Tag: EarthDance

Earthdance returns to OWU

By Hannah Wargo, Transcript Correspondent

Earthdance, the global dance event, returned to promote peace and sustainability at Ohio Wesleyan for its 8th year Sunday, Sept. 18th in the Benes Rooms of Hamilton-Williams Campus Center.

Earthdance is the “largest synchronised dance event in the world,” having been held in over 1,000 locations in 80 countries since its first event in 1997, according to earthdance.org.

The event is aligned with the United Nations’ International Day of Peace every year to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace and nonviolence through dance and music.

This year, several OWU student groups performed: the Introduction to Dance class, OWU Rhythms Tap Club, Terpsicorps dance club, some dancers from Orchesis 2016 and chemistry professor Dave Lever served as the DJ.

Other groups that were scheduled to perform included Bellydance Columbus, Halal Israeli Folk Dancers and Hayes High School’s dance team.

Earthdance did not just comprise of performances, but participation, too.

The event started with guests learning and performing “Dances of Universal Peace” from around the world. The leader of the universal peace dances said, “There are no mistakes, it’s not about performance dancing; it’s about feeling energies in our bodies, like sun energy or moon energy.”

Following the peace dances, there were swing dancers, line dancers and Halal dances from Turkey. All attendees were encouraged to join.

After dancing, guests could purchase a bagel from the Short North Bagel Deli Company’s food truck, or make a smoothie by pedaling the Environment and Wildlife Club’s ‘smoothie bike.’

Many of the students in attendance were surprised by the number of groups performing and the number of people present.

Sophomore Kimberly McCalmont, a member of the OWU dance groups and first-time Earthdance attendee, said, “I didn’t realize so many people were coming to this [to perform].”

Sophomore Eva Blockstein, who ran the smoothie bike at Earthdance, said, “There are a ton of people here [dancing]… I didn’t know OWU groups would be performing.”

Earthdance was presented in partnership with Sustainable Delaware Ohio, a local nonprofit charity aimed at promoting environmental, social and economic stability for the Delaware community.

There was a suggested donation of $5 at the doors of the event, $3 of which go to Sustainable Delaware Ohio. Students were also able to donate food points.

The theme of Earthdance 2016 was “Global Shift.” The Earthdance event at OWU was the only Earthdance event in Ohio, and one of eight Earthdance events happening in the US, according to earthdance.org.

McCalmont and Blockstein both agreed that Earthdance deserves more publicity and attendance.

“[They should] publicize it a bit more, ahead of time, definitely have more advertising,” McCalmont said.

Blockstein said, “I think Earthdance is really important because it’s bringing dancing and peace and the planet all together… it’s a good way to bring a community together and show us some fun things.”

All Earthdance events link up with Global Prayer for Peace, according to earthdance.org.

Earthdance Ohio hosted a separate event to link up with Global Prayer for Peace on Wednesday, Sept. 21, International Day of Peace, from 7 p.m. to  8 p.m. in Peale Chapel on the third floor of Hamilton-Williams Campus Center. There, Aikido instructor Paul Linder, Ph.D., presented “Body-Based Conflict Resolution & Peacemaking.”

OWU dances for peace

The 7th annual EarthDance brought together students from all walks of life. Photo by Shashank Sharma.
The 7th annual EarthDance brought together students from all walks of life. Photo by Shashank Sharma.

Ohio Wesleyan students promoted peace Saturday, Sept. 19 through dance, participation and community.

The seventh annual EarthDance occasioned this uplifting event. It is a tradition that started in 1997. It has presented more than 600 music and dance events in over 60 countries in the last 19 years and has featured thousands of DJs and musicians.

This year several returning organizations were a part of the event, including the dance composition class, OWU Rhythms Tap Club and members of Orchesis, the annual dance showcase held by the theater and dance department at OWU.

Junior Jeremy Griffith­Jackson played a central role in the the event.

“My role in Earthdance was to create a piece to represent Orchesis. The event went very well and I felt that the dancers represented the company swimmingly,” said Jackson.

The faculty were also involved this year. Chemistry professor David Lever was the DJ for the event.

People form a circle in the Benes Rooms as part of the EarthDance festivities. Photo by Shashank Sharma.
People form a circle in the Benes Rooms as part of the EarthDance festivities. Photo by Shashank Sharma.

“In honor of the international EarthDance, I played an eclectic mix of music, in at least six different languages, ranging from Bhangra to Turkish pop to dubstep and dancehall, and everything in between. The goal was for it to feel like people were going to a European dance club,” said Lever.

As the EarthDance website states: “EarthDance is a world of communities, working and playing together to create a culture of peace, through music and dance events, synchronized global link- ups, and social activism. More than just an epic party, EarthDance is a flash forward to an alt peaceful future.”

The event was able to capture the essence of that message, Rashana Smith, a planner for the event and professor of dance said. “The event truly brought the community together and in doing that was able to achieve EarthDance’s goal.

“While I’m the primary producer and organizer, it wouldn’t happen without the help of lots of people, for whom I’m very grateful,” said Smith. “In fact, we could use more volunteers through the summer, ­­people to help with publicity and communication.”

EarthDance events are synchronized globally, in conjunction with the annual United Nations’ Peace Day.