A blast to the past throwback, a 40s and 50s era romantic dance, is open to the Otterbein community on Feb. 16. The annually held Music and Romance will vary in theme and venue from the year before.
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, the Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association and the Otterbein Music Department are hosting the 12th annual Music and Romance Dance. MEISA organizes the event to raise money for the Otterbein music and business program, which brings in guest speakers, guest artists and clinicians.
This jazz era dance is a valentine-themed night with whimsical light fixtures draping around the venue, located at the historic Grand Valley Dale Ballroom at 1590 Sunbury Road in Columbus. The dance will be accompanied by a combination of live instrumental jazz and vocal performances, dancing, cocktails and desserts.
Last year, Music and Romance was held at the Aladdin Shrine Center at Easton Town Center. Senior music and business major Kelsie Randall and junior music and business major Eric Wolff said they believed the Shrine Center was too ambitious. It is a much larger venue than Grand Valley.
Due to the size of the venue, the ticket prices were increased, according to Wolff. Last year, there were between 200 and 250 people that attended, whereas the years before there were more than 300.
Compared to last year, though, the cash bar will return and the ticket prices decreased. However, the swing dance lessons that were offered last year before the dance will not be offered this year.
During the dance, there will be a 50/50 raffle where half the money will go to the winning ticket holder and the other half to MEISA. Guests can buy a ticket for $1 or six tickets for $5. According to Randall, someone won over $100 in 2011.
A silent bidding will be held for different date night packages as well. The gifts in the packages include movie passes to Rave Cinemas and a gift card to a local restaurant. The starting bid is a third of the price of the gifts, so guests could find themselves getting a bargain for what they bid on.
“It’s a great chance to not only have a fun time, but a good chance to support Otterbein,” said Wolff, also the president of MEISA.
The featured music groups for the event include Opus One, directed by Gayle Walker; the Six in the City, an all-female group; and an array of soloists performing jazz ensembles. One of the soloists performing is senior music and business major Heather Doerschuk.
“(It’s) nice to watch your peers perform,” Doerschuk said. “It is like, I see them in my IS class and, ‘Oh, look what else they can do.’”
Last year, Doerschuk was also one of the soloist performers.
“I loved performing with the big band the first time,” she said. “I definitely wanted to do it again. Easily one of my top five favorite performances.”
Featured instrumental groups that are performing include the Otterbein Jazz Ensemble and jazz combos led by Columbus Jazz Orchestra bassist Chris Berg and local professional guitarist Karl Wohlwend. Closing is The Anticipations, led by MEISA advisor Eric Van Wagner, performing a set of classic dance hits.
Tickets pre-ordered online at www.musicandromance.com are $25 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets are being sold on campus Feb. 11 through the 15 during lunch and dinner for $10 for students. Walk-up ticket prices at the dance will be $30 for adults and $15 for students.
The doors open at 7 p.m. and the event is 8 to 11 p.m.. The dress code is semi-formal, but fun cocktail attire is encouraged.
