By Gregory Karp and Daisy Verdin, Oct. 24, 2023
Student-dancers at Cal Poly Pomona leave their academic worries behind on the dance floor to take part in various styles of dance.
Campus dance organizations like Tamanna, Inner Essence and Everything Hallyu offer new and returning students the chance to participate in diverse dance styles.
Students from the respective dance organizations congregate one to two times a week at the BRIC’s dance studios to participate in scheduled rehearsals. Though differing in genre and culture, the clubs invite interested students to dance in teams and represent the university.
Tamanna, a student-run organization with visions of promoting South Asian dance culture, educates participating students in Bollywood dance – particularly Bhangra and Kathak dance styles.
“I’m still warming up to Tamanna, but I’ve previously danced this type of style,” said Aurea Jolly, a computer science student and Tamanna dancer . “So, personally I’ve grown to be more confident in myself and put my all into it.”
Jolly’s familiarity and passion for dance began in ballet class when she was just 3 years old. She dedicates her energy into dance in hopes of continuing to improve in her journey.
One issue with students becoming involved with dance groups on campus is the university’s lack of promotion of dance clubs. Many students rely on word of mouth from friends and family members who are in or connected to the various clubs on campus.
“I didn’t even realize that CPP had a dance team until a friend told me,” Jolly said. “They told me they were going to a dance class for Tamanna. Because I commute, it’s even harder to figure out what’s happening for dance programs on campus.”
Jolly considers dance to be only a hobby for herself, which is the general consensus among other student-dancers.
Many students who choose to be a part of a dance organization seem to dedicate their time off from studying to join their fellow dancers for long nights of dancing at the BRIC’s dance studios.
“Personally, I dance as a hobby, and I’ve never really put too much thought into pursuing it as a career,” said Levin Chang, an applied economics student and Inner Essence dancer. “If the opportunity shows up, then I would like to give it a shot.”
Chang began dancing in his junior year of high school, where he continued to dance on and off for four years during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. After the campus reopened and allowed the return of dance clubs, Chang discovered Inner Essence and felt at home with the organization.
Now a board secretary for the club, Chang continues to dance alongside and assist in the decision-making for Inner Essence’s scheduled rehearsals and on-campus events.
Having a sense of community is everything for CPP’s student-dancers, as the university’s dance organizations provide open environments for individuals of all backgrounds to come together and dance in support of each other.
Everything Hallyu blends Korean culture and hip-hop into the much-popularized subgenre of K-Pop. The club breaks the ice with newer student dancers by organizing game nights to create a safe space for all dancers regardless of their experience level.
“All dancers of different levels are welcome,” said Brandon Lam, a civil engineering student and Everything Hallyu dancer. “We don’t discriminate or judge, and I hope we facilitate that. Because of the community in the Hallyu team, we try not to pressure the other dancers, so with that in mind, we try to create a welcoming environment for people of all dance levels.”
Involved in both Inner Essence and Everything Hallyu, Lam is a full-time student who dances to help keep his mind clear and school schedule organized. Much like Jolly and Chang, Lam dances as a hobby and plans to pursue it more in the future.”
The success of CPP’s student-dancers relies on their abilities to balance their busy academic schedules with their dance hobby. Although, such as a skill grows over time, love and passion for art follows these students. CPP organizations welcome and enhance the dance community and extend a hand to anyone who finds an interest.
Feature images courtesy of : Inner Essence, Everything Hallyu and Tamanna
