Nova Southeastern University might not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of stellar dance teams, but that might change.
A new dance team has been stepping up on campus and has gotten people talking, so who is this new group?
Meet the Pressure Dance Team, who specialize in Dancehall and Soca dancing and have committed themselves to bringing Caribbean dance to NSU.
Pressure started during the pandemic, while most students at NSU were taking classes remotely and not on campus, making starting up harder. The university was not as full as it is now, one year after the first meeting of the dance team.
The group was started by sophomore finance major Lori-Ann Hall, when she noticed a lack of student-run dance teams on campus and felt a need to give students of color a space to express themselves through dance. Pressure, as the team came to be known, had humble beginnings with just four members.
“At that time, it didn’t really faze me because, being a dancer, I figured that’s enough people for a team. I started with girls who weren’t as experienced as others, so they were new to dance, and I needed to train them. So, I did that, and those four girls are still on the team. They started from the very bottom and now they’ve improved so much,” said Hall.
Team Captain Charlotte Carter, a sophomore art and design and education major, said that although the first couple of months were slow, they soon had over 30 students auditioning for the team.
“We got so many girls coming to auditions because of the performance that we did at Sharkapalooza,” said Carter.
Carter was voted in as captain along with a co-captain, positions that Hall said were necessary.
“I had to choreograph. I had to think of formations and think of music. So, it was really a full-time job. So, I have been able to split up my responsibilities, I now have a manager of the team and I have two captains on the team as well,” said Hall.
All of this work came with one goal, expressing Caribbean culture through dance, a sentiment both Hall and Carter repeated.
The best part of Pressure’s rapid growth has been the family bonds the group has shared through the academic year and the pay-off of performing live.
“The first performance we had with the new dancers just kind of showed how much effort Lori had put into the team. I realized that I had such a big community now and the girls are all so great and talented and it’s been so beautiful to see them break out of their shells,” said Carter.
Pressure member and sophomore Carrie Alcinord joined last semester, and has enjoyed the exposure she has gotten as a part of the team.
“I feel like I’ve learned a lot and I can actually understand the music and the dances and that’s thanks to the team and it’s my captain for sure,” said Alcinord.
Pressure Dance team can be followed on Instagram @_pressuredancers.
Whether Soca or Reggaeton, one thing is for certain: Pressure Dance team’s presence at NSU has only just begun.
