Hi, my name’s Izzy and I am currently in my third year at Bournemouth University, studying Media and Communications. I have been a member of the dance society (BUDS) for the past 3 years which has opened up so many opportunities and really made my overall experience at BU.

BUDS is one of SUBU’s biggest societies, with 70+ members, that caters for 6 different styles of dance – Jazz, Tap, Street, Contemporary, Ballet and ‘Wildcard’  which allows for any style of the society’s choice. This years Wildcard style was Commercial.

Over the past few years, we have become stronger and stronger as a team, winning the most improved society of the year in 2018 and the clubs commendation award for art and performance in 2019 alongside receiving 5* society status 2 years in a row at SUBU’s annual activity awards.

I found out about the society at the freshers fair, which is held at the beginning of the year in the SUBU building on Talbot Campus. I was welcomed by the committee, informed about what being a part of the team involved and signed up for auditions. I was accepted onto the lyrical team which was the wildcard style for that year. Since first year I have performed with the jazz team, contemporary team and street team. Auditioning and being a part of multiple teams is an opportunity offered to everybody.

As a team, our main events include inter-university competitions, fundraisers such as BU Come Dancing, the end of year showcase, and a range of other performances across the course of the year which have previously included student pride, the activities awards and Bournemouth 7’s festival.

Competitions

As a team, our main events include inter-university competitions, fundraisers such as BU Come Dancing, the end of year showcase, and a range of other performances across the course of the year which have previously included student pride, the activities awards and Bournemouth 7’s festival.
Competitions. We compete nationally at inter-university competitions at least twice a year. Competitions are the main focus of classes between October and March. Choreographers, all of whom are members of the team who have been voted into the role, use lessons to teach and create routines that are then performed against other universities across the UK.

This year we competed at both Sussex Jam, held by the University of Sussex, and Royal Holloway Universities dance competition. We collectively walked away with 5 first place trophies, 1 second place trophy, 1 third place trophy, the best female dancer – awarded to Oceanne Chin, one of our street choreographers, and the best choreography, awarded to our Jazz choreographer, Katie Barker. This has been the most successful competitive year for BUDS as of yet, and with the standard increasing year by year, we look forward to what we can achieve next year! The atmosphere of competitions has everyone on such a high, really bringing the team close together and are often described as the highlight of the year by many.

BU Come Dancing

BU come Dancing is the society’s biggest fundraising event of the year where we raise money for a local youth LGBT charity. All BU sports teams, clubs and societies are invited to create a routine which they perform and compete with at The Old Fire Station, the student union club. The event has just seen it’s second year and is already extremely popular. This year saw performances from Men’s Rugby, the BU Bobcats, Women’s Rugby, Women’s Football, BU Polo, the K-Pop society and our very own Jazz and Commercial teams. We raised a massive £1030.00. As members of the team you are offered the opportunity to choreograph for other teams, and I can vouch for the fact that this is so much fun, having choreographed routines for both women’s rugby and women’s football.

Other opportunities

The dance society is more than just attending a dance class once a week. From attending the range of weekly fancy dress socials, to going on tour, to ice-skating, to laser quest, to beach BBQ’s, I have made friends for life from being a part of the team. All members of the team have the opportunity to run for committee and choreographer roles. Last year I took on the role of Vice-President of the team which opened up so many opportunities, including creating and running the BU Come Dancing event alongside the President of 17/18, Libby Weston. I am very excited to come back next year as co-president of the team, alongside Zoe Wickham! We hope to see many new faces at the freshers fair in September!

Find out more on our social media channels:

Facebook: Bournemouth University Dance Society
Twitter: @BUDanceSoc
Instagram: budancesoc