By Ryan McCormick

Photo by Steve Tringali/ The Lafayette

Lafayette’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders is not afraid to try out new and creative ideas.

The continuing struggle to fund EWB projects led to the first ever “Dancing With Staff.” The goals: to raise money for costs of travel and supplies–estimated to be $4,000 to $9,000 per trip depending on whether the trip’s main function is surveying, building or upkeep of a filter; to raise awareness of the global issue; and to host an evening of fun for students and faculty alike.

Lafayette’s chapter, led by President Juan Hernandez ‘12 and Vice President Emily Clark ‘12, is a small but a proactive piece of the global program. The chapter’s first hands-on projects began in 2003, aiming to increase amounts of portable clean water in rural villages; the chapter’s current project works on the same issue in the Honduran village of

El Convento.

The organizers of “Dancing with the Staff” matched six current students with six Lafayette staff to compete in a dance competition in a variety of styles from sensual salsa to free-flowing swing music. Although it seemed that the duos, composed of mostly non-dancers, would embarrass themselves in the potentially awkward situation, each routine was, in reality, surprisingly proficient.

“Some of the pairings were really impressive, and it seemed like they’d been dancing together for a really long time,” Ariana Giorgi ‘13, a member of EWB’s Cultural and Fundraising Team, said. “They were really in sync.”

Stealing the show were French Professor Roxanne Lalande and the icon of Gilbert’s café, Vanessa. It was clear that both women were no strangers to the dance floor.

Nevena Popovic ‘14 took French 211: Language to Literature with Lalande last semester. “[Lalande] told our class that she was a dancer. You can tell that it is something she truly loves,” she said.

The judges, Director of Residence Life Grace Reynolds, Professor of mathematics Chawne Kimber and Sarah Welsh-Huggins ‘12 added witty commentary and humor to the competition. Welsh-Huggins played the “mean judge,” imitating American Idol’s Simon Crowell.

The audience was asked to give donations on their way out, with an estimated over $200 in the donation bucket and from ticket sales by the night’s end. There were about 60 tickets to the event sold. “We got a pretty good turn-out — we definitely want to make it a bigger event next year, though, that keeps growing in years to come,” Giorgi said.

“For its first time, I think it went well. A lot of people had fun,” Hernandez agreed.