Dancing with our Stars

During the halftimes of the men’s and women’s basketball games Feb. 6., Kelsey Reger (‘13) and Bryce Kilker (‘13) were named the champions of Luther’s Dancing with the Stars competition.

Reger and Kilker were one of two finalist couples that were chosen during a preliminary audition period in December. Joseph Carey (‘11), a leader of Luther’s social dance club, helped organize this year’s competition. According to Carey, 13 students originally auditioned to compete.

“The people at the auditions were taught the basics of a few ballroom dances and then danced for the coaches, who were free to make suggestions and try various pairings,” Carey said. “Eventually, each coach figured out which guy and which girl they wanted to coach.”

Legends Fitness Center and Rec Sports Coordinator Vicky Jaeger selected the coaches by using recommendations from the theater/dance department. The two coaches selected for this year’s competition were Julie Shiely (‘12) and Michaela Bram (‘13).

Shiely chose to work with Reger and Kilker while Bram selected Rosie Bluhm (‘13) and Ben Johnson (‘13) for her competitors. Ironically, Kilker and Johnson are roommates.

“It was a friendly competition the whole way,” Kilker said. “We were both rooting for each other and both had a lot of fun. We didn’t hold anything back for each other.”

The coaches spent the month of January working with their couples, choreographing waltz, tango and swing routines. Throughout their rehearsals the couples developed their individual skills and partner technique.

“I’d never done ballroom dance before but have been dancing my whole life through studios and my high school’s dance team,” Reger said.

While Kilker had been doing ballroom dance for over a year, the rehearsals were a chance to further improve his skills.

“The rehearsals sharpened up my technique, especially tango and waltz, and I was able to learn some new steps,” said Kilker.

Both partners felt that it took both practice and time to perfect some of the tricks, but their skills developed with a few bruises.

“The overall experience for me was a positive one,” Reger said. “My assigned partner and I had a lot of fun getting to know each other. Ballroom dance involves a lot of lifts so we developed trust between us.”

The two finalist couples performed their waltz and tango routines during halftime of the women’s basketball game on Feb. 6. The official judging was held during halftime of the men’s basketball game later that afternoon. There, the two couples performed their tango and swing routines. Reger and Kilker were selected the winners by audience applause. Each partner was awarded $300 to use toward textbooks.

“This is definitely a recurring event,” Carey said. “Last year was the first time we had done the competition, but it’s been very successful and we want to keep it going.”

Those involved encourage other students to try ballroom dance.

“Social dance is a really neat thing,” Kilker said. “People should just give it a try. It’s difficult to start out, but it won’t take very long before you can do the basics.”