When I came to Yale, there was one thing I knew I wanted to do: Dance. Though I had never formally done it before (and I wasn’t necessarily the best), I had watched Beyonce’s Homecoming more than enough times to know that dancing was something that brought me joy and a good workout.
After a hectic move-in, I went to the extracurricular bazaar and found my way to the performing arts section. There, I found a group called DanceWorks—a non-audition dance group on campus dedicated to spreading the joy of movement to all those interested. My interest was piqued. I joined the mailing list and waited for more details.
To give a quick summary of the “boring stuff,” the way DanceWorks functions is that every semester, a presentation is given showcasing each of the student-choreographed dances for members to choose from. Once the presentation is over, a form is sent where you can rank the dances by preference. Though DanceWorks is non-audition, due to its large membership (usually hovering somewhere around 150-200+ dancers), dancers have to be sorted into dances in order to ensure spots for everyone wishing to perform for the semester.
In the end, I found myself in two dances: One to Beyonce’s “America Has A Problem” and the other to Beyonce’s “Alien Superstar.” Over the course of the semester, I had a blast, dancing and meeting new people. When the time came to perform in December, I was a little nervous, but the overwhelming support from fellow dancers and the audience made those fears quickly dissipate.
Me and my fellow “Alien Superstar” dancers posing for our group photo
Though it is safe to say that I wasn’t perfect, it is equally safe to say that I had an amazing time. First semester can be hard—it certainly was for me—but DanceWorks provided a space for me to relax and do something for the pure joy of it, which is something every person needs. Every week, when I would step into the Ezra Stiles or Benjamin Franklin dance studios to practice, I entered a community of people dedicated to having a good time who encouraged those around them to do the same. No misstep or forgotten move was scrutinized—more often it would be something to laugh about as a team. DanceWorks didn’t just provide a low-stakes opportunity to move; it provided a new community consisting of those from different grades, majors, interests, and quirks, all by their joy for movement.
A year later, at the end of my Sophomore Fall semester, I still say hi to each of those I shared a stage with in my first semester when I walk past them on the street, and if we have time, I catch up a bit. DanceWorks is one of many things that has worked to make Yale more familiar and comfortable for me. Dancing isn’t for everyone, of course, but a broad lesson is to be learned from these experiences: Yale, though admittedly having some spaces that are more exclusive, is equally abundant in open spaces for all who enjoy their activities. For new students worried about finding their place at Yale, I assure you, from personal experience, that you will find it, sometimes in spaces you don’t expect. Don’t be afraid to join things that aren’t “competitive” enough because who knows what friends you may miss. Even if you don’t believe yourself to be good at something, there is no use in not giving it a try. College is not just a place for academic and intellectual growth, but growth as a person. It’s a place to discover what you enjoy, and perhaps most importantly, what you don’t enjoy.
I was also in my Fro-co Anna’s (the one in the middle kneeling) dance to Nicki Minaj’s “FTCU” in the Spring semester, which was also super fun, but I missed the group photo. Oops.
