For three nights, the University’s New Dance Theatre became the Fox.

I took the intro-level ballroom class in that theater, and at first it appeared to be the same stuffy space with the same wooden floor I’d half-fallen, half-fox trotted across a thousand times to get my grade of “S.”

Then, though, came the lights, the costumes and the action: the Ballroom Performance Group began.

From my completely unprofessional point of view, it was a truly transforming experience – about as close as you can get to being on Broadway without leaving the comfort of your cozy college town.

“It looks great,” said Natalie Cox, BPG’s co-director. “It’s hard to tell what it’s going to be like once the costumes and lights are added, but the dancers have done a great job.”

Watching “Ballroom Magic,” it is apparent how much work goes into piecing the performance together – no bippity-boppity-boo to lessen the load. The performance featured a wide variety of ballroom favorites, including the waltz, tango, rumba, swing, salsa, samba and even some tap dancing.

Pat Milhous, who ballroom dances with her husband for fun, made her third pilgrimage to “Ballroom Magic” this year.

“It’s fun to watch the students,” Milhous said. “They’re very good. It’s fun to watch people dance who know what they’re doing”

Milhous’ favorite number never changes. It’s always Disco Athens, a “Saturday Night Fever”-esque performance choreographed by Mark Wheeler, a University dance professore.

This year the show had a theme, “The Best of Broadway,” and the dancing was masterfully blended with the drama of theater throughout.

Musical numbers included “Anything Goes” from its title show “Somebody to Love” as performed by the cast of “Glee,” and “Under the Sea” from “The Little Mermaid” –  which any lover of puns should find hysterical, as the theater shares a building with the department of marine sciences.

Caleb Yarbrough, a senior from Alpharetta, was also in attendance as the fan of a friend. Of the show, Yarbrough spoke highly.

“It’s really good,” he said. “People should come. It’s really entertaining.”

I was present for the third performance, which meant there was one last dose of Ballroom Magic left to be administered that evening. So far, so great, said Jordan Daniell, a senior from Watkinsville and performer in the show.

“I think this was our best performance yet,” Daniell said. “Every show gets more and more fun.”

The booming God-like voice of the announcer said it best: Ballroom Magic shows that ballroom dancing is “alive and well in 2012.”