The SU’s Latin and Ballroom group will have their fiftieth year as a club in the 26/27 academic year!
The SU’s Latin and Ballroom group will have their fiftieth year as a club in the 26/27 academic year! The club was founded in 1977 by Paula Goodyear as a way for students at the university to dance socially and compete against other universities in the UK and abroad. The club teaches five main ballroom styles; the waltz, quickstep, foxtrot, tango and Viennese waltz. And five main Latin styles; the cha cha cha, jive, rumba, samba and paso doble. Club dancers then take these skills and compete across the varsity circuit.
In its history as a member of the Intervarsity Dance Association (IVDA) Bath has finished as high as second nationally and also seen some individual achievements. Bath dancers Mathias Kirkegaard & Claire Kilding have previously been British University Ballroom champions in 2018, and Mathias Kirkegaard & Maria Pieridou won the Latin category in 2020. Bath have also won the offbeat competition four times in its history in 1991, 1996, 2023 and 2025. Offbeat asks all levels of Latin and ballroom dancers to come together and perform a non-Latin and ballroom routine.
Mathias & Claire dancing at the Inter Varsity Dance Competition, Blackpool Winter Gardens
What Is The Club Up To This Year?
BULB competes at six main competitions every year, and hosts three main internal events for its members. Members will travel to Southampton, Birmingham, Southern Regionals, Nationals in Blackpool, Bristol and our home competition in the founders hall over the academic year.
BULB also runs weekly Thursday classes with professional coaches James & Joanna Whitehead. They run their own busy dance school, Viva La Dance, based in Bath, and between them they have a combined experience of over 50 years. They have been teaching at the university since 2000 and 2006 respectively, and have seen the university finish as high as second in the overall rankings at Blackpool nationals.
The 25/26 BULB Team at the Blackpool Winter Gardens
Join us this year!
BULB has progressed massively over the last fifty years, now offering four classes a week for members, with a weekly technique workshop, flexibility and endurance classes, professional lessons and a social class. BULB members highlight the strong sense of community and friendly atmosphere as a reason to join.
Want to give dancing a go? We’re hosting another taster on Wednesday 14 October in celebration, and you can also find us on the parade over Wednesday lunch.
Taster Session - Wednesday 14 October 19:15-20:15 - 1W Foyer
As BULB heads into its fiftieth year, there is plenty more to come. Over the years, the club has brought together students of all abilities, from people taking their first steps on the dance floor to those competing at the highest level. We’re looking forward to celebrating the club’s history this year, while continuing to give new students the chance to get involved and make their own memories.