Once a staple of late-night TV, “stupid human tricks” were a hit with this semester’s Movement for Athletes students—and with the crowd of Saints, family and friends gathered to watch dance performances during Fall Family Weekend earlier this month. As students cartwheeled and lept, each bringing individual flare to the group performance, the audience burst into enthusiastic cheers.

Harrison Rowland ’29 says “stupid human tricks” are one example of the all-for-one, one-for-all energy of Movement for Athletes.

Throughout the course, students gain confidence and build new muscles, literally and figuratively, that they use on athletic fields and courts in the current season and beyond. Part of it, says Kindle Schell ’29, is thanks to the collaborative spirit built between students with different athletic backgrounds and varied skills to share.

“If one person needs help with a move, we're all always open to help each other,” Schell says. “The class is a really good community in that aspect.”

Dance blends athletic and artistic skill, and Movement for Athletes students learn to do the same. Throughout the semester, with instruction and choreography from Director of Dance Avi Gold, students develop dance fundamentals like timing and rhythm, and technical skills like executing a spin without getting dizzy. In time, they come to identify the elements of one form of movement that translate to another.

For Khrissy Collins ’29, Movement for Athletes taps into her background in competitive cheerleading, with direct benefit to her gameplay on the volleyball court.

“I feel like Movement for Athletes was just the right fit for me, because I'm a competitive athlete,” Collins says. “I feel like my legs are way stronger from all the jumps and turns that we do. There’s a lot of jumping in volleyball, especially if you're a hitter or something like that.”

For Rowland, one of many students drawn to Movement for Athletes in spite of not having prior dance experience, the appeal was in the opportunity to develop new physical skills.

“I'm starting squash in the winter, and I've never done it before and I've never been the most coordinated person, so I thought dancing would help with that—and so far, I definitely think it has,” Rowland says. “One of Mr. Gold's big themes is body awareness, and that has helped me think about what I'm doing as I'm doing it.”

In addition to body awareness, Rowland has developed confidence during the class that will serve him across the board.

“Something more general that this class is helping me with is being more confident and comfortable on a stage,” Rowland says. “I think being on stage is always good practice for being in front of a crowd.”