A club started just last year, the Afro Sync Dancers are a group of African students who want to “celebrate their heritage through dance,” according to club sponsor and English teacher Ms. Holtz. Working to blend dances from each of the student’s cultures into cohesive performances, the dancers meet on Tuesdays after school in room 212.
Performing with the dancers “makes me feel fulfilled in that my culture is being expressed,” says Junior Bethel Babayemi.
Students, however, do not need to be African to join the club. It is only necessary to have an interest in African culture and, of course, some skill in dancing, explained Ms. Holtz.
Since the group is still quite new, its members are working to build their level of teamwork. Junior and Captain of the Afro Sync dancers, Ashley Akinwale, says “I enjoy the unity between the dancers; we’re a family.”
Another goal is to gain the respect of their peers. Babayemi described her schoolmates’ response to the dancers positively. “Most of my peers couldn’t help but dance along with our performances because we hype the crowd, you know?” She added, “The most positive feedback we have been getting is people wanting to join our team and people giving suggestions of what they want to see next.”
Goals for the future, according to Akinwale, include performing at the Battle of the African Student Associations and possibly teaching dances to people outside of the club. Ms. Holtz said that the club is open to other performances.
