Patra Jongjitirat (class of ’08) with Andy van Dam (computer science department) at “Dancing with the Profs” at Brown University.

Clayton Kim

PROVIDENCE The stars came out last weekend. And they danced — the rhumba, the fox trot, the jive.

In a packed Alumnae Hall at Brown University, students staged a clever twist of a popular TV show. They called it “Dancing with the Profs.”

It’s self-explanatory. Seven professors paired with students on the Brown Ballroom Dance Team, practiced for months, then competed.

The dance was good. The idea was brilliant

About 300 students and staff attended Friday night’s event.

“We wanted to increase our exposure on campus and do a ballroom event that spoke to everyone,” said Derek Bangle, a sophomore and ballroom dance member.

The students invited professors who taught large classes.

“They would have lots of students who would want to see them compete. In general, there is this curiosity of what would my professor look like dancing?’ ”

Each couple performed for 90 seconds. Three judges watched: Julie Strandberg, founder and director of Brown’s dance program; Russell Monk, coach of Brown’s ballroom team; and Laura Colannino, past collegiate chairwoman of the Rhode Island chapter of USA Dance. Their opinion counted 50 percent; the audience’s the other 50 percent.

Joan Richards is a professor of history. Before this event, she said ballroom “is not something I do.” However, she was once briefly tempted to take it up on a trip.

“The Europeans dance and it’s beautiful. I was sorry that I couldn’t dance. But it was not something that kept me up at night.”

However, when asked if she’d participate, Richards not only said yes, but selected the dance: the Viennese waltz. As a history buff, she said it reminded her of the Treaty of Vienna.

“My partner was rather appalled. I gather now, but I didn’t know at the time, that the Viennese waltz is considered very difficult.”

Richards partnered with Bangle, and assured him that she was fit and athletic and “would be fine.”

“What I didn’t think about was that I would have to turn,” Richards said. “Every one-two-three in the dance I have to turn 180 degrees. My problem has been dizziness.”

Over months of practice Richards built up her equilibrium, a bit.

“We twirl the length of a gym. At the end, Derek would say, ‘Good job.’ And I’d say, ‘Don’t let go. I am so dizzy.’ After an hour of practice, my favorite position is sitting on the floor.”

In a calf-length, long-sleeved blue dress, Richards and Bangle, in a long-tailed tux, performed a pleasing waltz, which won her praise from the judges for taking on such a difficult first dance.

Kisa Takesue, dean of student affairs, wore a black skirt and red blouse and performed a salsa with her partner Ken Estrellas, a sophomore. Before the event, when she told her family and friends she’d be participating, she said the reaction ranged from “amused and concerned to sadistic delight.”

The judges, however, seemed pleased.

“There was a nice connection,” Strandberg said. “I loved that little hip bump.”

Andy van Dam a professor of computer science, partnered with a smooth and sultry Patra Jongjitirat, a senior. They did a cha-cha. In keeping with the occasion, van Dam wore a loose-fitting, bright red-and-black print shirt, and undid the top two buttons. His most memorable, and comical, moment involved combing his hair while Jongjitirat slinked around him.

That went over well, but the judges wanted more.

“I would have liked to see a little more wiggle,” Monk said.

Evelyn Hu-Dehart, a professor of ethnic studies, was the most eager participant in the event. She didn’t wait to be asked. She volunteered.

“It’s a fantasy. All of us who watch Dancing with the Stars want to dance.”

Hu-Dehart watches the show, but had never ballroom danced, but then, she noted neither before had the so-called stars in the show. She danced the fox trot with Jensen Law, a junior.

“Once you learn it, it’s ingrained in you. The movements are programmed into your body.”

They practiced for an hour, two to three times a week for nearly three months.

“It’s a more fun way of getting exercise than just going up and down a Stairmaster.”

Hu-Dehart, in a green gown with sequins, and Law, in a tuxedo without the jacket, looked fluid and smooth. But the judges said “the frame” of their dancing could be stronger.

“I think I’m going to keep my day job,” Hu-Dehart said.

Thomas Banchoff, a professor of mathematics, took an introduction class to ballroom dance years ago with his wife, but hadn’t danced since.

“I just like learning new things so I can appreciate people who do them well.”

Banchoff, who wore black pants and shirt, partnered with Deeksha Gupta, a sophomore. For their dance, he chose the rhumba, because “no one else was doing it.”

Gupta, in a black knee-high sleeveless dress, did most of the difficult and unrestrained dancing. To Banchoff the judges urged less inhibition.

“A little more hip action next time,” Strandberg said.

“I would have liked to see a little more connection,” Monk said. “Your wife must be here or something.”

A fair contingent of fans came for John Stein, a professor of neurobiology. They held up signs with his name, and a few scorecards, all of which said “10.”

“When I heard about this event, I immediately thought it was a great idea. It wasn’t immediately obvious to me that I should do it or that I would be good at it.”

Stein elected to do swing because “it seemed like the most fun,” and his partner, Dina Tsukrov, a senior, was experienced with it and eager to teach him.

“You can move through the steps, but you have to ask, ‘Do you look good doing the steps or do you look like a gorilla doing the steps? I can think I’m smiling maniacally but someone will say, ‘you look so serious.’ ”

Stein, in black pants and shirt, and a silver belt, and Tsukrov in a short maroon dress with black fishnets, did not look serious. They looked and acted spirited, with Stein flipping Tsukrov. And Tsukrov flipping herself, planting her hands on the floor and hooking her legs over Stein’s shoulders and pulling herself upright again.

“It was a lot of fun,” Colannino said.

Only one other couple exuded more fun: Gary Wessel, professor of biology, and Hillary Johnson, a junior. They briefly considered doing a Latin dance, but Wessel “didn’t feel my hips would move like that.”

So he selected the jive.

“The dancers were always smiling so I figured that must be the most fun dance. In other dances everyone looked so serious, I guess because they were concentrating on their hips moving.”

Their dance was dynamic, theatric and athletic. Wessel wore black pants and shirt and a blue tie. Johnson wore a short black dress with sequins and a black hat. Both stepped on the floor; then Wessel stepped off. When he returned, he was his scientist self, wearing a white lab coat and holding colorful glowing vials.

The peppy music kicked in. The props got lost. And Wessel and Johnson danced, energetically and playfully, with a few flips and a lot of spunk.

“That wasn’t good,” Monk said. “That was fantastic.”

Wessel won the competition, and the prize of a free semester of ballroom dance classes with the Brown Ballroom Dance Team. He credited Johnson, “who has the patience of a rock.”

brourke@projo.com