In the heart of the University of the Fraser Valley is a hidden gem — a safe space where rhythm flows freely and friendships are formed on the dance floor. Welcome to the DNC, where students gather to appreciate the global language of dance.
Under the leadership of club president Angelina Joseph and secretary Theo Dayo, UFV’s Dance Club is a vibrant example of inclusivity and creativity on campus. Dayo, a fourth-year student studying Computer Information Systems, and Angelina, a third-year student in the Criminal Justice program, are connected by their shared enthusiasm for dancing, which goes beyond a simple pastime.
Their journey began last year with a simple idea that would unite students from all backgrounds and cultures. “Theo and I met up, and the idea of a fusion dance club sprang to life,” recalls Joseph. “We started off last September in the fall, and it’s been going steady since then.”
Their ambition for the club extends into their desire to build a community where everyone feels accepted and appreciated. “UFV is very diverse in the cultures that it has. People come from different backgrounds and dance is something that, from our experience, brings people together. Even if people say ‘Oh, I’m not a dancer. I don’t know how to dance…’ You do your own thing. When you listen to music, you’re bobbing your head. You’re stomping your feet… and that is dance in itself,” explains Joseph.
Dayo highlights the club’s open approach. “Anyone can join… you like music, you listen to music, you can come in.”
“All our events are drop-ins. You don’t have to have any prior skill sets or qualifications to be able to join any of our events or classes,” said Joseph.
When Joseph looks back on the club’s activities, she considers both the successes and the setbacks. She remembers that although occasions like the Diwali performance at UFV’s Diwali event in November 2023 were complicated due to the short time for practice, it was amazing to see everyone come together and give it their all. “Everyone — all the performers and the dancers — they did a very good job. They committed themselves and they saw themselves through that commitment.”
DNC also holds events like the Just Dance Tournament, which aims to “give an outlet to students to be able to express themselves away from all the already existing chaos that we have with academics.” Their advice to apprehensive learners is that all of their classes are beginner-friendly, something for them to enjoy without thinking about it. “I am a guy, and going to dance events… it sometimes makes me feel more feminine,” said Dayo. “So if there are guys that want to dance in our club, just know that this is a safe space. We don’t judge.”
Looking ahead, the club is focused on expanding its reach and impact. The club is constantly looking to recruit more members, and they claim they will have vacancies for dancing instructors as well as executive positions open sometime soon. “Brian mainly specializes and teaches jazz… and Veronica is our other instructor. She does mainly hip hop and contemporary,” said Joseph.
As UFV’s Dance Club continues to thrive and grow, it serves as a bright reflection of the work students are doing to create culture and spirit on campus. As Dayo aptly puts it, “The best benefit of the dance club is you get to enjoy our events. It’s so fun! You get to move your body around! It’s a great place to socialize and connect!” DNC reminds us all of the ability of dance to unite individuals, regardless of background or views, in a world where divides appear to be getting wider by the day. Enter the world of the DNC, regardless of your level of experience; you’ll discover more than just your rhythm — you’ll find a community.
Hello, I’m Gauri Sethi, a passionate staff writer at the Cascade responsible for writing content that resonates with the masses. Currently, I am pursuing business administration, but deep down, I am a person who loves expressing herself through writing.
