In an age of nightclubs blaring techno beats and pop music for throngs of bumping and grinding dancers, it seems that ballroom dancing belongs in a different generation, far away from campus life at Iowa State.

Or does it?

Rising lesson enrollment this year in the ISU Ballroom Dance Company suggests otherwise.

“This really came as a surprise this semester,” said Keith Dahlby, the company’s business manager and Web master.

“Our spring classes are always smaller than fall semester, and Fridays are always smaller than Wednesdays.”

To better understand its increasing numbers, the club issued surveys to new participants asking them how they heard about the company and why they continued to participate beyond the free trial lesson.

“Most people had heard about it and were interested in what it was or came because other people they knew were doing it,” said Samantha Olson, president of the ISU Ballroom Dance Company. “Some people wanted to know how to dance for events like the E-Ball and weddings.”

Word of mouth and referrals are the company’s greatest recruiting assets. In fact, that’s how Olson and Dahlby got involved.

“Some friends said I should come and try it out, and three weeks later I was in my first competition,” Dahlby said.

“Now, two years later, I’m putting in nine hours a week practicing and helping out with beginner lessons.”

Susie Fitzenberger, senior in chemical engineering, joined the club last week after a friend recommended the free trial lesson.

“I went and was immediately hooked,” she said. “It’s exciting to learn something new and only a one hour per week commitment. For me, ballroom dancing is a chance to have a good time and relax.”

Laurie Bidrawn, senior in computer engineering, also joined after some friends recommended the free trial lesson.

However, it was the unique nature of ballroom dancing that kept her interested. She had only been involved in professional development organizations, and this was a chance to do something fun on Friday evenings.

Usually the club expects about 50 participants for its Friday night beginner classes. This semester, however, anywhere from 50 to 100 people have participated, Dahlby said. At one point, there were more people than the club had room for.

Because of the increased number of participants, the Forker Building dance halls have become too small. During the fall semester, the dance company was able to use the gyms in Forker to account for the larger classes.

With the basketball season underway, however, it is back in the cramped dance halls.

“We’re worried about next year,” Olson said. “We’re looking at the Memorial Union or elsewhere in Ames for space.”

Space shouldn’t be an issue for the third annual Cyclone Ballroom Classic, which will be held March 5 in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

“It is the only collegiate-sponsored ballroom competition in the state of Iowa,” Dahlby said.

Not only is the competition the only one of its kind in Iowa, it is one of few in the Midwest. The all-day competition will feature competitors from across the Midwest and include five professional judges and national champions from around the country. After the competition, there will be a professional showcase and multiple workshops.

“It’s something you don’t see in this part of the state. There aren’t people that are that good, which is why we have to bring them in,” Dahlby said.

Even with national champions and judges, the competition is very friendly to beginners.

“They may be only doing basic steps, but they’re still having a good time,” Dahlby said. “We have a lot of people that just compete at our competition.”

The competition also tries to bring in as many spectators as possible and offers a student discount for tickets.

“The hardest thing about starting a competition is getting people to come,” Dahlby said. “We try to make the spectator fees as low as possible so we can get a lot of people to come and introduce them to the sport.”