Hip Hop sounds emanate from the doors of the Main Building at GateWay Community College, but they are not from a celebration. They are part of the new Contemporary Dance Trends (DAN115AA) class at the college. The class covers the theory and practice of hip-hop dance and has a dozen students following the lead of instructor and dance champion Tricia Rodgers.
Rodgers is a professional dancer who has traveled around the world performing a variety of different dance styles and earning a Professional Salsa Dance Championship in 2008.
“The students are excited about the class being offered here,” said Rodgers. “They are very eager to learn, and they are great about helping each other. They have heard hip-hop, but were not aware of where things came from or how they were developed. ”
The class has been anticipated for a long time at GateWay according to Kerry Vrabel, Liberal Arts chair.
“We listened to our students, and one of the areas were they wanted to see growth was in music and dance,” said Vrabel.
For first year nursing student, Mark Munguia, it was just fate that he happened to be asking about a dance program the same semester that the class was launching. He is now enjoying the benefits of practicing dance on campus.
“When you are having a stressful day and have dance at the end of the day, it is a relief,” says Munguia. “You can take out all the negative energy that you have from the other classes and get it out in this class and everything is positive.”
For other students, the class, which meets twice a week, has provided them with skills they can use in other classes.
“I was really shy at dancing; I never liked it because I am so embarrassed but I am slowly coming out of my shell and she is helping me a lot,” said Adriana Ledesma, an ultrasound technician student. “It is boosting up my confidence. I am so confident now. It has really helped me with contributing in class discussions and asking questions and just being more open to people.”
For Rodgers, a former student of Brigham Young University and a graduate of Arizona State University, the class also presents an opportunity to prepare students for the challenges they see in the real world.
“Dance also encourages students to problem-solve,” said Rodgers. “We also work in groups, which helps students learn how to work with each other, how to problem-solve and how to be creative.”
A new Contemporary Dance Trends class is being offered for Spring 2015.