Most people aren’t aware of this, but there is a dance studio on the backside of New South. Even more people are unaware that this is where I spend a huge amount of my time and that it is one of my favorite places to be, even if it is 2 a.m. on a weekend night. I am a member of the Georgetown University Dance Company, one of the many student dance groups on campus When I first applied to Georgetown, I knew I wanted to continue dancing, but it was a real struggle to find what options were available to me. When thinking of the things that Georgetown is known for, the performing arts are not the first thing that comes to mind.
Regardless of the daily difficulties that we members of the arts community face with the growth of the Department of Performing Arts and perhaps of what we perceive to be the priorities of the university, we are here and we are thriving. Over a third of the campus participates in the performing arts in one way or another, whether as a member of one of the many a capella groups, a lighting technician for a show put on by one of the theater groups, or simply going to support friends who are performing. There is a true and increasing appreciation for the arts and I find that the university is at a point where the interest is becoming a definitive aspect of student life on campus. Not only do we use the arts as a means of expression, but also we use them as a way to express our identity as a community. Where else is a South Asian dance exhibition one of the most popular events of the year? Or one of the a capella groups dedicated to the performance of multicultural music? The possibilities are endless here at Georgetown, and I find that the arts here are a great avenue to pursue them.
Lane Feler
SFS '12
Memphis, TN
