The group, most of whom did not know one another beforehand, massaged each other’s spines before they began stepping, jumping and rolling on the floor.
Orchesis, a dance group on campus, is teaching dance classes for MSU students.
On Wednesday night, the club held a modern dance class for students in the basement studio of IM Sports-Circle.
Stephanie Takacs, an English senior, has attended Orchesis classes since her freshman year because of the relaxed atmosphere.
“It’s student-run, so you don’t have to feel bad about asking for help or anything,” Takacs said.
The club offers two different classes a week each semester, with the option of registering for one or two sessions a week. Aside from the modern classes, they are teaching an improvisation dance class as well.
Cary Parvin, applied engineering sciences junior and a member of Orchesis, instructed most of the modern dance class on Wednesday.
“Modern is more technical movements,” Parvin said. “Improv literally means creation of dance. You get a prompt and you have to create movements yourself.”
Hannah Dewald, animal science junior and vice president of Orchesis, said the classes are taught similarly to an official MSU dance course.
“We make it different than how it would be in a studio outside of campus or in the community,” Dewald said.
Rachel Sass, animal science freshman, said she appreciates the class because of its small size.
“It’s easier to focus on what you’re doing and (to) set goals to help you improve,” Sass said.
The main focus of Orchesis is to promote dance as an art form.
Dewald encourages dancers as well as students without any dance background to try a class.
Last semester, Orchesis offered hip-hop and ballet classes. This is the first semester an improvisation option is offered.
Parvin said at the end of each semester, they have a poll of what students would want to learn for the following semester.
Orchesis plans on adding an option for students to be able to drop in to random classes in the fall.
