Two Iowa State students recently won first place in the hustle at the 10th Annual Dance Competition in Urbana, Ill.

Nine members of the ISU Ballroom Dance Company attended the competition earlier this month, and Alma Castillo, graduate student in graphic design, and Jeremy Waymire, junior in anthropology, won first place in the hustle, advanced level.

Castillo said the competition consisted of three dance categories: smooth, Latin and nightclub dances.

“Smooth dances are the waltz, fox trot and tango; Latin dances are swing, cha-cha, rumba, samba, salsa/mambo; nightclub dances are the hustle, west coast swing and two step,” Castillo said.

Marcus Clark, president of the company, described the hustle as “similar to the swing dance, except with a syncopated rock step.”

Castillo said she has been dancing for the company for three years and with Waymire for two years.

“I am coming from a family full of dancers, and until my grandfather passed away, I was not interested in dancing,” Castillo said. “After he died, I realized that I owed him dancing.”

Castillo said at that time, she decided to join the ISU Ballroom Dance Company.

Waymire said he became interested in the organization when he saw an advertisement about the company three years ago.

Waymire said he and Castillo did not practice a lot before the competition because the two of them have been dancing together for two years.

“It is easy to dance together without a hard practice after two years because we know each other’s moves, strengths and weaknesses,” Waymire said.

Clark said the partners practiced a few times together, mostly to discuss basics and competition style.

Castillo said the competition was “most definitely” a great experience.

“We got to meet many people, certainly enjoyed what we were doing and had a great time dancing in front of that many people,” she said.

She said after a while, it is hard to see people having fun on the dance floor without being able to join them, so some competitors simply do their routine and leave.

Waymire said this year was his third year in the competition.

“The first year, I won the first place on cha-cha, and this year, [we won] the first place in hustle,” he said.

He said by attending these competitions, he learns new moves and corrects his mistakes.

Getting to the competition was more difficult this year for the company because it has yet to receive funding for the trip, Clark said.

“In past years, trips have been funded by GSB through sports club council and members dues,” he said.

“Usually everyone is invited to company trips, but many beginners do not feel competent enough to go,” Clark said.

“We usually have enough money to pay for a lot from the membership dues, which is $25 a semester,” he said.