The university’s World Dance Extravaganza drew in a large collection of students, with attendance reaching over 80 students and graduates in the German Club on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Organizations such as the Office of Graduate and International and Student Life (OGISL), the Nepalese Community Club and the African Graduate Student Association (AGSA) came together to organize this event.
The two organizations each set up tables, with the Nepalese Community Club showing off Nepal’s beauty through photographs of the snowy Mount Everest, as well as the country’s main religion of Buddhism.
The event started with the Nepalese Community Club and some of its members with several performances, including a guest performance from Dorothy Classen, OGISL’s international student life advisor, who performed a dance that she debuted during last week’s Diwali Celebration.
The event took a turn for a more interactive format when AGSA took to the stage. Instead of a simple performance, they began to encourage the audience to stand and take spots on the dance floor. They taught African dance moves to those who were on the floor, much to everyone’s enjoyment. The dance allowed the main performers and some of the audience members to try a few non-challenging, authentic dance moves.
When Classen was asked about how she came up with the idea for an interactive performance, she said that “when we went to talk to them about when they would be going onstage, they told us that they wouldn’t be using the stage, it’s going to be interactive. I wish I could take credit for the idea but it was all the students’ idea.”
When asked about any challenges that were faced during the planning of this event, Classen said although the event was successful, it was supposed to be even bigger than just two performances. “We were supposed to have five different groups doing performances, but because of sickness several had to back out at the last minute,” Classen said.
A table with water bottles was brought out and Classen along with another Zumba dance instructor took to the stage. The duo hosted a Zumba and cardio remix set of dance lessons for everyone who attended. With encouragement from the two instructors to get up and dance, the audience was led through several sets of dances, including songs from Indian culture, Western American culture and even Spanish culture.
Classen said in the future of the event that she “would like to find some kind of hybrid where the students are showing their dances but also interacting with the students and teaching them, not just the students sitting and watching.”
Jason Howell, the OGISL coordinator for student engagement, also added, saying “it’s all about the student right? So it’s really just their ideas coming to fruition, we are just the backbone to help them realize their vision and realize what their reality is as it relates to their culture. It’s an opportunity for them to showcase their living through dancing.”
For future updates and events, you can look them up on Charger Connection, or reach out to Classen at [email protected].