Dance improvisation is all about pushing boundaries of movement and creativity. Why not try pushing the boundaries of physical space, too?

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single dancer in possession of the desire to dance, must be in want of studio space.

It is also a truth universally acknowledged that studio space is, well, lacking on campus, and that’s after you’ve found the time, a feat in its own right. So, over the past few weeks, I have made it my mission to find every danceable space on campus and catalog them. In the process, I saw my first genuine NYC rat! I got kicked out of a study room (very nicely, it must be noted)! I got some very strange looks and some applause! Such is the life of an artiste.

Without further ado, in no particular order: The best, worst, and most mediocre places to dance on campus!

• Any study/conference room after about 11 pm (Butler, Lerner, and Milstein are all excellent options)
  • Tried studying where you sleep and that didn’t work very well? Try dancing where you study! A Butler study room was the first empty room I saw on campus the night before one of the many (many) dance club auditions I attended. Until I got politely asked to leave by someone who had actually booked the room, it was a lovely experience. Study rooms vary in floor type, obstructions, lighting, and public visibility. Butler has the best floor (although it’s slippery), and Lerner has the best solitude (I have never seen anyone except for custodial staff when I’ve been there). They all have furniture, but hey, site-specific work!
• Any stairwell
  • The Butler stairwells are, for reasons beyond me, an incredibly social space. Once you find your floor, hold your ground! Make sure to glare at anyone who’s trying to be “normal” and “walk up” the stairs. There’s not a lot of room to move around and you run the risk of falling down the stairs, so this only works well for impromptu tap practice (shoutout to Columbia Untapped) or improv arms (the wave?). Pro tip: No one is ever on Butler’s eighth or ninth-floor landings except for graduate students who seemed too tired to care. 
• Your dorm room
  • Even if you have a roommate. Especially if you have a roommate. I do not have a roommate, so this is solitary improv, usually as the result of too many hours of studying and a really good song coming on my playlist (I’m a fan of Spotify’s Daylist right now). WARNING: The temptation of your bed may outweigh your soul’s desire to dance. 
• Futter Field
  • I must confess, I have not danced on Futter Field (yet). However, we at Bwog think it is in dire need of more frolicking. Leap! Twirl! Celebrate! Bring dancing to Futter Field! I think we will all benefit from it. You can even walk directly from Streng Studio to the field to practice! This is one that’s probably not as good in the rain, though. No matter what, you will be a public spectacle. Is that good? Who knows!
• The basement of Avery
  • Avery is a study spot more people should use (except I really want to gatekeep it. It’s named after me. I’m allowed). The basement is a great space to dance: it has lots of room, a decent floor, and is generally close to empty. The various things related to architecture scattered about could inspire your improvisation. I have had the best and craziest experiences in this basement: I made friends with strangers! I also saw a rat! (I didn’t make friends with the rat!)
• College Walk, specifically in the rain
  • This one requires a story. Picture me, listening to the masterpiece that is Taylor Swift’s 1989, as one does, while it was raining, as it does. Suddenly, I felt the urge to spin and twirl. Since I was already thinking about this article at that point, I went for it! This is extremely public, but that can be fun. Only a few people noticed my spurt of chainées, but someone actually applauded me! Also, you have lots and lots of room. 

In conclusion: it is always a good decision to sing in the rain and dance like no one’s watching.

Orchesis via Bwarchives.