By Cole Strzelecki
Western New England University offers its student community over seventy clubs and organizations to participate in. These clubs span various interest areas from The Arts and BOLD Media to Recreation, Residence Life, and much more. These clubs are very inclusive, being open to all campus members. They will also typically accept anyone willing to show up, put in the time, and enjoy their time with the organization.
Within all of these organizations, the Step Team is particularly noteworthy. The Step Team aims to help first-year students find their place on campus while also providing a different dance team style from our University’s Dance and Cheer teams.
President of the organization, Anu Mustapha, explained the idea behind the team’s formation, “I had always wanted to do something with a dance team, but our University’s Dance Team just wasn’t for me.” So, she and Mercedes McInnis, the current Vice President of the team, decided to form the Step Team: “I was bored and wanted to join more clubs to begin with, so I jumped at this opportunity,” McInnis stated.
While the team is still in the process of becoming official, they have already danced at an event in November of last year and are considering dancing at one next month. Once they’re official, they want to perform during halftime at sporting events and United and Mutually Equal events. The team hopes to participate in these events during the next academic year.
Despite not having many performances, the Step Team has still been hard at work practicing their routines for the moment they can perform at more events. Currently, the team holds practices on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Wednesdays and Fridays are general practices, while Thursdays are makeup practices meant for those who missed a practice or need some one-on-one time.
The team typically starts their general practices by discussing any major news or updates that the group may need to know. Then they get right into training, going over any step routines they’ve been working on for consecutive practices. The team follows a pattern until everyone has got the movements memorized well.
Though this makes the practices sound strict, they are the opposite in reality. According to Mustapha, the Step Team’s practices are more “focused on having fun and just chilling.” It’s more a time for the team to bond with each other.
The team itself is like a family. The members are supportive of each other and are even open to letting members create a routine for the rest of the team to learn. Even if a part of a routine is too hard for some to follow, others are willing to help them improve, “If we see someone struggling, we will work with them and practice with them until they get it,” Mustapha explained, “If they continue to struggle with a section of a routine or are unable to do it, we are always willing to adjust the routine for them.”
One of the best parts about the team is that it is considered an open club. No tryouts are needed to join the group; the club is available to everyone: “No matter your gender or color, the Step Team will accept you as a valued member,” McInnis assured.
In the end, the Step Team is a club worth being talked about. It is an all-inclusive and fun team that values all of its members and works together to ensure everyone is on the right track. The Step Team is always looking for more members, so don’t be afraid to show up to a meeting and join such a wonderful and accepting community!
