The MSU Ballroom Dance Team hosted its eighth annual Green and White Gala on Sunday, an event where any collegiate dancer was welcomed to compete in a variety dance styles and levels.

The levels were newcomer, bronze, silver, gold, novice, pre-champ and champ. Dance styles included Standard, Smooth, Latin and Rhythm. The event welcomed over 165 competitors at IM Circle — 40 of whom are on MSU’s team — from various states, including a team from Waterloo, Canada. 

Each event is split into stages of 90 second rounds. After each round, groups are eliminated, until there is a final round comprised of five different partner groups who compete to be crowned winner. 

Neuroscience senior and MSU Ballroom Dance Team president William Wooley joined the team four years ago because he wanted to learn how to dance. Wooley danced gold Smooth, gold Rhythm, silver Rhythm and gold Latin. His favorite dance is Mambo.

“Mambo is a very interesting dance,” Wooley said. “It has a lot of rhythm and soul to it and fun partner interactions.”

Although Wooley helped run this event and cheered on his teammates, he was just “hoping to see everyone have a good time” and see himself and others improve their skills.

“The more opportunities I have to dance … the more opportunities I have to allow myself, my partner and the audience to have a good time. That’s all that matters at the end of the day,” Wooley said.

Biochemistry junior and team VP Sydney Hall helped organize the event while also dancing bronze and silver Rhythm and Latin.

It year is her second year dancing and leading the competition, a job that she said is stressful but worth the outcome. Her main goal was to see the competition run smoothly and ensure everyone had fun.

Since she joined, Hall has seen a lot of growth with the people that come to the event, in both numbers and in diversity. Last year the event tallied up roughly 120 contestants. Hall wants to see the team grow as a community and see more people every year.

“We’re a very diverse group of people that come together to do something fun and enjoy each other’s company,” Hall said. “Sure, we compete, but it’s just another way of hanging out for us.”

Microbiology and molecular genetics fifth-year Alex Roy is a part of the team's curriculum chair, where he designs lessons for the team, schedules trainers and maintains the administrative aspect of the team. 

Roy joined his freshman year but did not dance this year — instead, he made sure the event ran smoothly. He said all he wanted to see was people from different colleges together in one room. This wish, he said, came true.

“I’ve already seen what I was hoping to see,” Roy said. “Bringing people from all over to come to do the activity that we love.”

Roy said that trying to advance to each round is all about getting the attention of the judges, a task that can be extremely difficult. 

“In a minute and a half, you have to stand out,” Roy said. “Sometimes, you only have the judge’s attention for less than five seconds.”

The dozens of participants narrow down to just one partner duo that becomes the ultimate winner of that event. In the end, however, it's all in good fun, Hall said. Most of the competitors are there to be with their community, something Hall hopes to see year after year. 

“All we want to do is have fun and dance,” Hall said.