Club Spotlight: CUA Dance Company

Image courtesy of The Nest

By Kierstin Shea

“Catholic University’s Dance Company is the only student-run, student-choreographed dance company on campus. We accept all levels of dancers and perform a variety of styles at our showcases each semester!”

If you’ve ever been to the Dance Co table in the Pryz, you’ve heard that little speech before. Started in 2016, Dance Company is a dance group that meets twice weekly, with the motto “No Judgement, Just Dance.” 

In a typical semester, you can catch Dance Company at a number of performances, the biggest of which is Arts Fest, a celebration of the arts with other performance groups on campus right before finals. 

This semester looks a little different. Without access to the dance studio on the second floor of the DuFour center, Dance Company has taken to Zoom for a weekly hour-long “technique class.” Members can sign up to teach a combination in the style of their choosing. The highlights so far include a latin dance basics, ballet therapeutics, and contemporary combinations.

Tech classes, as members call them, are open to anyone and can be found on The Nest. The link is on The Nest. Participants can expect a half-hour warm up, led by one of the company’s two Artistic Directors, a mix of cardio and stretching, followed by a half-hour of member-led dancing. Some classes follow a more traditional format where a dance combination is taught, while Others bring it back down to basics and start with simple steps.

“Having tech over Zoom every week has allowed us to keep in touch and stay active during quarantine,” said junior Artistic Director Mary Helen Pryal. “It definitely comes with challenges, but we’ve been able to come together to make it work for us in a really positive way.”

Find links to Dance Company rehearsals and more information on the Nest and on Instagram @cuadanceco.