Dance Studio, an urban dance crew, consists of students Aya Pagunsan - AP (junior, nursing), Brent Laporre - BL (senior, medical laboratory sciences), Franky Paypa - FP (junior, pre-physical therapy), Julio Santana - JS (sophomore, voice performance), Caryn Cruz - CC (junior, english, pre-law).
How did your official dance team come about?
BL: It started with Caryn and I. Two years ago, we found out that we both dance a lot, and so we decided to give it a try and create a beginner dance course and found out that there was actually a lot of people who were really excited about us teaching. It was when everyone else [Aya, Franky, Julio] came along that we revamped and said “let’s make a dance studio and teach dance.”
It was also when Franky came to campus a year later when we made our first dance video.
What got you guys interested in dancing together?
BL: The reason why we came together and made this group was because we all share a passion for dance, and we just felt there wasn’t really a community where people are comfortable to get into the whole world of dance culture. We wanted to create a space where people aren’t judged for trying out something new, especially for individuals who have more conservative ideals towards dance which makes it harder for people to really get into the artform.
Describe to me what you feel when you dance and what you’re able to express through this artform.
CC: I remember the first dance class I took, I was in the midst of all the other dance students and the dance teacher singled me out and said, “You overthink, don’t you?” And I said “Yes, how did you know that?” He replied, “I can see it when you dance, you need to let loose, all the weight and anxiety needs to be let out.” I never forgot that moment because I think I learned that that is what dance is about. You can see yourself letting things go when you dance. He saw how I overthought and how anxious of a person I am through my dancing, so throughout the years I’ve progressively changed my mindset. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect and I can just express myself.
BL: Your body language in dance truly shows where your mindset is at and that is why a lot of dancers just have good intuition to know if someone has had a stressful day or something because that’s what we look at [their expression].
JS: I’ve always had a passion and interest for years now, but for certain things, like dance, I felt like I couldn’t showcase myself in that area or allow myself to get exposed to newer dance forms or dance in general. I do have a cultural foundation because I am Hispanic so we do have some movement but I never really went as far as that besides family gatherings. I don’t really have a specific goal as to why I dance; I just find it a bigger hobby of mine and if I lived in a different world or dimension I think I would do a profession in dancing. But for now, it’s just something I want to get better at because I’ve met all these people [the team].
AP: For the three of us [Aya, Brent, Franky], we grew up dancing, but not dancing like we do now, just our parents forcing us to always dance and move. Then, I got into K-Pop. But I’m not really a choreographer, I just like to follow people [when they dance] and [K-Pop] has all these different styles of dance and I realized that this type of music can bring out any type of dance. Dance is not limited to one thing, there are so many styles and things you can express through this artform. It’s also something that brings people together, no matter what level of dance you’re on.
BL: Dancing was always something I felt was necessary in order for me to enjoy what art is. I always had a passion for music, for original art, but there was always a caveat when it came to dance. It was always put on the downlow especially because it wasn’t well accepted. But I wanted to explore that and I’ve grown not only in my skill but also in how educated I’ve gotten in what art truly is and how it speaks to people. Along with that, with my culture as a Filipino, most people don’t know this but Filipinos have a huge mark in the dance industry, not just because they’re everywhere but because of the people who’ve set huge landmarks in history. One of my biggest inspirations being the Jabbawolkeez, who are known to be one of the first dance crews to expose the art of crew dancing. I also love learning new dance styles–it’s like trying on a new pair of shoes.
FP: Dance is a way of escapism for me because I’ve always loved performing from a young age; music has always been a big part of my life from singing to violin, and I’ve felt like dance has crept its way in as well. I did some dancing when I was younger but I never took on any real dance training. However, as I got older, I got inspired by Aya and Brent and I started to take dance a little more seriously. That is when I discovered that dance was one of the few passions of mine that never seemed to make me frustrated or feel like a chore, like other art forms that I’ve done throughout my life. I feel like I’m not myself when I dance, but in a good way, like it’s another persona of me that I want to be.
What are you guys’ goals and ambitions for the group?
BL: Our main goal is to teach dance, I think you’re at your best at your art when you’re able to teach it. Our whole purpose of creating this space [in the Wellness Center] is to allow students to feel comfortable getting into this art. We want it [numbers of dancers] to grow and get more people involved on the main team, which consists of the five of us. We want a team that promotes inclusivity and acceptance, one that glorifies God.
What is something you guys are most proud of thus far?
FP: I’m really surprised by the turnout of our first official class last week. Caryn and Brent had one two years ago and it wasn’t really official. This is our first time promoting ourselves as an actual team and there were a lot of people who came out to support, and it was a testament to how much something like this is needed.
Where can people find more from you guys and get involved?
CC: So our main team is for people who already have experience and knowledge with dancing, not necessarily someone who wants to learn how to dance because that’s what our classes, taught by our main team, are for. But, we are excited to continue having classes for students who want to get into dance. We plan to teach these classes in the Wellness Center so look out for those dates and times.
BL: We’re looking for people who already have experience with [dance] culture and can add to our knowledge and the passion that we have. That can be passionate dancers and choreographers who are willing to help teach as well.
You can find info on how to attend a dance class and how to get involved with Dance Studio on Instagram @praiseteamau.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.