Dance opportunities at WC

By Lauren Zedlar

Elm Staff Writer

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington College provides ample opportunities for dancers of all styles to continue dancing. 

The WC Sho’troupe is a student-lead dance team who performs jazz, hip-hop, and pom routines during half-times of sports games and events on campus. 

Sho’troupe usually only holds auditions at the beginning of each year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are currently accepting new members throughout the entirety of the year. 

To audition, students can email the president of the dance team, sophomore Andrea Petersen, at apertersen2@washcoll.edu or by direct messaging the Sho’troupe Instagram page, @wac_shotroupe .

“Dance at [WC] as a whole has been very different due to the pandemic,” Petersen said. 

Learning new choreography has been one of the biggest challenges since all teaching has been conducted virtually. Most student-dancers have a limited amount of space or no space to dance at all. 

“Regardless of these difficulties, everyone has been in as good of spirits as they can be and everyone is trying their hardest to keep dance alive during the pandemic,” Petersen said. 

Due to the inactivity of sporting events and limitations on campus, Sho’Troupe has not been able to perform at their typical events like Admitted Students Day or lacrosse and soccer games. 

For the spring 2021 semester, Sho’Troupe has been choreographing a piece during their weekly practices, which could potentially be featured during the Dance Club Concert. 

The WC Dance Club is another option for students to dance. 

WC’s Dance Club offers a variety of classes in different dance styles and genres. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of these classes are offered through Zoom. 

All Zoom dance class information can be found on the WC Dance Club Instagram page, @washcolldance .

On Mondays, Dance Club offers a ballet class run by sophomore Jodi Eren. The class runs from 5:10–6 p.m. and is for all levels. It is recommended to wear ballet or tight fitting clothes. 

“My class is about having fun and learning more about ballet,” Eren said. 

A beginners tap class is offered on Tuesdays at 7:10–8 p.m. This class is led by WC seniors Shannon Thomas and Haley Wilt. It is open to all levels of dancers. 

This class is currently choreographing a piece to the song “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonders. 

On Wednesdays, the Dance Club offers an intermediate jazz class run by WC freshman Nia Anthony. The class occurs at 7:10–8 p.m. 

The jazz class is designed for intermediate dancers, but Anthony is open to accepting lower-level dancers as well. It is recommended to wear something comfortable and heels are optional. 

“I really wanted to create a dance that was all about femininity and power and embracing that,” Anthony said. 

Dance Club holds a Contemporary Review hosted by WC senior Elizabeth Lily on Thursdays from 6:10–7:10 p.m. This class is a review session based off of an intermediate contemporary dance class held last semester. 

Unfortunately, this class is not open to new dancers who hadn’t taken the contemporary dance class last semester. 

Regardless, Lily encourages all students to attend the other classes to learn new techniques, better themselves, and have fun. 

“Dancing this year has been different since it is all taking place on Zoom, but I really wanted to stay involved and stay dancing, so we found ways to make it work and still have fun,” Lily said. 

Featured Photo by Mark Cooley.

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