Editor's note: This is a guest commentary. Opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board.
“Pulse is a group of strong women who inspire each other. When we come together, we, We don't just work hard, it's like therapy. It's more than just a dance team because women who have shared similar experiences come together to dance, laugh, and connect emotionally. ” – Destiny St. Agathe Faure, second-year Pulse member.
Creating spaces and events on campus that empower and bring joy to students of color is paramount, especially at predominantly white institutions. Pulse Hip Hop is the only hip hop dance team on campus and hosts an important annual showcase that draws hundreds of students. This showcase serves as a highly anticipated event where students come together to support each other and celebrate the diverse talent within Ithaca College's BIPOC community. The arts, in particular, provide an important escape for BIPOC students and foster feelings of worth and recognition. and an appreciation for their individuality and collectiveness. It is important that universities support further initiatives like her Pulse showcase to create a safer environment for BIPOC students.
The Pulse Showcase serves as a platform to keep Black culture and hip-hop culture alive on college campuses. Song selection plays a key role in making the show resonate with a wide audience, from nostalgic tunes like Busta Rhymes' “Put Your Hands Where My Could See” to Drake's “Sticky.” It features contemporary hits and even songs in other languages. Like “La Mama de la Mama” by El Alfa. The musicality and choreography encourage enthusiastic cheers from the audience and create the vibrant atmosphere that college campuses demand. Dance battles during show breaks provide another opportunity to promote variety and fun, with audience members selected to compete in a dance contest. The songs chosen come from our childhood growing up on the East Coast. And it's important in how we all relate to each other. All of this is aimed at fostering a sense of community.
More importantly, for the past three years, Pulse has been led by women of color and the majority of its dancers have been women of color. This has never happened before. As the current Co-President and a Black Dominican, I am committed to preserving Pulse's tradition of serving as a sanctuary for BIPOC students and their allies to freely express themselves. is. This initiative led us to collaborate with the Society of the Underground (SOU), an initiative dedicated to supporting and promoting artists of color on campus.
Society of the Underground is made up of three students, including myself, who realized that rappers, singers, poets, and other artists of color were underrepresented on campus. Initially it was a public relations project, but our passion for this issue made us want to take it to a whole other level.
This collaboration will further introduce a vast array of talent to our campus community and strengthen the experiences of minorities who feel isolated. It will give students of color the recognition they deserve for their dedication to their craft.
Students of color in college need a place to feel inspired. They deserve a place to push the boundaries of creativity and feel that the importance of BIPOC creatives on this campus is recognized. They need a space that affirms their identity and collectively connects all the parts that make them up. Events like the Pulse Showcase need to continue and should never be suppressed. The goal is for more individuals to feel capable and challenged enough to host more events that celebrate their culture and engage the greater Ithaca community.
Stephanie Duran (she/her) I am a junior majoring in advertising, public relations, and marketing communications. To contact her, [email protected].
