An African and American Studies class dances during the Rhythms of Resistance: Afro-Colombian Dance for Wellness event during the Activating Wellness Week in North Kedzie Hall on Oct. 24, 2024.
Michigan State University’s African American and African Studies (AAAS) department hosted their annual Activating Wellness Week on Oct. 23 and 24 in North Kedzie Hall, inviting students to take a break from their academic responsibilities and explore new ways to prioritize their well-being.
With midterms in full swing, many students are feeling the weight of homework, exams and looming deadlines. The AAAS department’s wellness week provided a much-needed respite, allowing students to temporarily disconnect from these pressures. Through activities like sound healing and dance, the events created a space where students could find balance, explore their identities and connect with each other.
"It gave us a sense of relief," psychology senior Natasha Rice said. "Being able to dance it out, we were able to just chill. No one thought about work, class or homework. We were able to just live in the moment."
One of the featured activities was Nila Ellison’s Serenity and Sound Session, where students experienced the calming effects of sound healing. The week also featured sessions led by dancer and Afro-Colombian dance teacher Angie Mellissa González Chaverra, who introduced students to the healing power of dance.
Chaverra’s sessions encouraged participants to incorporate dance into their regular wellness routines, emphasizing the connection between movement, history and ancestral memory.
"What I was promoting today was that sense of community, sense of joy that sometimes we aren't told about," Chaverra said.
For the AAAS department, Activating Wellness Week does not only promote wellness that the department values, but honors cultural traditions while offering students tools to thrive and a sense of community.
"That's the energy that AAAS carries in general," psychology junior Shemaiah Reeves said. "They are creating a safe space for us to be able to learn about our history and culture."
The lessons from Activating Wellness Week remind students of the importance of wellness and community to their academic success.
"We are having fun but we are also learning that whenever we go to different places, we will find our Black people that look like us," Chaverra said.
