The dance studio came alive with the sound of music in late March as MC students embarked on a journey to the Caribbean through song and dance earlier this semester.
The Caribbean Dance Workshop, hosted by the Office of Student Life, took center stage at Montgomery College TP/SS’s Cultural Arts Center on March 29.
Student Life Student Coordinator Fenet Shertaga said the workshop was one of their signature events and a good way to destress.
“We’re in the middle of the semester, and I know everybody is a little bit tired, but this is the time when you can relax and learn about the [Caribbean] culture,” said Shertaga.
Certified Health Coach and Dance Instructor Crystal Medina provided an overview of Trinidadian, Tobagonian, and Jamaican cultures, and participants performed choreography from the two nations.
“I’m originally from the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago,” said Medina. “I’ve been dancing since I was a child. Living in New York for a while, I started doing a dancehall aerobics class and taught dance workshops for over seven years. Caribbean dance is all about self-expression; it’s about freedom, understanding your body, and being in tune with your body. Even with their dance steps, everyone puts their own flavor and style on it.”
Medina said she tries to make steps as simple as possible so everyone can follow and hopes participants will be comfortable.
“It’s a great way to self-express and build community and connectivity,” she said. “It’s not going to look like me; it’s not going to look like someone else; just do the best you can and follow along.”
Sophomore Francisca Ndjocke, an information science major, has prior dancing experience, but the workshop was her first experience with Caribbean dance.
“I always loved dancing,” Ndjocke said. “I was feeling a little bit down lately, so I was like, ‘Let me just go for fun’ because I was so stressed with school.”
The event emphasized Montgomery College’s representation of over 125 countries, placing importance on cultural diversity and inclusivity through engagement.
Shertaga shared her insights on the representation of various countries within the MC student body and highlighted how this diversity enriches the campus experience, fostering a sense of global community.
“As some of us may not be familiar with Caribbean culture, I hope they really learn a lot about the culture, what the flags are, some dance moves, and, of course, to have fun. You don’t need to be from the Caribbean to have a great experience of [the workshop],” Shertaga said.
Medina stressed that learning culture through dance fosters empathy and facilitates connections and expressed her desire for participants to experience decreased self-judgment, increased sense of self-bonding, and deeper self-connection through dancing in the workshop and beyond.
“[Dance] is a way to bridge different ethnicities, races, and religions just to connect with each other in a way that’s freeing and in a non-judgmental way,” she said.
