ask guys
where they've been, and mention that we've missed them? (the merits of food
and violent movies as lures for men are discussed. also breasts.) there is
still stuff to learn. If we end up regularly practicing on Thursday nights, it
will be Svetlana review. Sunday is likely going to be form practice on a
regular basis.
This week: STWR
Next week: SMTW
RELAY FOR LIFE: if anyone is interested in forming a Ballroom Relay for Life
team, or joining such a team, talk to Ben directly. (wrightheumanb@kenyon.edu)
BALLROOM DOCUMENTARY: Ben is making a ballroom documentary, and
therefore will be filming practices. If you don't want to be filmed/in the documentary,
let him know directly. (again, wrightheumanb@kenyon.edu)
Caleb asks that Ben film his good side. Ben isn't sure there is a lense up for
the task. Andrew is up for a bitting witticism. Brendan attempts to fill said
desire, but imparts something else instead...Jen had a good word, but I forgot
it... :(
In the search of something interesting to discuss ("seen anything on the
internet?"), Ben brings up Heath Ledger's death. Jen is tired of it.
Andrew announces that if you want to learn/review anything in particular, let
him know.
Brendan motions for departure, and we leave, over discussion of what will happen
to the meetings once Brendan is gone. Will they be one long never-ending
meeting with breaks lasting a week?
Minutes 2/04/08
I enter to find the room dark, a few lights illuminating one corner of the room.
This is where I sit. I am joined in short order by the illustrious CoCoCo.
Her first words, "We have Vans!", leave me suspicous. After all, what would a
ballroom dance club want with skate shoes? I wait to see if she gives away any
details of the forthcoming coup, in which she will replace KCBDC with KCSC
(Kenyon College Skate Club), the two tied with necessities of strange footwear.
However, Jen enters, and Anneke clams up, becoming simply curious about the
food. Do we eat baked potatoes every Monday? It's a good question. (Let it
be noted that everything Jen says from here on in, she actually writes on
notecards, which I read. Or someone else, if I happen to be eating. It's a
complex system, though it works remarkably well. Get well soon Jen!). D
enters, trying to decide if she should bring a prospie to the meeting. We
recall scaring a prospie at elections. She and the prospie eat in the dining
hall. Someone outside the private dining room is very happy for someone
else...but is she lying? We can't tell, and without a thorough interogation, I
fear the answer is forever out of reach. Anneke proposes the cause of the
happyness was either a baby or a wedding, and later displays the middle finger
of West Virgina. The very slowly enlarging group of suspects is joined by
Abby, and then Caleb. ...And Jack. He and Caleb have to leave early for a
secret meeting. This is suspicious news indeed. I ponder what nefarious deeds
could be thought up by the pair. It is a list of terrifying breadth. Cloie
arrives, and throws off the balance in the room. The power alliances are
disrupted. A thought is put forward: ask ODADAS for Snowball money. Ben
enters. There are accusations of using phones on Middle Path. They are
dispelled. Andrew and Brendan enter. Ben is being difficult. What's new?
Maya and Emma enter. Finally, I can get down to work. The first topic of
questioning:
UMich:
-We have Vans! (I suppose my theory of Anneke's planned coup was a little
hasty). And it only took 10 emails, which must be a personal best for Anneke.
-5 people are leaving at 2 pm, 6 at 4. Anneke will send out the lists tonight.
Ben says that these numbers are right, for "There are five guys, five girls, and
a newbie...without gender." (Sorry Hannah...)
-We have crash space, the specifics will come later.
-PACK LIGHT! "Sharing is Caring, people"
-And finally, y'all will be dancing SALSA and NOT mambo. We know. This is
weird.
(Secretary's Note: This Wednesday will be the rehersal for UMich.)
The second line of questioning:
Snowball:
-Will be held Sat Feb 16, from 9-2, in Gund Ballroom.
-We are working on money issues (maybe Odadas, maybe Gund Funds,
maybe...elsewhere?)
-We might use an I-Pod instead of a DJ, to save money. Or someone is sending
out an allstu to find a cheap (free?) DJ.
-Brendan is putting together a list of expenses for Andrew, in the search for
more money for the exhibition.
The third line of questioning:
Svetlana Practice:
-The illustrious Svetlana can no longer do practice on Wednesday. She wants
them on Sunday.
-Said Sunday practices will start on the Feb 17th.
-Said Sunday practices will run from 4 to 6.
-It is believed that this is a permanent shift ("like the whole time she's a
mother?"), not merely a temporary one ("or like while she has a small child?")
The fourth (and last) line of questioning:
Practice Schedule:
-This week we are officially practicing MTW. IMPORTANT: if you would prefer to
regularly practice on Tuesday (instead of Thursday) SHOW UP THIS WEEK! If
there is inadequate attendence this Tues (aka tomorrow), the schedule will go
back to what it used to be.
-WEDNESDAY (2/6) is going to be a rehersal practice for UMich. It's in Gund, not
the KAC.
-THURSDAY (2/7) is an unofficial practice for comp.
With the questioning finished, there is disruption as the CoCoCoCoCo pair are
acting strangely. Maybe my suspicions towards Anneke were well founded.
There is general discussion that Jack is going to put together once a month
swing or salsa nights. Ben mentions that Apple Valley was (is?) running a West
Coast Swing night, and we could probably go.
Jack is also putting together a dinner dance semi-formal with the cooking club.
Said event is in the very beginning stages.
Emma wants to remind people that tomorrow is Mardi Gras, and that since we're
dancey people, and there's this thing called Carneval, we should hold a
masquerade. Bring your masks to practice tomorrow.
It is revealed that the five "Co"s are looking dailypuppy.com. Emma suggests
kittenwars.com. I have no idea what you will find at the end of either link.
Ben wants to know if there are any guys willing to go to Apple Valley with him
this week, just to show the physical stuff, as his back is out. Thursday, 6:30
to 9. Let him know if you're interested.
There is a brief review of the lines of questioning, then a query about
"anything pressing and not puppy related." Silence. Even a request for puppy
related things is followed by silence, and some guilty faces.
Brendan motions to get ice cream, leaving the rest of us awkwardly stuck. He is
followed by lots of people, and a request from Anneke for ice cream--the scoopy
kind. Anneke is on the phone with ODADAS, who has the worst hold music she's
ever heard in her life. But, "balla", the news is good. I think. ODADAS is
deemed "super official." I decide that I cannot get any more information out
of the group, and leave.
Attendees: Jen, Caleb, Susannah, Emma, Maya, Andrew, Jack, D, myself
It is declared fucking cold. I am told that excommunication has been declared
for anyone who tells about the stupid stuff that happened at UMich. This is
worrisome. Jack tries to read Greek, but it's not modern Greek. This is a
problem.
Enter Ben, Brendan.
Ben announces his recent status of "Wikipedia of Ballroom." There is a debate
about the relative temperature of Ben and Brendan's room. Ben and Caleb are
drama nerds, discussing and making jokes (albeit good ones) about "Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern are Dead."
Enter Anneke.
There is a debate about the specific meaning of "slash fiction", other types of
fanfiction, and the origins thereof. We get down to business.
SNOWBALL: (or perhaps Snow Ball, but never Snoball)
-it's this Saturday!, from 9pm - 2am
-We have the needed money!
-Ads in newscope, and some posters are going up.
-Jack would like input for non-ballroom dance music. send him 10-15 song titles
that he can run through Kenster, by 11 pm Tuesday.
-Jack and Brendan are getting food tomorrow (what? not at the last minute?)
-we will show up at 4:30pm on Sat, at the Gund Ballroom, to set up. This
includes clean the floor with a mop or something.
-on the subject of shoes, NO SHOES ALLOWED. This is to keep the floor clean and
scuff free.
-THE W. it is to be included. always. We do not host "Snoball." We can
spell.
Brendan proposes we get a thank you card for Andrew's mom, who fed the
competitors and let them shoot each other. It will be at practice
tonight--competitors from UMich, please sign!
COMPETITIONS:
Notre Dame-35$
-April 4/5
OSU-35$
-April 13 (Sunday)
Money for both is DUE FEBRUARY 29 (the Friday before Spring Break0). This is a
final date, no exceptions. If the Co's don't have your money, you're not
going.
PRACTICES:
-we're gonna do more advanced moves and some form practice. in general, 9-9:30
is still fun dances, to let people filter in. If you want to do fun dances,
get there before 9:30. 9:30-10 is a little form practice. 10-10:30 is for the
lesson. 10:30-11, more fun dances.
-Monday: a new samba combo and review of the fans and foxtrot opening out
-Tuesday: the whip and sugar walks
-Wednesday: Aida (remember, we'll be in Gund, not the KAC)
-Sunday: SVETLANA. 4-6. KAC.
If you're in D's performance, you're supposed to be at dress rehersal
for that at 2:30 in Rosse.
Jen requests that you give her pictures from UMich for the scrapbook.
I am told there are no interesting results from UMich, but...
-Elana slapped Ben for forgetting his shoes...(speaking of which, he wants to
know if anyone is interested in buying cheap Latin shoes...)
-Brendan is dubbed a partner dropper. But it was practically Hannah's first
time doing Viennese Waltz, from what I understand, and her first time
competing, so it's okay. Good job Hannah!
-things happened that I'm not allowed to record. I'm sorry.
-apparently there was a war...with NERF GUNS! And chinchillas?
And....chinchillas with nerf guns? I only report what I hear....
As everything slowly disolves, it is announced that Bill Cosby is putting out a
bad rap album, called "State of Emergency", to address the "horrible state of
affairs in today's hip hop culture." Jack gives us a little rap, what he
thinks Bill will sound like...and it is terrifying. There is discussion of
"finding out if that would really happen if a guy takes a sword to the head."
I am lamentably unclear on what "that" is. Apparently it's from Shogun
Assassin 2? Someone (Andrew or Maya, I think...maybe Anneke? I'm sorry...)
announces that everyone should watch a YouTube redubbing of HP& the Sorcerer's
Stone. Search "Dear Readers Wizard" on YouTube. There are 30 chapters,
apparently...the person did the whole movie.
as we exit, after the meeting is closed, Jack asks someone to carry his tray. "I
have shit to carry...like a DVD player...a broken one."
That is all.
We trickle in slowly today. Myself, then Cloie, Darren, Andrew, Jen, and Maya.
Food is of the utmost importance. I note Tollhouse Pie, undercooked carrots,
and a salad--shaken, not stirred. Abby, Susannah, Caleb, and Jack join the
group. I hear "yay! gravity" and the sound of a fork hitting a plate over the
numerous discussions of everyone's insane amounts of homework. Brendan, Emma,
and Ben join us, and we get down to business.
Assorted Things:
-The due date for competition fees has changed! If you wish to go to OSU or
Notre Dame, your money must be given to Anneke or Maya by WEDNESDAY, FEB 27.
They are 35 dollars each.
-Also, dues for this semester should be paid. 10 for social members, 15 for
competing members.
-Wed. Feb 27th is going to be a salsa night!
-Apple Valley is willing to give a west coast swing lesson for free
-The Semi-Formal Dinner Dance is in the works.
-we can get food for really cheap, but someone (or a few someones) will
need to go with Jack and listen to a presentation from the farmer. Let Jack
know if you're willing.
-it will be for ballroom members, cooking club members, and interested
seniors.
-can we host an alcoholic event?
-how to return leftover money from Snowball? can Finance simply retransfer it?
or can we use it for a different event? Brendan/Andrew will talk to the people
in charge.
-Judy Vance thanks us for helping with a website. We really don't know what
she's talking about, so Emma's on it.
SVETLANA!!! -This is important-
-The lovely lady has offered to move practice earlier, holding it from 2-4
instead of 4-6. (we theorize that 3-5 might also be an option...).
-REPLY TO THIS EMAIL with which time you would prefer. Andrew will figure out
by Wednesday which time it will be this coming Sunday, 2/24.
-This coming Svetlana practice (2/24) will be the last one until after Spring
Break (3/23).
Practice this week:
-at some point Ben would like to teach more hustle moves and other fun dances.
-what's left to learn? samba combos, int'l rumba combo, running finish, natural
weave in waltz
-Monday 2/18: Int'l Rumba combo
-Tuesday 2/19: American Foxtrot form and moves
-Wednesday 2/20: Waltz form and moves
(in a side note, Cloie is making art out of a cup, a knife, a fork, and some
snowpeas.)
-Greek dancing (for D's performance this coming Saturday, 2/23) will practice
during fun dance time every night this week. If you committed, then show up or
Jack will break your legs.
-Thanks to the people that came to Snowball and brought friends! There were
around 50 people there, and Brendan says it went off better than he expected,
what with the professionals bailing that morning and all. The left over food
will be brought to practice tonight.
We disperse.
I enter, to find Abby, Cloie, Jen, Andrew, Emma, and Anneke already in attendance. They are cursing the Holy Roman Empire, and the War of the Three Henrys. Maya, Jack, and Brendan join the party, and the discussion moves to the relative quality of today’s AVI options. They are not good. (We are not in an alternate fantasy universe, so this should not surprise you.) First up on the table: COMPETITIONS. -If you want to go to or plan on going to either OSU (April 13) or Notre Dame (April 4 and 5), you MUST 1) let Maya know and 2) pay Brendan (35$ each) by WEDNESDAY. That is the cut-off. This holds true even if you might have a comps conflict and are waiting to hear back from the school. -OSU is the day of the Housing Lottery. If you are going to OSU and are not graduating, FILL OUT PROXY FORMS. Next: Money…Stuff. -There is some confusion as to whether the ODADAS money we got and did not use for SnowBall has been returned. This must be looked into. (Morgan (a member from last year who has been noticeably lax in attendance this year) is declared the Ballroom Hitman, and Ben enters). -Secretary’s Note, on behalf of the Treasurer: Pay Your Dues. 10$ for social members, 15$ for competitive members. There is speculation that Summer Send-Off is April 27th, and hence no one need worry about missing it. I guess this could be called…Old Business! -If you remember the website debacle last week, our renowned Webmistress has discovered the answer! She forayed into the depths of the confusion, and from the pit of blackness pulled forth a shining beam of clarity! Judy Vance (?) was merely complimenting the club for having a working website and being a good example to all the other organizations that she wants to have on a “community webpage.” Props again to Emma, for her website brilliance. Enter Caleb. There is questioning about how to get the community Events Calendar to list the proper practice days/times. Jack is taking care of it. The theory: reply to the events calendar email. The mostly last item of business: Practice this week. M: review Svetlana. T: Waltz technique and some waltz moves. Maybe Viennese Waltz? -There was a request from Cloie to review V.W. before the next comp, so if we don’t get to it on Tuesday, it should stay on the list of things to do after SB. W: fun dances! This is the last practice before SB! – Everyone, PLEASE COME! (note: the following is my personal opinion…) There are girls that rarely get to dance, we would LOVE for any and all males to attend. Thanks. The next Svetlana lesson will be March 23rd. Random stuff… -Ben needs a female partner to help teach foxtrot at Apple Valley this Thursday, 7-9 pm. Jen seems to be filling that. At this point, the meeting dissolves into pretty much chaos. Andrew doesn’t help by asking for anything “entertaining or interesting.” That is always a dangerous move. Anneke and Maya begin an insult war: “You’re a jerkface.” “You’re a jerkface.” We discuss parking lots, remote and otherwise, and the accessing of the aforementioned in the Ohio winters. Maybe a new parking lot could be built where Ernst is when they bulldoze it? Or on top of the KAC? …Under the KAC? Also, Spring Break and driving home, plans for and length of each. There is an exodus to get dessert. Or maybe they are returning with dessert. At this point things fall apart enough that all I can offer is a few quotes, mostly regarding the superiority of various states: “Redding: We’ve got outlets!” “I go through West Virginia for literally eight minutes, and they are literally the worst eight minutes of the drive.” “West Virginia is like the bastard child of the North and the South—it’s the part they both didn’t want.” In defense of West Virginia, Anneke throws a crumpled up newspaper at Andrew. Maya wishes it had hit his cup of Coke. In a last ditch moment of sanity, Ben announces that Apple Valley needs instructors over break, if anyone’ll be in town. Andrew and Maya are taking care of it. With that, we depart.
The darkened room drips green when I flick on the lights. I'm early. It is some time before the other refugees filter in. Caleb, then Andrew, Maya, Anneke, Allison, Thomas, Cloie, Jack, and Ben. We discuss professors. Lutton is Santa. Hoefflberth is crazy. Tazewell is God. We are joined by Jen and Brendan. The room fills with incomprehensible babble, which concludes with a maniacal laugh from Jack. There are several conversations going on, the topics ranging from professors to junk food. I hear "I'll have pizza with a side of grease." Emma enters. I notice Gavin, who snuck in at some unknown point. Abby arrives as well. Competition Stuff: -the Notre Dame partner list is set in stone -the OSU partner list is changing. if you're interested in dancing newcomer (freshman mostly), so that everyone dances the full four sections, let Maya know. -OSU is no longer the day of the housing lottery, so no worries about proxies. -if you want to do any of the fun dances at the comps (hustle, polka, salsa, etc), let Maya know -we're working on getting people registered to drive -we're working on getting vans for comps Svetlana Practice: -for the month of March, Svetlana practices will be back at the old date/time (Wed, 9-11, KAC). This means Sunday is also back to the old time/place (8-10, Gund) General Practice: -we're going into competition prep, especially reviewing longer moves -ideas: Aida, salsa combo, Rumba combo, Samba combo -Viennese Waltz Club Housing: -some of the members have Ballroom themed housing (Andrew, Maya, Chris, Ari, Gavin, Jack) -it is a New Ap, apparently with a large common room -it is to be considered a space for any of the club members, to hold small club functions like sleepovers, movie nights, dinners, crash space for alumni, maybe some storage, occasional meetings, etc. (a toga party with greek dance is suggested...) -there will be a reletively open floor space for dancing -if you have any ideas regarding use, decor, or stuff in general, talk to Anneke or Maya Social Stuff: -still working on the dinner dance -depends on how much food we can get for cheap -maybe use Gund kitchen? -any ideas for where to hold a sleepover? -Weaver is horribly booked up. Hillel is suggested. Any other ideas, tell Jack. -movie night. any ideas about movies? -ideas: Dance with Me, Take the Lead, Shall We Dance (the Japanese version) -West Coast Swing night at Apple Valley? (side note, Jack apparently has an industrial coffee maker that brews 80 cups of coffee...) Practice this week: -let Andrew know if there are any particular moves you want to practice. -Tentative Schedule: -M: Samba -T: Salsa -W: Svetlana (probably) On a last note, Emma's pink hair is cute. so is her pink skirt with gray storm clouds with faces. Even if I haven't seen it. There is a mass exodus.
The Characters, in order of appearance: Myself, Anneke, Caleb, Cloie Jack, Andrew, Ben, Abby, Emma, Brendan, Maya General consensus is that the food today sucks. More note will be made of this later. Also, Jack is very plaid. Indeed, his plaid is color coordinated. THE CHEESE SOUP. (This will also be explained later.) It is suggested that we create a new officer title: Master of Ceremonies. This person would open the meetings and have a gavel. Broccoli in a veggie burger is NOT okay. This from the mouth of Jack. After extended debate, it is decided that: a) veggie burgers should contain "solid, heartier vegetables, not fucking florets of broccoli." b) veggie burgers shouldn't try and taste like meat. c) it isn't ethical to eat animals that can solve simples puzzles. "no, but I'd do it anyway" d)"I'd eat stupid people if they let me" Competition stuff. -We think we have vans... There is a dessert break. I humbly apologize for missing untold gems of ballroom blather while fetching myself a few cookies. It is requested that the minutes note: Ben has SIX cookies piled on one of the little plates. Despite this, he claims to be "healthier than half the people in the room." He attempts to explain which half. Said attempt is so pitiful it will remain unrecorded. Practice this week. -due to most comp people having multiple partners, songs will be played in back to back multiples (2 tangos, 2 waltzes, etc) -if you have questions about moves, combos, etc, ask people at practice to teach them on the side...there will be no formal lessons. -Maya requests the Kermit the Frog waltz be played. More on that later. There is babble about Senior Comps and professors. Discussion moves to...The List. aka "Greatest Hits of Gund Commons" 1. Swiss Steak -- it tastes like the smell of wet dog. 2. Mustard Scalloped Potatoes 3. Zucchini/Rubharb pie.... 4. Chocolate/Brie Panini? 5. Jello with Pretzles of Noodle like consistency 6. Popcorn Pizza 7. CHEESE SOUP (this was on the menu today...) -- like spicy spoiled milk... Ben tries it and all are horrifed when he doesn't find it horrible. 8. Rubber Burger 9. Burger with Bone Maya destroys her pie crust during the above. There is a Gary Larsen quote about lunch in hell. "Sometimes there's a scorpion in your sandwich, sometimes there isn't." The rearranged Ernst is "not cool." It is revealed that someone in Ernst was seen to be handrolling pie crust, from scratch. Jack witnessed this event. It is wondered how the pies can still suck, if made from scratch. Theory: they are frozen and stored for a while before consumption. We try to think of something Gund does really well, since we've been dissing them. We come up with: BBQ chicken, buffalo wings, and Philly cheesesteak pizza. It is declared that the main problem is that sometimes it's really good! If it were bad all the time, we could get used to it... Battle lines are drawn: Pat's is declared THE best cheesesteak place in Philly. If you care to debate it, talk to Anneke and... shoot. Someone else. I forget who. sorry. Brendan says that we should play Smash Brothers Brawl and Sonic as a club. Andrew is surprised. He thought we'd already been at the bottom of the barrel, conversation wise. It is stated that in order to hear the aforementioned Kermit Waltz, she must sing it a) in front of the club or b) in the Kermit voice (she says this will only happen if she's "smashed off her ass"). Brendan is filibustering and not motioning to adjourn. Naked Juice is owned by Pepsi. People owned shares of Pepsi and Coke. Jack's dad is the #1 user of Pepsi syrup in the country (small business, non-franchise, that is). Everything is downhill from here. Brendan finally calls to adjourn, and we leave.
Attendance is a slow trickle. Myself, Andrew, Maya, Jen, Caleb, and Cloie. Diversion: Why is the rum gone? Caleb wants to burp. He doesn't. We rejoice and are joined by Ben, Abby, Jack, Emma (in possession of mass quantities of tea), and Brendan. Emma is guarded by a brigade of napkins, under attack from the salt. NOTRE DAME is this Friday/Saturday. Practice this week is mostly gonna be competition prep. Practice tonight is probably in the KAC, since some official function stole the Gund Ballroom, and really, when do they ever clean up after themselves? CHECK YOUR EMAIL, depending on the usage of the KAC rooms and the key/sound situation, practice may simply be cancelled. SVETLANA PRACTICE is back to Wednesday for a permanent basis, same time as always: 9-11, KAC 237. This means Sunday practice is back to 8-10, Gund. Ben really is filming this week, mostly interviewing people. If you don't want to be interviewed, let him know. There is a call for anything else. Apparently the Newscope put out an April Fools Day Joke for tomorrow: 12" of snow... Emma is the Tea Santa Claus and passes around her bags of tea for sharing. Thank you Emma! Brendan shares with us all the following gem: "Coffee is like the outgoing older brother, and tea is like the antisocial, introverted younger brother. Think about it. People throw parties for tea to get people to know him, but if you open a coffee shop, people flock to it." There is battle: animorphs v. power rangers. The ballroom email account is going to be cleaned out. Darren arrives. Ben once tried to make instant mac and cheese without adding water... Brendan tries to divert the discussion away from a motion to end (drunk with his power, perhaps?). Maya dumps her ice over. Darren motions that Brendan motion to adjourn, which he does. Thankfully. We depart.
It's a slow day. Even with the arrivial of myself, Cloie,
Emma, Ben, and
Brendan, there is silence in the private dining room. Darren
arrives, and with
him, a host of salt jokes. "Would you bring me the salt?" "A
granule?" "Or a
crystal?" "How about the whole shaker...." There is a large
camera.
Apparently Ben is finally filming that documentary. "Lesson One:
Ballroomers
consume salt. Just like other humans." Jack arrives, and
with him, the spirit
of Andrew. We discuss Ragnarok, and ships made out of dead guys
toenails. I'm
very glad to have finished eating before this discussion began...
Someone asks
about putting a microwave inside another microwave. Will this heat
the food
really, really fast? Consensus: Yes, but it will explode shortly
thereafter.
It is brought up that you can catch an STD from a corpse. It's
like Ebola.
Abby arrives, and the conversation drifts to videogames, and "that place
in
your brain that you can hit with a bullet and your head explodes!"
Also, the
movie Hot Fuzz.
***We interrupt this with a breaking news bulletin! Two ballroom
members will
be performing in "Scabies: The Musical" next weekend, April 18 and 19,
at 8pm
in the Hill Theater. Tickets are free. Come relax after a
stressful day
getting housing. Now back to your regularly scheduled minutes.***
We get down to business and Darren departs.
OSU--...who knows? With the abscense of Maya and Anneke, we are
left to fumble.
I would presume the lovely pair have everything under control, and will
descend
upon all those going to OSU this Sunday like a pair of Ninjas.
Y'all will wake
up in Kenyon vans, your ballroom gear in bags, everything (and everyone)
piled
onto the seats like so many abandoned bottles.
There is a dance contest in Pittsburgh next year (I think Jack said
Oct/Nov?),
and Jack's parents would let us house/eat with them...it's only 2.5
hours away.
Consensus: let's look into it, but make sure it's a collegiate event.
Caleb arrives.
Notre Dame review, for all those who couldn't be there:
-Caleb drove, and somehow everyone arrived safely!
-the club only got two callbacks, but it was a very well run comp.
-there is general hate for "that one couple from Open." I guess
they dance down
all the time at other comps?
-there are fights about Syllabus.
-Caleb and Jen stayed awake in the car by singing.
-Ben got lipstick on his shirt. No worries, it was
completely innocent.
-Emma got stepped on. why does Emma always get stepped on?
-there was a party going on in the men's housing.
-the women had the best housing ever.
There are mock antics by Jack for the documentary. He is very,
very angry at
some unknown person for some unknown reason. An empty cup flies
across the
room. Then he starts singing his parts from "Scabies: The
Musical."
Shock Your Mama is declared scandalous but excellent.
We fill out consent forms (or not) for Ben's documenatary, most of this
meeting
having been filmed. We depart.
I arrive. Then Cloie, Andrew (with a two-bowl salad technique), Jen
(she
requests I note that the carrots today are cooked all the way through!),
D, and
Maya join. There is talk of majors and classes next semester. It is
queried if
any officers are actually going to show up (although four are actually
in
attendence). Apparently the lights at OSU were bad for picture taking
(christmas lights, a chandelier, and a disco ball). Abby joins us.
D's final project for photography is of Ballroomers. PLEASE WEAR
COSTUME/MAKE-UP NEXT MONDAY (April 21).
The Great Trio arrives (Emma, Brendan, Ben). We shut the doors.
First off: Great Job to everyone who was at OSU!
Second: SVETLANA!!!!! Andrew says please, please, PLEASE show up for
Svetlana
this week. Wednesday, KAC 237, 9-11. There's been low attendence and the
woman
herself has been sad. Do you hear that? Svetlana is sad because we
haven't
been going to her lessons. Let's show up this week!
Third: ELECTIONS. Nominations for next semester's officers are due
this Sunday
(April 20). Elections themselves will take place Sunday April 27 at 8
pm.
-side notes: we'll begin at 8 so we don't run over by an hour or more,
like last
time.... also, forget paper ballots. consensus is that it took way too
long
and was way too complicated.
The Budget hearing thing happened. Woo hoo.
If you took pictures at OSU, please let Jen (bakerj) know, or maybe
just send
them to her? Also, if you have the scrapbook/know where it is, let Jen
know!
Practices will be informal teaching from here on out. Ben wants to
teach more
hustle moves.
There is Tollhouse Pie. Also Jelly Doughnuts.
There are questions about Jen's facebook status.
What is the most boring thing you've read?
-Augustine's "Confessions"
-(some name in a foreign language that I didn't catch) "the Luciads"
-Marx
-(something I didn't catch, even after several repeats...maybe "modern")
Ethics
-Wrasalas? or Rasalas? Andrew suggested it. I don't recognize.
Brendan asks if something can be unequivocally boring. wouldn't
someone find it
interesting?
What about the most entertaining things you've read?
-some Japanese post WW2 novel about birds and mechanics.....
-4 to 6 word stories (online.) some examples:
-"For sale: baby shoes, never worn." - Ernest Hemingway
-"Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so." - Joss Whedon (aka God.)
-"Machine. Unexpectedly, I’d invented a time" - Alan Moore
-"Longed for him. Got him. Shit." - Margaret Atwood
-"From torched skyscrapers, men grew wings." - Gregory Macguire
-"K.I.A. Baghdad, Aged 18 - Closed Casket" - Richard K. Morgan
-if you want more: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/sixwords.html
-bad story first lines (also online). some examples:
-"Just beyond the Narrows, the river widens."
-"Stanislaus Smedley, a man always on the cutting edge of narcissism,
was
about to give his body and soul to a back alley sex-change surgeon to
become
the woman he loved."
-more at:
http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2005/04/my_buddy_noveli.html
Maya slices (or hacks at, perhaps) her tray with a Gund butter knife.
So she'll
know when she gets it again?
REMEMBER: COME TO SVETLANA.
There is a bad "that's what she said" joke. Actually, as "that's what
she said"
jokes go, it was a pretty good one. Andrew set himself up badly. He
admits it.
Also, let Ben know if you were at OSU and he hasn't interviewed you yet.
We depart.
We arrive in a trickle. Me, Caleb, Cloie, Andrew, Jack, Jen, Gavin,
Maya,
Susannah. There is chaotic discussion: state rivalries, star garnets,
major
wars (not major = big or important, but major = econ, polisci, english,
etc).
We wonder if Ben/Brendan/Emma will show up--Ben reportedly has a new
video
game. Apparently, if you need anything from B/B/E, call Emma. We begin
without
them.
SVETLANA
-practice NEXT SUNDAY April 27th, 3-5 in the KAC. Yes, this is the day
after
send-off. be there anyway
-practice the FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY April 30, 9-11 in the KAC. Be there.
It's the
last one for the semester.
Ben shows up.
PRACTICE TONIGHT
-In Gund, 9:30 on. Yes, we know the event is there. We're gonna take it
over
anyway.
-we're taking photos, please DRESS UP everyone!!! Theoretically in
Latin,
Standard if you wish.
ELECTIONS
-are this coming Sunday (the 27th, the same date as the next Svetlana
lesson),
starting at 8, in Gund. We'll just meet for the elections.
-all positions are running uncontested except treasurer.
-second round nominations are open until, say, Saturday?
Brendan and Emma arrive; Jack gets his glasses back. We recap the
minutes.
Apparently Svetlana noted at the last lesson that a lot of the girls are
moving
before being led into moves, and she "did not know that Kenyon women
were so
<i>rrrrrrrrrr</i>. (Please read this as a gutteral sort of feline
purr/growl,
signifying passion and attack and anticipation.)
BUDGET
-we got all but 355 dollars. 350 was for moving tables in Peirce, which
we
hopefully wouldn't need anyway. the other five was for posters?
this moves the conversation into gripes over tuition, (no longer)
free printing,
possible trips to a dairy, lent, etc. Ben will be interviewing people
for his
documentary tonight, Tuesday, and Wednesday (all theoretically in Gund).
I
have written down "Jack = AV replacement." I don't remember what this
means.
Anyone have ideas? There is a war over the acceptability of mullets.
Cloie's
bday is Thursday.
BALLROOM DINNER
-Saturday May 3rd. That's a week after send-off, the day after the last
day of
classes, to take place after MST3K. Probably in McBride. RSVP if you're
going
to attend, it will cost monies (more than last time, but to be
decided...later?).
RECAP OF IMPORTANT STUFF:
-show up tonight IN FULL BALLROOM DRESS/MAKEUP/WHATEVER
-ELECTIONS on Sunday
-SVETLANA on Sunday, and the following Wednesday
We leave, although Brendan takes his sweet time in motioning to
adjourn. Who
will replace him? Also, it is again said that we need a gavel.
Today is a day for mood lighting. Also, Israeli food. Also, on a side
note,
you may remember me mentioning that Emma has a pink skirt with serious
thunderclouds on it (to quote the lady herself: "Serious thunderclouds
are
serious."), which I assumed must be as cute as Emma herself. Having now
seen
the skirt, I can tell you that it is indeed appropriately cute. Moving
on.
Jen arrives--she likes the mood lighting (+10,000 points for me!). Also,
frozen edamame = fail. But the apricot chicken was okay. Cloie arrives,
and
we discuss scheduling for next year, and the insanity thereof. Jack
arrives,
followed by Gavin and then B/B/E. Jack is finally finished with Lent,
and
accordingly ate what sounded to be almost a literal boat-load of meat
and
animal products this weekend. Someone says that lamb maybe smells like
cat
food? There is discussion about growing up with or without a sense of a
"culture", whether defined by religion or region or nationality (hey,
how long
do you have to be here before you can't legitimately claim to be a
certain
nationality?) There is discussion of strange food. Caleb arrives. We get
to
work, Andrew and Maya being officers in absentia today.
1. SVETLANA. Wednesday. 9-11. KAC.
-come on guys, it's the last one this semester. I know we're all busy,
but
let's make it a big one!
-she's gonna teach something crazy (aka not bronze) or weird,
or...something.
-an ultimatum is laid down. If Jack doesn't show up, Emma will cry.
2. Practices this week.
-Monday and Tuesday are the last two official pratices (Wed being
Svetlana).
-These days will be devoted to seniors teaching stuff they haven't
taught yet.
Ben's warning: this means lots of hustle.
-Tuesday will involve food! and fun! and party!
3. Ballroom Dinner. May 3 (That's this Saturday).
-RSVP by WEDNESDAY AT 6 PM. This is hard and fast.
-Straight from Jack: "If you f***ing want to go to the f***ing ballroom
dinner,
f***ing let me know. And if you say you're going, then f***ing show up."
Also, the price will be decided when he knows how many people are
showing up.
Also, the menu is as yet undecided.
OMFG!!!!! Ben created a Svetlana cha-cha, consisting of Svetlana's
voice over a
basic cha-cha beat. She says: "cha cha cha, two, three" "cha cha cha,
cha cha
cha, cha cha cha, two, three" and "cha cha cha, two, --- I did not say
three!"
It's amazing. It will be added to the ballroom playlist. It's on Kenster
(search Svetlana, I think). It is excellent.
Brenden passes the fork/torch/right to dismiss the meetings to Cloie,
his
replacement as treasurer. She motions to adjourn, it is seconded, and we
depart. She is ferociously guarding the fork.