Fall 2014 Mulgrave Alumni Spotlight Series: Jake Larson

alumni spotlight series fall 2014

DANCE with me How one grad has found a community of like-minded peers through the UBC Dance Club.

After graduating from Mulgrave School in 2012, Jake Larson began his studies in engineering at UBC. In an effort to learn to dance and to meet new people, Jake joined the UBC Dance Club. A strong leader by nature, Jake quickly became immersed in the UBC and competitve ballroom dancing scene. He now serves as a social coordinator on the executive committee of the club. Jake shares his love of dance with our Mulgrave community in this week’s Alumni Spotlight.

Jake Larson Q&A

How did you get your start in Ballroom Dancing?

I got into ballroom through my brother, Gordon (Mulgrave Class of 2010). He had done a few of the dancing things within the House System at Mulgrave. He was also good friends with Zach Lim, also a Mulgrave grad, whose older brother served as President of UBC Dance Club while he was in university.

When I graduated from Mulgrave, I was interested in trying something new, especially after having been heavily involved in the service with Mr. Wilson at Mulgrave. I thought that the dancing my brother looked fun. With that idea in my head, I went to the UBC Dance Club night at the Robson Square Summer Dance Series, which I now help run, and really enjoyed the lesson there.

It just seemed like the best place to learn to dance and meet new people at UBC.

What surprises you most about competitive ballroom dancing?

At this point? Not much. Initially? Hair and age were really surprising.You will look at dancers who seem to be around the same age as you, anywhere from 19-24, only to find out that they’re more like 14 or 15, dressed in full makeup and fancy clothes. On the flip side, you’ll see people who look to be in their 30s, only to find out later that they’re deep into their 40s or early 50s. The hair is a topic I don’t want to reveal too much about; you will have to find out by going to a competition and taking a look at their hair.

What are some of your goals for dance?

I’ve never really thought about my goals. The entire process has just been to improve up to this point. Currently and for the foreseeable, future it’s trying to work on how to move properly during samba and adding more rise and fall in waltz. Both goals require me to work on the flow of my dancing, so it looks more natural. In the far future, I will focus more

on figures and other technique… but that’s for another day!

Can you share with us a favourite performance story?

I don’t have many performances to take stories from, and those that I do, aren’t particularly interesting without knowing the people involved. With that said, though, my favorite performances are the more low-key ones on campus that don’t always involve dancing.

Recently, I got my hands on a rubber horse head mask and just happened to have it while I was wearing my UBC Dance Club T-shirt. Doing silly poses while people took ‘subtle’ pictures was really fun, as was photo bombing the other official UBC Dance Club executive head shots while still in mask. Other than that it’s really just shenanigans around UBC that I participate in: a shirtless-train, dancing to other people’s music in large groups, and any other crazy ideas that our Marketing Directors think of.

The Robson Square Summer Dance Series , 2014

What has been your biggest challenge What type of advice would you as a social coordinator for the UBC offer Mulgrave students who want Dance Club? to become involved in a fine or performing art?

I’d say my biggest challenge is currently ongoing.

The venue for our annual Holiday Ball held on the last Saturday in November has fallen through so we’re looking for alternatives. We’ve got a strict list of things we need including a kitchen, ballroom, no columns breaking up the dance floor, an area that can be separated off to serve and consume alcohol, as well as a few more minor details. We’re on our last few options for looking around before attempting to host the event at the UBC SUB Ballroom, which has a good number of issues for hosting the ball. In the past month alone I’ve been reminded countless times that your friends are the best people to rely on. Big shout-out to the rest of the Exec team for being there. I’ll have to comment later on how we solved the problem, but I imagine my fellow social coordinator will have a large part in the solution.

“I probably suck as much as anybody when it comes to dancing, yet I’m still here. Don’t be afraid to come out and show your moves.” – Jason Liu (UBC Dance Club Social Coordinator 2014, started dancing in 2013) This pretty accurately describes everyone’s feelings after about a year of dance, or any performing art skill; I’d hazard to say the feeling persists even after ten years for some people.

Just because the people around you have been doing it longer or better, doesn’t mean you don’t have something awesome or new to show them.

Having people to look up to is important as it gives you something to aspire to. So long as you’re having fun, it doesn’t matter how well you do it.

Jake Larson, September 2014 As interviewed by Chloe Scott