Not the same song and dance: workshops teach fancy steps for free
- posted: 11 Mar. 2008
- scrollarts@byui.edu
College life, although sometimes filled with stress, homesickness and boredom, can at times have some ups to cancel out the downs. One such “up” can be participation in one or several of BYU-Idaho’s many free dance workshops.
• African Drum
Taught by Jennifer Banfield, a senior studying Spanish education, this workshop includes learning dances that originated in Guinea, West Africa.
“Each dance has a meaning behind it, or a purpose — harvest, naming a newborn baby, a wedding, life and many other dances of celebration,” Banfield said. “The dances are so much more than coordination and another outlet of burning calories, but [provide] insight into another culture and world.”
These high-energy dances are taught on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. in the Oscar A. Kirkham Building room 202.
• Capoeira
“Capoeira is a form of martial arts that originated in Brazil. The slaves on Brazilian plantations were not allowed to train openly in self-defense, so disguised their training as a dance — Capoeira,” said Niki Garret, a junior studying English, and the teacher of the Capoeira workshop.
In the actual dance workshop, everyone stands in a circle, clapping their hands, singing or playing instruments while two people go to the middle and “play.”
“There are different types of games of Capoeira, and the game is determined by the rhythm being played on the berimbau (an instrument that looks like a bow and arrow). Capoeira combines fluid ground movements and acrobatics with spinning kicks and various take-downs.
“Some games are more ‘showy’ while others are aggressive.” Garret said.
Capoeira is taught on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. in the MC East Ballroom, and on Saturdays at 1 p.m. in Kirkham 202.
• Hip Hop
Designed to help students understand the basics of hip hop movement and familiarize themselves with the style. This workshop “is just for movement and fun,” said Abbie Dunn, a sophomore studying graphic design.
Dunn is the instructor, and her classes are Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in Kirkham 202.
• Caribbean Dance
This style of dance is Spanish, African and Native genres mixed together. Genres included are salsa, cha-cha and merengue.
“I mix all this with modern dance. We learn combinations from these movements and we end choreographing and dancing to perform every semester at the International Cultural Show Case at BYU-I,” said Rosa Lavelle, a senior studying psychology.
Lavelle’s classes are Saturdays at 3 p.m. in Kirkham 202.
• Jazz Dance
“I am currently working on ‘across the floors,’ which is a combinations of certain techniques that are in jazz. I do this after I warm them [the participants] up and stretch them out. Then if we have time I teach them a little dance combination that I choreographed. It is really fun and those who do come have a great time,” said Rachelle Rockhill, a freshman studying general education.
No experience is needed. This workshop that takes place every Thursday at 5 p.m. in Kirkham 232.
• Ballroom
Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in the MC East ballroom, dancers “work on learning the basics of several ballroom styles and develop the ability to lead, to follow leads and to teach the man to lead in such a way that he doesn’t need choreography,” said Camilla Cook, a senior studying child development.
Other aspects of this workshop include learning dances such as the waltz and the rumba. Partners are not ensured to be available, so bringing a partner is encouraged.
There is also an option, for those interested, to do a small performance in which a dance will be taught and then performed in front of other people doing dance workshops. 
