Students speak on the benefits of dance classes

Utah State University’s College of Education and Human Services recently held their dance concert. The ballroom and ballet classes on campus had the opportunity to show off their skills learned throughout the semester through various performances.  

Students used this recital as a celebration for the benefits these dance classes have given them. 

Tori Richardson, a sophomore majoring in bioveterinary science, took the intermediate ballet class at USU. 

“This class was beneficial for me because it got me out of my apartment,” Richardson said. “During school, I tend to be a hermit, and I don’t get much exercise. This class gave me an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and get exercise while also getting an elective credit.”  

Abbey Gibbs, a first-year student majoring in biological engineering, took ballroom and social dance. 

“I originally took these classes because I love dancing,” Gibbs said. “These classes have been incredibly beneficial for my mental health because they provide an active break from my academic classes. I would 1,000% recommend taking one of these classes. I really think that ballroom dance is a super underappreciated skill that everyone should have.” 

Students also showed their appreciation for a good environment that was provided by their professor, Anne Francis. 

“It was really nice to have a fun dance environment without the added pressure of competing or needing to be perfect,” Richardson said. “The professor was very understanding and encouraging.”  

According to Anne Francis, she has been teaching dance for as long as she can remember. Francis initially created the dance showcase after teaching classes for a few semesters. 

“I realized the students needed an outlet to share what they learned,” Francis said. “Anytime you share what you have learned, you get better at the thing you shared.”  

The ballet and ballroom classes have been preparing for the showcase since the beginning of the semester.  

“In ballet level 1, I choreograph the dance for them,” Francis said. “In ballet level 2, the students choreograph their dances. In ballroom level 1, the students put the steps they have learned together in the order they choose. In ballroom 2, I choreograph the routine they perform after the students vote and determine what dances they want to learn that semester. So, the course content changes every semester.” 

According to Francis, the showcase is an additional opportunity outside of class that Francis put the time and effort into to provide more benefits for her students. 

“The showcase is a lot of extra work for me,” Francis said. “I am the only person who puts it all together and makes it work. I do all the work for the showcase because I feel it is beneficial for the students. I want them to love dance as much as I do and enjoy dancing.”  

Students enjoyed having their freedom to experiment with their different skills. Some of the performances were judged, giving the students more motivation to work harder.  

Abbey Gibbs won third place in the waltz performance with her partner, which was one of her favorite parts of the showcase. 

Students who participate in the showcase can vary on skill level, which opens up learning opportunities for everyone. 

“I have students who have never danced before and find out they like it. Some students have taken dance since they were small, and some students are coming back after injuries or breaks in dancing,” Francis said. 

Francis has seen different skill levels and appreciated the variety in her classes this semester. 

“For example, I often have in beginning ballet some students that have never danced before, some who danced only when they were little, and some who have danced before but can only take beginning ballet, not intermediate, due to their schedule that semester,” Francis said. “In that instance, I still teach beginning ballet.  All of these students dance in the showcase. All of them belong in the class.”