Volunteer Spotlight

How I Waltzed into Volunteering (a.k.a. How I Got Conned into Volunteering)

By Michael Kasinkas

Waltzing into volunteering would imply I did so gracefully and knowledgeably, but truth be told I stumbled into it. Looking back, however, I would not have changed a thing.

I started ballroom dancing my sophomore year of college, fall 2010, with the University of Minnesota Ballroom Dance Club. My first experience started in the spring, when I wound up being the Music Coordinator for the club. From what I remember, I was talking with then current music coordinator and future volunteer extraordinaire Mr. Dan O’Connell. I asked him about what kind of music he played and how he knew what went with each dance. Before each practice, I would visit with him and his far superior partner and future wife Rosemary. He taught me to pair music to dances. For example, a Waltz needs to be in ¾ time, a tango has a certain feel and speed, etc. It was going great and, as a bonus, I was even learning how the sound system worked.

My parents always said I talked too much and asked too many questions growing up. Apparently, that hasn’t changed.

One day Dan didn’t show up for music at the beginning of practice, so I started setting up the music, thinking he was just running late. He’d had perfect attendance up until that day, but in all of the following days, up until I passed on the Music Coordinator position to the next person, Dan never again showed up before practice. A few weeks into the position (or what I like to think of as "covering for Dan,") I was invited to an officer meeting for the UMN BDC Board and was asked if I had any updates as Music Coordinator.

I managed to get myself conned into my first volunteering position and I made the decision that I would never be tricked into doing that again! However, I was really enjoying the Music Coordinator position and I loved contributing to the board meetings for the UMN BDC club. I really liked sharing my views and ideas, and honestly, who wouldn’t like my always-on-topic input? I did notice meetings were running twice as long, but figured that must be merely a coincidence.

During an informal discussion on dance in late winter 2012 with some of the BDC officers and local community members, I had said off-handedly, “Wouldn’t it be a BLAST if there was an event hosted on campus in the fall that would cater to new dancers and get people into ballroom dancing at the University, as well as the surrounding area?” About a month later, I found myself as the Chairman and founding member of Minnesota Ballroom Blast and the Facilities Coordinator of Star of the North. Can you guess who is to blame for the naming and subsequent puns?

My volunteerism kept expanding and I continued learning and growing as a dancer. Mostly I learned how to avoid doing the wrong thing again in the future. I’ve enjoyed this process and I have met most of my dance friends through volunteering. Somehow serving as Facilities Coordinator for Star of the North transformed into chairing Dance Fest. Now I spend most of my time chairing Minnesota Ballroom Blast and Dance Fest. Lately I have been volunteering at Dancers Studio, teaching a weekly class to get more people involved in dance. I’m grateful for all the opportunities and outlets I have been given over the years, from the UMN BDC team to Dancers Studio and everything in between. If you’re ever interested in “learning” more about what goes on at Minnesota Ballroom Blast or Dance Fest, I’m sure I or my close friend Dan O’Connell would be happy to answer your questions!