If you’ve ever dreamed of yourself on the show Dancing With the Stars— practicing a new dance style each week, dancing everyday and learning lessons from the “pros”— then you’ve found the right JanTerm. Culture of Entertainment: Dance offers a JanTerm that makes me feel like Alix Earle (if you’ve kept up with DWTS Season 34). Even as a dancer entering the class with prior experience, I found the structure refreshing: each day combined diving into the history of the waltz, tango, foxtrot, swing, salsa, rumba and hustle; analyzing past professional videos; and shining on the dance floor. Most importantly, we received top-tier instruction not only from our “pro” teacher Mr. Christopher Allen but also from guest professionals, including Dr. Small’s brother Mr. Small, a world champion rhythm dancer; Dani, a Juilliard graduate from Academy Ballroom; and Ashwin, a salsa star from the Aatma Dance Studio. 

Now imagine 14 seniors packed into the Math Lab, paired up and rotating around partners faster than a roulette game. Hear the ballroom adaptations of familiar songs ringing in the background like “Shut Up and Dance” for swing and “Despacito” for salsa. The energy extended beyond our classroom, with collaborative moments such as a joint swing lesson with the Live Performances JanTerm and a flash mob in Malone. Over the weeks, the emphasis shifted from simply learning the steps to performing with confidence— whether demonstrating new combinations to friends after class or inviting peers to join the daily Dance Party during the final 30 minutes of class. Through performance— even in an academic setting— you really do feel like a star!