Family Niesen - Ballroom Dance

Claus took some dance classes when he was still living in Germany. We joined the Ballroom Dance Company in January 1995 at Iowa State University and started learning smooth (american style). When we switched to the ISU Ballroom Dance Club we got hooked on standard (international style) because of our excellent teachers, the Sternquists.

We have been taking private lessons from the Sternquists and are participating in a few dance competitions at the bronze level. Due to the building of our house we stopped dancing and since then haven't gotten back to it.

Minnesota Open (St Paul,MN; May 1998)

International Standard Adult A Bronze:

1st place Waltz

1st place Quickstep

2nd place Foxtrot

We were the only couple in this classification. In cases like this the judges are judging against the standards instead other couples. Yes, as you see it is possible not to make the first place.

Purdue Ballroom Classic (Purdue,IN; October 1998)

College Advanced Standard:

4th place 4 Dance (Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Quickstep)

Dancing Illini (Urbana-Champaign,IL; November 1998)

College Advanced Standard:

B finalist (no place) Tango

B finalist 5th place Foxtrot

A semifinalist (no place) Quickstep

A (no place) Waltz

College competitions are weird. The smooth and standard competitions were not judged separately. Because there were so many couples the judges separated us into an A and B heats (I believe the couples in the A heat were supposed to be better). The A and B heats were judged separately and each heat may dance several times.

Star of the North (St Paul,MN; March 1999)

International Standard Adult A Bronze:

3rd place Waltz

3rd place Tango

3rd place Foxtrot

3rd place Quickstep

3rd place 2 Dance (Waltz and Tango)

Check out the news coverage (7.6 Mb movie) of the Star of the North Ballroom Dance competition. Melissa is the lady in the green dress and Claus is the lucky guy dancing with her.

Heart of America Championships (Kansas City, KN; August, 1999)

International Standard Adult A Full Bronze:

1st place Waltz

1st place Tango

1st place Foxtrot

1st place Quickstep

1st place 2 Dance (Waltz and Quickstep)

1st place 2 Dance (Foxtrot and Tango)

Star of the North (St Paul, MN; March, 2000)

International Standard Adult A Full Bronze:

5th place Waltz

5th place Tango

5th place Foxtrot

5th place Quickstep

4th Place Viennese Waltz

5th 2 Dance (Waltz and Tango)

International Standard Adult A Full Silver:

3rd place Foxtrot

3rd place Quickstep

We we are the couple with the yellow dress.

Page last modified: February 17, 2003