Raptors have donned their cowboy boots and country to begin a new club at LASA:
the LASA Line Dancing Club. Amid LASA’s highly academic clubs, Line Dancing Club was created to bring a fun part of Texan culture to campus.
Line Dancing Club was founded by juniors Anna Ugarte and Daphne Hayes. The idea to form the club sprouted when the two visited a hangout spot with live music, food, and drinks in Buda, Texas.
“We went to this place in Buda called Buck’s Backyard and tried line dancing.” Ugarte said, “And it was really fun. We decided to start a club at LASA because we thought other people would enjoy it, too.”
Ever since the club’s co-captains brought line dancing to the dance room from Buck’s Backyard, they continue to attend Buck’s most Thursdays in order to learn new dances for the club. Ugarte and Hayes’ goal was to create a club for people to enjoy and learn about line dancing.
“We just thought it was really fun and we knew our friends would have fun doing it,” Ugarte said. “And we’re like, well, maybe we should make it a club for everyone to have fun.”
The club is a relaxed environment that aims to provide fun activities for people at LASA. To prepare, Ugarte and Hayes learn three different line dances for each meeting and practice them a couple of times before starting the group dances.
“We have three dances planned,” Ugarte said. “And so we alternate teaching the dance step by step. And then we go into doing the dance throughout a full song, with everybody doing it and then we do that three times.”
The co-captains explained that they have different dances to explore all the positive aspects of line dancing. The dances are taught quickly so they can get to the actual dancing in the same meetings.
“It’s pretty easy overall. There’s different dances to different songs, and they kind of range in levels.” Hayes said. “Most of the ones that we do are probably beginner or mild difficulty level, but there’s some hard ones that are complicated and they’re really fun to learn.”
Junior Anya Sanchez, a club member, learned about line dancing through Buck’s Backyard through attendance with Ugarte and Hayes. Her enjoyment of the experience led her to later join the club.
“They took me to Buck’s backyard one time too, we did line dancing,” Sanchez said. “It was really fun. And then they created their club. Then I joined too.”
Sanchez explained that she attends the club because it’s a fun activity, and Ugarte and Hayes provide a space to learn interesting dances. The club creates a time in the school day to just relax and have fun with her friends.
“I think it’s just to have fun, and Anne and Daphne get to show off their fun dances and all that they’ve learned that’s pretty cool,” Sanchez said.
Another club member, junior Galilea Ramirez, explained that she joined the club because of her interest in dancing. However, she was also intrigued to learn more about this element of southern culture.
“I joined because, even though I don’t have a whole lot of faith in this country, I thought it was cute and Lana Del Rey to be patriotic,” Ramirez said. “And line dancing club is so Southern Belle and cutesy and fun, and I like dancing.”
Ramirez knew some line dances before, but the line dancing club taught her southern ones. She enjoys being in an environment that focuses on simply having fun during a stressful school day.
“I think it’s a nice thing that we have this fun little club that isn’t just for grades,” Ramirez said. ”It’s just fun, and it’s exercise.”
Line Dancing Club has created a place at LASA for people to learn more about a Southern cultural element and have fun. The club meets on select Tuesdays in the LASA dance room at noon.
