Tufts Blogs

When looking at what college to attend, I was drawn in by Tufts vibrant dance community that is ever present on campus. At Tufts we have multiple dance groups of all different styles that put on performances throughout the year. I joined a dance group called Harlem Grooves my freshman year- a dance group honoring Black dance styles: hip hop, modern, and jazz. As a person of color growing up in the dance world, I never had a space where my Black identity felt honored and recognized until I joined this group. I found Tufts to be unique in the sense that our dance groups on campus are incredibly diverse offering an array of showcases for the community that expand each and all of our perspectives on what dance “looks like”. The history of dance often does not mention or honor the Black artists that created so many of the widely practiced dance styles today so this group has a beautiful place in my heart. This semester we have been rehearsing and working towards our showcase in December. I had the opportunity to choreograph our all company dance this semester featuring each of our beautiful dancers on the team and being in this position of leadership has been a gift as I’ve watched the dancers and this piece blossom into something I cannot wait to share with the Tufts community. Since high school, I hadn’t had the opportunity to choreograph but this is just one example of how the dance community at Tufts is overflowing with opportunities and talent. 

Being an avid dancer from a young age, I’m always seeking out more opportunities to dance, so this fall I became a new member of the Spirit of the Creative dance team- a hip hop choreography dance group on campus. Just this past weekend we put on our Fall show- Elevate featuring pieces choreographed by many of our talented members. Joining this group has allowed me to continue dancing in college and make a multitude of friends that I otherwise would have never even met. I can confidently say that I found a community that supports and uplifts me in and out of the dance studio. Our show this weekend featured other dance groups on campus making it an amazing culmination of the hard work of so many dancers on campus. My other dance group, Harlem Grooves, was invited to perform in both shows. It was so meaningful for me to see two teams I love so much collaborate! I was beyond excited to be a part of such a successful show and am looking forward to our Spring showcase. This week, the Spirit of the Creative is preparing to compete at World of Dance in Boston- a prestigious dance competition that welcomes teams from all over. In my earlier experiences as a dancer when I was much younger, I could never have imagined being given the opportunity to participate in something like World of Dance, but here at Tufts the opportunities offered to you as a student are never ending. No matter what groups you join on campus, I can confidently say you will be participating in incredible things surrounded by equally incredible Tufts students.