The AUC Latin Troupe makes a Comeback

By: Malak Kamel
@MK__Malak

The student-run AUC Latin troupe has taken to the dance floor after a year-long hiatus, and is set to bring back its rhythmic moves ranging from salsa to bachata.

The troupe had hung up its dancing shoes when AUC had gone into pandemic lockdown. However, with the world now adapting to the new normal, the dancers are back in action. 

One of the biggest plans for the troupe is to collaborate with the Afro and Folklore dance clubs to create dance camps open for anyone to attend. 

They are also expected to perform during events such as the AUC Talent show and International Day, but due to COVID-19 such highly anticipated performances are currently uncertain.

It is with high hopes that such traditions can be revived after the semesters spent at home.

Business senior Salma Ghanem was instantly attracted to salsa the moment she saw a couple performing in front of the club’s booth back in 2018. 

“Salsa represents to me an unspoken kind of conversation,” Ghanem said.

She emphasized that unlike many other dances, salsa does not require choreography, but rather the chemistry between the couple and the ability for the male dancer to lead, and the female to respond.

“Salsa is my treatment for sadness,” Ghanem said. 

She also said that it has had a positive effect in her life by helping her connect with people, feeling joyful, and reducing stress.

Nada Nabil, a Mechanical Engineering senior, was also captivated by the sensory experience Latin dance provides. 

Nabil joined the club in the winter semester of 2019, and climbed her way up to being the current president of the troupe. 

“It is a very nice escape from all the obligatory, hectic responsibilities we carry each day,” Nabil said. 

Being a double concentration in her major, and also pursuing a double minor, Nabil often finds herself overwhelmed by all the commitments she has. 

In such circumstances, she sets foot into the studio, and dances the stress away, managing to then face her daily challenges with a more positive attitude. 

“We have fun, make new friends, and get out of our comfort zones, which allows each person to grow,” Nabil said, offering a glimpse of what this club has to offer. 

Unfortunately, the deadline for newcomers to sign up has passed, but the world of dance remains within reach. Students can still participate in dance through the many present studios and classes offered independently.

But is dance for all?

Despite the stated benefits of dance and salsa, some men would rather avoid participating in such events because they fear it diminishes their masculinity. 

Yousef Awaad, a Chemistry junior and a member of the AUC Latin troupe, says that it takes courage to break free of the fear of stigma that some men may feel about dancing. But he says that “anyone can do anything they want”. 

“You shouldn’t care what people think,” Awaad adds. 

He emphasized that his goal is to have fun and that is exactly what he is achieving through dance.

Rasha Sadek, the troupe’s dance instructor and the co-founder of the Soul Motion Dance Studio, uses just one word to describe what dance means to her: Relief. 

“Ninety percent of people who come to dance are depressed, or they come to get away from something and release some negative energy,” Sadek said. 

She says that whoever enters the studio with a negative attitude, always leaves with a positive outlook.

From having a corporate job to then being a full time dancer, Sadek admits that dance completely changed her life. 

“It has made me a much happier person, and more confident and relaxed,” she said. 

A study conducted in 2013 by the international Journal The Arts in Psychotherapy on the effects of dance therapy on health-related psychological outcomes concluded that dance therapy does in fact aid in reducing anxiety and depression.

“It helps with the dopamine and serotonin and different types of hormones that can boost self-esteem and positive thinking,” Alexandra Gaziz, associate director of the Student Well-being Center, told The Caravan.

She strongly encourages the idea of dance therapy being actively promoted on campus, as not all students are necessarily aware of its beneficial impacts.

However, despite dance actually helping students in dealing with certain mental disorders, such as anxiety, the matter is not as clear cut when it comes to its effectiveness. 

“It has to be monitored by a therapist because it depends. We need to know the level of the disorder, its severity, and the personality type we’re dealing with,” Gazis said.