The MSU Salsa Club said their final farewell to their senior dancers on Wednesday night during their Senior Night Celebration which included food, drinks, awards and dancing.
The Salsa Club is a non-competitive dance group at MSU that is open to students and to the public. The club hosts the Senior Night Celebration to show seniors that they will be missed and that they are always welcome back.
Co-president of the club and electrical engineering junior Will Miller said club members show up to practice without partners, special shoes or experience and are taught the fundamentals of salsa dancing. Each week, the club has lessons for an hour then proceeds to two hours of open dance.
The Senior Night Celebration was not structured like a normal weekly dance session. Miller said there was no structured lesson in the beginning and they skip right to the social dancing.
“People want to socialize and dance with the seniors one more time before they leave,” Miller said. “We just want to give a free environment for people to show up and work out some stress.”
Salsa Club was a stress reliever for member and Spanish senior Kyande Sanders .
Sanders, who is a graduating senior, said it was a time in her week where she could let go of all responsibilities and dance and socialize.
“I’m not excited to leave, but I know the dancing part is not over for me and I can always come back and visit.”
Miller said valuable club members are leaving this year including two executive board members and the former president of the club.
Paper plate awards were featured at the celebration for the seniors which has been a tradition for years, Miller said. The awards included categories such as “Best Dancer” and “Happy Feet.”
“It’s just a little gesture, but it really does mean a lot for the people leaving,” he said.
Salsa Club member and kinesiology senior Lauren Forche, who was a member of the club for two years, said the club gave her the opportunity to meet a lot of friends; ones she hopes to keep in touch with.
“It’s a club that my friends can’t even imagine me doing,” Forche said. “I’ve never even danced salsa before, but I met so many great people and I’m so glad I have the opportunity to do it. I’m going to miss everyone, that’s for sure.”
