By AUDREY JENKINS – STAFF WRITER
If you like to dance, you will love Moments in Motion. If you like to hang out with cool people, expand your cultural knowledge, and build your self-confidence on top of learning some wicked sweet dance moves, then you will love Moments in Motion even more.
“Moments in Motion is different,” senior and Moments in Motion Co-President Maria Mosquera said. “We just want to share with you. I want to show you my culture. I want to show you what my rhythm is. When we share with each other, regardless of background, it’s really something special.”
Mosquera is a Boston native and one of the founding mothers of Moments in Motion. She knows dancing is fun, but also believes that it has great power to bring people together.
“Basically, we unite people through dance. We bring many diverse types of dance to people here and Centre and let them try it. We do Latin, Hip- Hop, contemporary, even break dancing this year,” Mosquera said.
Moments in Motion Treasurer, junior Monica Fitch, believes in the club’s mission to use dance to be a unifying force for all involved. “I would say that Moments in Motion is a way to inform the student body of different cultures through dance and the expression of movement. It’s a way for people who have lots of experience or a little experience to get involved … There’s just a really cool unity of different people here. We get together and feel like we produce something really cool in the end,” Fitch said.
Mosquera and Fitch have been dancing for years but are adamant that lack of experience or a perceived lack of talent should not stop anyone from trying Moments in Motion.
The club offers weekly tutorials on different styles of dance, and also has a performance group that puts on shows periodically throughout the year.
Mosquera encourages people to come to the weekly sessions, even if they have never danced a particular style before.
“We just want people to come so they can express themselves through dance. This is about expression. We want you to be able to come and dance and have a little fun without heavy commitment,” Mosquera said.
Moments in Motion helps gives students an energy boost during their hectic weeks.
“Moments in Motion is sometimes overlooked on campus, but I believe it needs to be recognized as a really cool place to hang out with a diverse range of people. Personally, I have found that going to the classes and getting involved is something that really energizes me during the week,” Fitch said.
Dance is about fun and unity and collaborative efforts and Mosquera believes people need to take more advantage of this campus activity.
“My favorite part of Moments in Motion is when people come and enjoy the class and really just get the moves. I see people come in and feel good in their bodies…It’s such an empowering moment. I see people rocking to their own beat, and that’s awesome. For me as a woman, it’s especially powerful to portray this message of empowerment. We live in a society where what you do and what you look like is so critiqued… It’s just great to see people feel so comfortable and free in their own skin. Also, more guys should come,” Mosquera said.
Although the club recognizes that they mainly appeal to females, Mosquera is firm that dance is for even the manliest of men on campus.
If you want to get involved or find out more, email maria.mosquera@centre.edu or monica.fitch@centre.edu.