“Dancing with the Stars” may be a popular television show, but the University soon will have the opportunity to experience a similar show live.

This weekend the University Ballroom Performance Group presents its annual showcase, “Ballroom Magic.”

With 20 performances, the show highlights different ballroom and L atin dancing including the tango, East Coast Swing, waltz, cha-cha, salsa and jive.

“It is a very unique show that only happens once a year in Athens,” said James Sykes, the public relations marketing officer for the group.

“Plus, you rarely see couples ballroom dancing, it’s usually just individuals,” he said.

Despite a variety of performances, “Under the Sea” is a favorite with the audience.

“The audience loves ‘Under the Sea’ and goes crazy when it comes on and they see the salsa and the samba,” said Lauren Poole, president of the Ballroom Performance Group.

The show allows students to enjoy dancing while also taking a peek into other cultures.

“The show shares other people’s culture with the world,” Sykes said. “Hopefully it lights the fire within students to learn more about other cultures.”

Founded in 1991 by Mark Wheeler, the group is a pre-professional student dance company at the University promoting the appreciation of ballroom dance through performances on campus and around the community, according to its Web site.

Many of the members were introduced to the group by chance, and eventually became members.

“I have been dancing ballet for 15 years and was burned out, so I started going to salsa downtown and got more involved,” Poole said.

Others became interested through classes.

“I got introduced through ballroom class. I fell in love with it and auditioned for the apprentice group and made it,” said Abhi Amin, a sophomore biochemistry major from Coolidge.

For students interested in learning ballroom dance, the group offers a night dance class from 7 to 10:30 p.m. every first and third Friday of the month. Lessons are free from 7 to 8 p.m., when participants are taught basic salsa moves, followed by the dance from 8 to 10:30 p.m.

Student tickets are $3 for the dances, which are held in the New Dance Theater inside the Dance Building.